Accounts from the actual people who experienced the blaze, felt its heat, witnessed its destructive effects, suffered the loss of loved ones, came to grips with the sorrow and the guilty knowledge of their own survivval that followed their escape from the burning grip of death, often with physical and emotional. Portland man recalls escape from hartford circus fire in. After 75 years, legacy of deadly circus fire still felt at. In memoirs, we offer a selection of books written by firefighters who tell it exactly like it is. Books about the hartford circus fire hartford circus fire. July 6, 1944 was filled with emotional extremesintense joy and immense sadness. But for others in hartford, the memories of the circus are often eclipsed by recollections of the circus fire.
Kotlers cap embroidered with korean war veteran, students thanked him for his service and for sharing his circus fire memories, hoping he may return to share more on another day. Lichtenbaum said he thinks about the 1944 hartford circus fire, which killed 167 and injured 700, every day, and he recounts his memories of that day as if it had only happened last week. Download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets. The fire was the size of a baseball, a football, a basketball, a dishpan, a briefcase, a small window, half a tablecloth. Circus fire memories, survivor recollections of july 6, 1944, by don massey. That july, lynne tuohys eternal flame piece for the sunday courants northeast magazine collected the memories of circus fire survivors for the first time. Images captured by carl wallis before, during and after the fire erupted in the circus.
For lassow, the enduring memory of the circus fire is the smell. From clowns to trapeze artistes there is something for all especially children. The hartford circus fire and the mystery of little miss 1565, by don massey and rick davey, published by the willow brook press. Sep 22, 2007 sonny shared some of those bigtop memories with cbs sunday morning correspondent jerry bowen. Sharing memories of circus fire with 4th graders courant. Hartford circus fire survivor saddened by ringling bros. Reports are coming in about a possible fire that occurred last night at storybook circus inside magic kingdom park at the walt disney world resort. Tonight i spoke to my mom in florida, who was a senior at housatonic valley regional hs in falls village, conn at the time of the fire.
She is known only as little miss 1565, named after the number assigned to her body at the citys makeshift morgue. Nonfiction books about wildfires, firefighting, etc. As i read each story more intensely during the editing phase, the sheer emotional force carried by the stories, recollections, memories, revelations that were sent in brought the circus fire to life for me in a way i could not have imagined. The acclaimed author of emily, alone and henry, himself brings all his narrative gifts to bear on this gripping account of tragedy and heroismthe great hartford circus fire of 1944. Memories of a circus i think thats the last of them. The circus fire is a wellwritten and wellresearched book. The novel has a nonlinear narrative written from multiple viewpoints. He published his first book a matter of degree in 2000.
One hundred and sixtyseven people were killeddmost of them women and childrendand hundreds more wounded. With a reporters eye, maryann tirone smith, the acclaimed author of ten books, recreates an unforgettable and horrific tragedythe great circus fire that left 169 people dead and more than a thousand injured, almost all women and children. Images captured by carl wallis before, during and after the fire erupted in the circus tent. Retired hartford fire lieutenant rick davey, author of a matter of degree. Don massey started his career as a producer and writer at willow brook media in 1986. Circus fire memories 3 although i turned ninety this past may, its difficult for me to recall the circus fire sixty years ago without tears coming to my eyes. The first thing that interested me about this book was the intro. The night circus is a 2011 fantasy novel by erin morgenstern. The hartford circus fire, which occurred on july 6, 1944, in hartford, connecticut, was one of the worst fire disasters in united states history. Burroughs, was named based on the authors hearing the title phrase in a radio broadcast of news of the circus fire event. Achievements don massey is an american writer and producer who is famous for his book. The perspectives vary from circus workers to spectators, to fans,and even to firefighters.
Top firefighting books 54 must read books for firefighters. Hartford circus fire little miss 1565 the bestknown victim of the circus fire was a young blonde girl wearing a white dress. Here are the names of some of the survivors, also including names of persons who helped or are otherwise associated with the hartford circus fire. Survivor letters and accounts, in their own words, which present the. Formed in early 2009, the groups lineup includes guitarist save addario, drummer paul igoe, vocalist adam grant and bassist mike enort.
Can anyone recommend another book on the 1944 circus fire. Mar 15, 2014 gargantua the great, the famous giant gorilla featured in the ringling bros. Memories of the hartford circus fire i had been looking forward to that oppressively hot day in early july. Books about the hartford circus fire hartford circus. Agonizing hourbyhour retelling of the worst american circus disaster and its aftermath, seen with a restless, unflinching eye for the detailstouching, ironic, and depraved. Several books have been written about the hartford circus fire. The acclaimed author of a prayer for the dying brings all his narrative gifts to bear on this gripping account of tragedy and heroismthe great hartford circus fire of 1944. As they watched the scenes of people burnt alive during the firework show at. Tironesmith the book of phoebe makes that conflagration c. We want to honor the memories of those who lost their lives in the hartford circus fire, and who helped save lives in the hartford circus fire, and anyone or everyone who has been impacted by. The bears and the monkeys did some mighty fine tricks. Photo of diane lawrence from 1944, with her arm bandaged from her injury at the circus fire. Cohn, an assistant states attorney general, and david bollier, authors of the book, the great hartford circus fire. The true story of an american tragedy by stewart onan on july 6, 1944 in hartford, connecticut a fire would rage out of control at the circus taking place, killing over a hundred children and adults and injuring many, many more.
A true story of an american tragedy is written and narrated to shock. Bengaluru cant forget the fire tragedy of 1981 deccan herald. Over the course of his career, he amassed an incredible fortune and he even met the. Thanks to don massey, for in writing this book he has preserved for generations to come what it was like to be at the circus the day the clowns cried, and witness one of the most horrifying fire disasters in american history. The hartford fire, 50 years later the new york times. Halfway through a midsummer afternoon performance, ringling brothers barnum and bailey circuss big top caught fire.
Survivor list g the hartford circus fire july 6, 1944. A true story, by stewart onan, published in 2000 by doubleday, new york. Books about the hartford circus fire, and other books that mention the fire. The book is a collection of poems told from multiple perspectives. Last circus show stirs bittersweet memories in hartford. Special thanks to author michael skidgell for use of information posted on the website also, we extend credit and appreciation for skidgells work in his book, the hartford circus fire. An earlier version of this post incorrectly identified the. The circus fire summary literary masterpieces, volume 24. There are accounts from victims of the fire, the firefighters, circus performers, and neighbors that helped out, as well as many pictures that show the horrible results of the fire. Tragedy under the big top, and stewart onans book, the circus fire. Circus fire memories the hartford circus fire july 6, 1944. Personal accounts the hartford circus fire july 6, 1944. The 70th anniversary is coming up fast, july 6, 2014, and it seems, to me, that a book based on the memories of those of us who survived should really be written for that occasion.
Memorial for the victims and survivors of the 1944 hartford circus fire. Remembering the horror and heroes of a circus fire. Connection to firefighting should be more than tangential. Circus fire memories, survivor recollections of july 6, 1944 accounts from the actual people who experienced the blaze, felt its heat, witnessed its destructive effects, suffered the loss of loved ones, came to grips with the sorrow and the guilty knowledge of their own survivval that followed their escape from the burning grip of death, often with physical and emotional scars that would be carried. His next book circus fire memories that was published in 2006. Circus fire memories by don massey, 9781930601222, available at book depository with free delivery worldwide. Circus memories once a circus came to play in our town with lions, tigers, elephants, and clowns. I am now committed to writing a book on the 1944 hartford circus fire. Diane lawrences memories the hartford circus fire july 6, 1944. A true story by stewart onan and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. The title of the first chapter of the last true hero is no masks, radios, tower ladders, saws, bunker gear. A true story of an american tragedy kindle edition by onan, stewart. Hartford circus fire memorial barbour street behind wish school, hartford. A novel of the great hartford circus fire by maryann tirone smith and the hippos were boiled in their tanks, a short experimental work by jack kerouac and william s.
The hartford circus fire, which occurred on july 1944 in hartford, connecticut, was one of the worst fire disasters in the history of t. If you cant visit the state library in person, you may be able to borrow a copy through interlibrary loan. For many bengalureans, the death of over 100 people in a fire at a kerala temple on sunday, brought back dark memories. In the 1940s and 50s sonnys father, mervyn king, was mr. Thousands of circus fans attended the afternoon show on july 6, 1944, and many were fortunate enough to survive the blaze. The fire occurred during an afternoon performance of the ringling bros. The circus fire quotes showing 11 of 1 to be lost and forgottento be abandonedis a shared and terrible fear, just as our fondest hope, as we grow older, is that we might leave some parts of us behind in the hearts of those we love and in that way live on. After all, the hartford circus fire is the worst disaster in hartford history and one of the worst fires in the history of the us. Whether the circus s fire fighting equipment would have been able to contain the fire or not was a moot point.
The circus fire by stewart onan abebooks passion for books. Don massey is the author of a matter of degree, the definitive nonfiction account of the ringling circus fire that claimed 168 lives and destroyed the ringling circus during a matinee performance in hartford. Bright colours, noise and spectacle add up to an entertaining mix of skills, humor and excitement. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. Nan was not present the day of the fire, the book is put. A fire lookouts life in the river of no return wilderness by. Sep 23, 2011 its in tents this video is unavailable. For anyone who would like to know more about the 1944 hartford circus fire, this website will attempt to provide information about the circus and the fire, as well as remembrances of those who attended the circus on that fateful day. A history of the museum and brief sketch of its curiosities. With the interest stirred up by the 1565 case, she had her pick of stories. Janeczko, tells the story of the 1944 hartford circus fire. Collectable firefighter books start your collection. Don massey born january 3, 1948, american producer.
Many people remember their first visit to the circus and this page is partly a stick figure homage to those memories. The fire killed 167 people and more than 700 were injured. Stewart onans book, circus fire, published in 2000, is a nonfiction narrative of the blaze that pieces together the events of that day along with the stories of several parties. Tironesmith the book of phoebe makes that conflagration central to her new novel, a skillfully controlled, moving psychological exploration of secrets, traumas and family relationships. Readers and book lovers science matters classwarfare newsletter. Jul 06, 2007 remembering the horror and heroes of a circus fire maureen krekian was 11 when a fire ripped through the circus she was attending in hartford, conn. Circus fire memories iv installation ceremony, hundreds of people signed advance requests for copies of the narrative compilation, leading the foundation to believe that there was an emotional void. More information about his book is available at nebraskapress. Rick davey, a veteran hartford arson investigator, sparked the renewed investigation. Hartford library starts circus fire scrapbook project. Quoting the memories of the survivors, he describes the initial disbelief of the audience, many of whom saw the flames but told their.
Finucanes when the bronx burned, these books offer gritty stories and memories from brave firefighters who dealt with crises on many levels and lived to tell about it. A fire which killed 168 people in 1944 was the object of an inve. Hartford circus fire, my dad was going to take me but he had to go out of town. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading the circus fire. It was originally written for the annual writing competition national novel writing month nanowrimo over the span of three competitions. Added memories of the hartford circus fire by diane. My father was taking the afternoon off from his job at the travelers insurance company to take me to the big circus.
It was a midsummer afternoon, halfway through a ringling brothers barnum and bailey circus performance, when the big top caught fire. She pulled an envelope out of her desk and tossed it in gibbs direction. Jul 03, 1994 as a result of lieutenant daveys findings, the state fire marshals office began a reexamination of the circus fire in 1991. As some 9,000 people watched the wallendas begin their highwire act on july 6, 1944, a fire started on the sidewall of the big top at the ringling brothers and. Disastrous fire total destruction of barnums american. Search the worlds most comprehensive index of fulltext books. The most meaningful residue and the most enduring legacy of a. The others returned home with physical and emotional scars that they will bear for the rest of their lives. Survivor letters and accounts, in their own words, which present the unfiltered experiences of those who lived through the 1944 ringling circus fire, bringing the facts to life in the most effective way possible, demonstrating the direct physical and emotional impact of one of americas worst public tragedies. The book follows several survivors through their recovery and how they are doing years after the fire.
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