Suffer the Children:Suffer the Children: The Collinwood The Collinwood

TragedyTragedy

ByBy

Paul Rega MD, FACEPPaul Rega MD, FACEP

Kelly Burkholder-Allen RN, Kelly Burkholder-Allen RN, MSEdMSEd

ObjectiveObjective

The purpose of this topic is to present an American tragedy little-known to disaster management professionals and the public at-large and to demonstrate thevulnerability of our children to any unique situation, whether natural or man-made, accidental or intentional.

DedicationDedication

This presentation is dedicated to the 174 students

and 2 teachers who perished in this disaster and

to the citizens of Collinwood, Ohio whose lives

were irrevocably changed thereafter.

*There is mention in many accounts of an additional individual; a rescuer, who perished in the fire

Those who cannot rememberthe past are condemned

to repeat it.

George Santayana

SummarySummary

On March 4, 1908, the Lakeview Elementary School in Collinwood, Ohio was enveloped in flames. Within thirty minutes, 174 students and 2 teachers perished. This was the worst school fire in the history of the United States up to that time.

Before the Disaster

A Time of Energy and Promise

Prologue

Sunday school class

Views of Cleveland

Collinwood, Ohio

As Cleveland grew in importance so did Collinwood. By 1908 it became an enclave of 8,000 citizens many of them

immigrant Croats, Slovenes, and Serbs.

Immigrants undergoingprocessing at Ellis Island

It was also the center of operations for the Lake Shore and Southern Michigan Railroad.

CollinwoodRoundHouse

Fire Departments of Old

Before the fire

LAKEVIEW ELEMENTARY

Lakeview ElementaryLakeview Elementary

Located on East 152nd StreetLocated on East 152nd Street Built in 1902Built in 1902 Due to immigration, by 1908 the Due to immigration, by 1908 the

school population swelled to more school population swelled to more than 360.than 360.

Lakeview’s Design and Lakeview’s Design and ArchitectureArchitecture

3-Story edifice3-Story edifice Constructed of wood save for its brick Constructed of wood save for its brick

façade: a construction similar to that all over façade: a construction similar to that all over the country, especially in small townsthe country, especially in small towns

Three exits: Front, back entrances and an Three exits: Front, back entrances and an uncovered fire escapeuncovered fire escape

Hallways: Long and narrowHallways: Long and narrow Wooden stairways placed diagonally to exit Wooden stairways placed diagonally to exit

doorsdoors

Lakeview’s Design and Lakeview’s Design and ArchitectureArchitecture

To accommodate increased number of To accommodate increased number of students, a third floor auditorium was students, a third floor auditorium was converted into another classroom.converted into another classroom.

Vestibule added to rear entrance to Vestibule added to rear entrance to create a cloakroom. This narrowed the create a cloakroom. This narrowed the exit dimensions from 10’4” to 5’3”.exit dimensions from 10’4” to 5’3”.

Furnace located in basement directly Furnace located in basement directly under first floor area leading to exit.under first floor area leading to exit.

Lakeview was not inspected by theState Fire Marshal, but that was notunusual at that time. It did meet the established building codes of Cleveland.

The school had been inspected and insured one year earlier by the Cleveland Insurance Agency and deemed a desirable risk.

Lakeview Elementary Fire Lakeview Elementary Fire DrillsDrills

Conducted three times a yearConducted three times a year For most of the students, the front For most of the students, the front

entrance was identified as the entrance was identified as the principal route of escape.principal route of escape.

The last drill was conducted just The last drill was conducted just three weeks prior to the fire.three weeks prior to the fire.

Principal Players in a Principal Players in a TragedyTragedy

Fred Hirter: JanitorFred Hirter: Janitor Ethel Rose: TeacherEthel Rose: Teacher Katherine Weiler: TeacherKatherine Weiler: Teacher Grace Fisk: TeacherGrace Fisk: Teacher Wallace Upton: ParentWallace Upton: Parent C.G. McIlrath: Collinwood Police ChiefC.G. McIlrath: Collinwood Police Chief W.A. Stevens: Fire escape builderW.A. Stevens: Fire escape builder

ACT ONEACT ONE

The Fire

March 4, 1908March 4, 1908

The day The day began began

with the with the students students singing singing

“America“America””

The fire originated near the The fire originated near the furnace in the basement.furnace in the basement.

Fire officials determined that the fire Fire officials determined that the fire was accidental. Apparently, the was accidental. Apparently, the furnace pipes which were not furnace pipes which were not properly insulated were situated properly insulated were situated within two inches of the wooden within two inches of the wooden floor. Over time, this placement floor. Over time, this placement dried out the wood to the point that dried out the wood to the point that it became kindling and ignited.it became kindling and ignited.

Between 9-9:45 AM, Between 9-9:45 AM, smoke was detected smoke was detected around the front around the front staircase adjacent to staircase adjacent to the front entrance. the front entrance. Fred Hirter, the janitor, Fred Hirter, the janitor, activated the fire activated the fire alarm located in a first alarm located in a first floor classroom and floor classroom and ran to make sure that ran to make sure that the front and back the front and back doors were opened.doors were opened.

Fred Hirter

Initially, the students from the first, Initially, the students from the first, second, and third floors evacuated second, and third floors evacuated easily enough out the main easily enough out the main entrance in keeping with their prior entrance in keeping with their prior fire drill activities. Matters were fire drill activities. Matters were going smoothly according to plan.going smoothly according to plan.

However, within a matter of However, within a matter of minutes, the basement fire began minutes, the basement fire began consuming the floor in front of the consuming the floor in front of the main entrance. That avenue of main entrance. That avenue of escape was now blocked by a wall escape was now blocked by a wall of smoke and flames.of smoke and flames.

The Panic BeginsThe Panic Begins

ACT TWO

One parent, Wallace Upton succeeded in One parent, Wallace Upton succeeded in rescuing 19 children. Yet he was unable rescuing 19 children. Yet he was unable to save his own daughter. He saw her to save his own daughter. He saw her as she breathed her last among her as she breathed her last among her burnt and trampled comrades.burnt and trampled comrades.

The janitor lost three of his own.The janitor lost three of his own.

Another parent tried to rescue one of his Another parent tried to rescue one of his children from a burning mound of children from a burning mound of corpses, but only succeeded in pulling corpses, but only succeeded in pulling off her arms from her incinerated body.off her arms from her incinerated body.

The personnel at the Lake Shore The personnel at the Lake Shore shops were rapidly made aware of shops were rapidly made aware of the situation. The shops were the situation. The shops were closed and everyone ran to the closed and everyone ran to the holocaust. Many of them were holocaust. Many of them were parents of the school children. parents of the school children.

The managers sent along supplies of The managers sent along supplies of stretchers, blankets, and other stretchers, blankets, and other resources. The Lake Shore surgeon, resources. The Lake Shore surgeon, Dr. W.H. Williams, also responded Dr. W.H. Williams, also responded and assisted with the organization and assisted with the organization and dispersal of those resources.and dispersal of those resources.

The American railroad industry as The American railroad industry as personified by those who came personified by those who came from the Lake Shore shops had from the Lake Shore shops had been victimized time and time been victimized time and time again by rail disasters in that era. again by rail disasters in that era. Those past experiences compelled Those past experiences compelled rail managers to store needed rail managers to store needed disaster supplies for a potential disaster supplies for a potential catastrophe.catastrophe.

“… the children lay five or six deep, the fire had already reached them, and I could see the flames

catch first one and then another…the fire swept through the hall,

springing from one child to anothercatching their hair and the dresses

of the girls. The cries were dreadfulto hear.” Henry Ellis, rescuer

“...those (students) who could,stretched out their arms to meand cried for me to help them.”

Ms. Goldman, teacher;Later accused of abandoning her class

“I saw my little Helen among them (children trapped). I triedto pull her out, but the flamesdrove me back. I had to leavemy little girl to die.”

Fred Hirter, Janitor/Parent

“I reached in and stroked her(trapped daughter) head…tryingto keep the fire away from her till a heavy piece of glass fellon me, cutting my hand nearlyoff. Then I fell back and my girl died before my face.”

Mrs. John Philits, Parent

The arrival of the Collinwood Fire The arrival of the Collinwood Fire Department twenty minutes after Department twenty minutes after the alarm was sounded raised the the alarm was sounded raised the hopes of the frantic parents.hopes of the frantic parents.

Hope of deliverance soon changed Hope of deliverance soon changed to anger and despair.to anger and despair.

With the traditional escape route With the traditional escape route blocked the teachers tried to re-blocked the teachers tried to re-direct the students out the first direct the students out the first floor windows, up the stairs to the floor windows, up the stairs to the fire escape, and out the rear fire escape, and out the rear entrance.entrance.

Many of the children were unable to Many of the children were unable to deviate from what they learned deviate from what they learned during past drills. Ominously, the during past drills. Ominously, the fear and the panic and the terror fear and the panic and the terror grew and spread from child to grew and spread from child to child.child.

The rear entrance The rear entrance whose whose dimensions were dimensions were already halved by already halved by a makeshift a makeshift vestibule, was vestibule, was narrowed further narrowed further when one of the when one of the doors closed. doors closed. The escape width The escape width was now down to was now down to approximately approximately 2ft. 7 in.2ft. 7 in.

The scene at the rear entrance The scene at the rear entrance became horrific. Children jammed became horrific. Children jammed into the vestibule screamed, into the vestibule screamed, writhed, and suffocated as little writhed, and suffocated as little bodies began to pile up on each bodies began to pile up on each other. Children from above hurled other. Children from above hurled themselves from the staircase themselves from the staircase banisters onto the growing pile banisters onto the growing pile below.below.

The narrow hallways and staircases The narrow hallways and staircases became unintentional flues became unintentional flues funneling smoke and fire to all funneling smoke and fire to all areas of the schoolhouse.areas of the schoolhouse.

As terror overcame authority, many As terror overcame authority, many of the children allowed of the children allowed themselves to be enveloped by the themselves to be enveloped by the piles of bodies, those dead and piles of bodies, those dead and about to die, wedged into doors about to die, wedged into doors and windows.and windows.

Students Mary Ridgeway, Anna Students Mary Ridgeway, Anna Roth , and Gertrude Davis escaped Roth , and Gertrude Davis escaped the encroaching fire by jumping to the encroaching fire by jumping to their deaths from third floor their deaths from third floor windows.windows.

Most of the teachers escaped Most of the teachers escaped unscathed assisting in the unscathed assisting in the escape of roughly half of escape of roughly half of their charges.their charges.

Teacher, Katherine Weiler, Teacher, Katherine Weiler, however, died at Glenville however, died at Glenville Hospital of burns she Hospital of burns she sustained while re-directing sustained while re-directing her students down the fire her students down the fire escape.escape.

Katherine Weiler

Another teacher, Grace Fiske, was found dead in the rubble among her students. Witnesses testified that she was at one of the windows shielding her students as she was guiding them out of the windows.

The The

ResponseResponse

ACT THREE

Nearby residents were quickly made Nearby residents were quickly made aware of the impending tragedy. aware of the impending tragedy. As they descended onto the site As they descended onto the site their olfactory and visual senses their olfactory and visual senses were assaulted by the smoke and were assaulted by the smoke and flames and by children hurling flames and by children hurling themselves from upper story themselves from upper story windows. Their ears suffered the windows. Their ears suffered the cries and screams of the injured cries and screams of the injured and dying.and dying.

Many of these first responders were Many of these first responders were the parents. Some escorted the the parents. Some escorted the survivors away from the site. survivors away from the site. Others tore at the building to Others tore at the building to attempt rescue.attempt rescue.

The arrival of onlookers and rescuers

“Send help. The Collinwood School is burning.”

The Collinwood telegrapher alerting Cleveland within a few minutes of the rescue call

A Funeral Pyre

With prosperity came self-assurance and Collinwood rejected any annexation measures with Cleveland. Rather, she relied upon her own citizens, resources, and infrastructure to maintain and sustain herself.

Collinwood High School

A key ingredient in this infrastructurewas the Collinwood Fire Department.It was responsible for the safety andprotection of its 8,000 inhabitants,as well as for the millions of dollars of development located over 43 milesof city

streets.

One hour after the alarm was sounded, One hour after the alarm was sounded, Cleveland Engine Company #7 arrived Cleveland Engine Company #7 arrived on scene with aerial ladders that could on scene with aerial ladders that could pluck the remaining children from pluck the remaining children from their third story perches.their third story perches.

With sad irony, it was at that same time With sad irony, it was at that same time that the second and third stories fell that the second and third stories fell victim to the flames and collapsed victim to the flames and collapsed onto the debris of the decimated first onto the debris of the decimated first floor.floor.

ClevelandFirefighters

Police Chief C.G. McIlrath had three Police Chief C.G. McIlrath had three children who attended the school. children who attended the school. While performing his duties, he While performing his duties, he witnessed one of his children lead witnessed one of his children lead fellow students to safety and then fellow students to safety and then disappear into the flames. For six disappear into the flames. For six hours, the Chief remained at his hours, the Chief remained at his post not knowing whether his post not knowing whether his children were dead or alive.children were dead or alive.

While onlookers worked with officials to While onlookers worked with officials to fight the fire and to save any victims, fight the fire and to save any victims, others continued to vent their others continued to vent their frustrations on both police and fire frustrations on both police and fire personnel.personnel.

Amidst chaos the searchcontinues

Why?Why?

Their ladders did not extend beyond Their ladders did not extend beyond the second story.the second story.

They forgot their axes– a crucial They forgot their axes– a crucial piece of equipment for breaking piece of equipment for breaking through blocked doors and windows.through blocked doors and windows.

The water pressure in their hoses The water pressure in their hoses was ineffective beyond the first floor.was ineffective beyond the first floor.

Fire apparatussending fortha weak stream of water at the school

Futility reigns

A Daisy-Chain of Parents and RespondersCarrying out the Remains

The rescue effort slowly became one of The rescue effort slowly became one of body recovery. Officials, parents, and body recovery. Officials, parents, and bystanders began to sift through the bystanders began to sift through the charred debris to find blackened charred debris to find blackened bones and half-consumed bodies. bones and half-consumed bodies. The remains were brought out in The remains were brought out in containers no bigger than baskets. containers no bigger than baskets. They were placed into the twenty or They were placed into the twenty or so ambulances “dead wagons” that so ambulances “dead wagons” that were lined up at the back of the were lined up at the back of the schoolhouse.schoolhouse.

A Collinwood “Dead Wagon”

During the recovery process, it was During the recovery process, it was estimated that the pile of bodies trapped estimated that the pile of bodies trapped at the rear entrance approached 5 ft. at the rear entrance approached 5 ft. high. Many of them had died from high. Many of them had died from asphyxiation and crush before any of the asphyxiation and crush before any of the flames had reached them.flames had reached them.

RearEntrance

By 1:30 PM the By 1:30 PM the fire was fire was officially officially declared over.declared over.

Shock and Disbelief

The crowd continues to build

The shell of a corpse

The ClevelandPlain DealerMarch 7, 1908

“The construction (of the schoolhouse)…was an outrage…the poor little children werecaught in a veritable trap and held and crushed until burnedto death.”

Mr. Burke,County Coroner

FingerpointingFingerpointing City council blamed for shelving a motion to City council blamed for shelving a motion to

upgrade the fire department.upgrade the fire department. School Board blamed for an oversized school School Board blamed for an oversized school

population and for poorly planned and population and for poorly planned and executed fire drills.executed fire drills.

Collinwood citizens blamed for voting down Collinwood citizens blamed for voting down annexation measures and bond issues.annexation measures and bond issues.

W.A. Stevens, builder of the school’s fire W.A. Stevens, builder of the school’s fire escape, advised the school board that atescape, advised the school board that at least three fire escapes should have been least three fire escapes should have been built; advice that was rejected due to built; advice that was rejected due to unwillingness to spend money.unwillingness to spend money.

Official conclusions from Official conclusions from local boards of inquirylocal boards of inquiry

Given existing laws and regulations, Given existing laws and regulations, no person or agency was to be no person or agency was to be blamed for the tragedy.blamed for the tragedy.

The true cause was the panic of the The true cause was the panic of the children while attempting to children while attempting to evacuate. evacuate.

An Touch of IronyAn Touch of Irony

The school board awarded the The school board awarded the contract to design and construct the contract to design and construct the new school to Searles, Hirsch, & new school to Searles, Hirsch, & Gavin -- the same firm that designed Gavin -- the same firm that designed the old school.the old school.

Repercussions in OhioRepercussions in Ohio

Duties of the Ohio State Inspector of Duties of the Ohio State Inspector of Workshops and Factories expanded Workshops and Factories expanded to include oversight of schoolsto include oversight of schools

Addition of 10 additional deputy Addition of 10 additional deputy inspectorsinspectors

All future school construction to be All future school construction to be approved by the Chief Fire Inspectorapproved by the Chief Fire Inspector

Repercussions in OhioRepercussions in Ohio

Within a year, laws were passed that Within a year, laws were passed that mandatedmandated– Frequent, adequate fire drillsFrequent, adequate fire drills– Fire safety instruction to childrenFire safety instruction to children– Every private/public school teacher to Every private/public school teacher to

spend thirty minutes/month to teach spend thirty minutes/month to teach students (ages:6-14 yr.) fire rules to be students (ages:6-14 yr.) fire rules to be developed by the Fire Marshal. developed by the Fire Marshal.

Ultimately, the Collinwood tragedy created a groundswell of activities and measures that led to the condemnation of unsafe buildings, alterations in fire escape design, development of saferexits and devices such as “panic bars”, and relocation of furnaces to safer locations.

Donations to the grief-stricken came from across the country. Noteworthy were donations fromthe schoolchildren of Cleveland, a travelling vaudevillian by the name of Harry Houdini, and survivors from the recent General Slocum catastrophe.

Houdini

General Slocum

A bill to provide $25,000 to assistwith the burials was passed by the Ohio General Assembly. TheCollinwood Board of Trade added$3,000 more.

Reverberations Across AmericaReverberations Across America

Illinois Board of Health ordered the closure Illinois Board of Health ordered the closure of all schools with doors that opened of all schools with doors that opened inward and had combustible fire escapes.inward and had combustible fire escapes.

Cleveland school board mandated that Cleveland school board mandated that school basements be fireproof, that school basements be fireproof, that staircases be constructed of iron, that fire staircases be constructed of iron, that fire escapes be enclosed, and that vestibules escapes be enclosed, and that vestibules have no inner doors.have no inner doors.

Similar actions took place in Indiana, Similar actions took place in Indiana, Kansas City, and Pittsburgh among others.Kansas City, and Pittsburgh among others.

Reports from New York CityReports from New York City

At about the same time, a fire developed in At about the same time, a fire developed in a school in lower Manhattan. Over 1,000 a school in lower Manhattan. Over 1,000 students were safely evacuated in two students were safely evacuated in two minutes. The successful operation was the minutes. The successful operation was the result of fireproof construction, broad result of fireproof construction, broad hallways, and the conducting of fire drills hallways, and the conducting of fire drills every 2-4 months.every 2-4 months.

However, a few weeks after Collinwood, NYC However, a few weeks after Collinwood, NYC Fire Chiefs reported that schools over 10 Fire Chiefs reported that schools over 10 years old had defective doors, wooden years old had defective doors, wooden staircases, and malfunctioning fire staircases, and malfunctioning fire extinguishers.extinguishers.

London reported their schools harbored London reported their schools harbored similar conditions that were found at Lake similar conditions that were found at Lake View.View.

Parisian authorities decreed that fire drills Parisian authorities decreed that fire drills be conducted more frequently than once abe conducted more frequently than once a month.month.

The German Press having witnessed the The German Press having witnessed the death toll in the Iroquois Theatre and death toll in the Iroquois Theatre and General Slocum catastrophes were General Slocum catastrophes were exceedingly harsh in their judgments aboutexceedingly harsh in their judgments about American concerns for safety.American concerns for safety.

Reverberations Overseas

Meanwhile, Days of Meanwhile, Days of Sadness…Sadness…

Loss of Innocence Loss of Innocence Each day, scores of funeral processions Each day, scores of funeral processions led by small white coffins traversed the led by small white coffins traversed the streets of Collinwood.streets of Collinwood.

Due to the numbers of dead, hearses Due to the numbers of dead, hearses were unavailable. Special “funeral” were unavailable. Special “funeral” streetcars draped in black and white streetcars draped in black and white were substituted.were substituted.

One coffin contained the remains of One coffin contained the remains of three playmates who were found in the three playmates who were found in the fire huddled together.fire huddled together.

Glenville Hospital cared for a Glenville Hospital cared for a number of the injured victims. At number of the injured victims. At the end of the day, this hospital the end of the day, this hospital sheltered the remains of seven sheltered the remains of seven victims. Little else is known about victims. Little else is known about the numbers who were injured, but the numbers who were injured, but survived. survived.

The destination of most of the “dead The destination of most of the “dead wagons” was the storehouse at the Lake wagons” was the storehouse at the Lake shore shops. It would be the temporary shore shops. It would be the temporary morgue for the next twenty-four hours.morgue for the next twenty-four hours.

Remains of the deadalong the storehousefloor

Identifying the dead

At this “morgue”:At this “morgue”:Police and shop personnel stood guard as the Police and shop personnel stood guard as the

blanketed remains were placed in rows of blanketed remains were placed in rows of ten.ten.

One railroad worker was in charge of each row.One railroad worker was in charge of each row.Tags were placed on each of the remains to Tags were placed on each of the remains to

identify gender.identify gender.One family at a time was escorted in to identify One family at a time was escorted in to identify

loved ones.loved ones.Physicians and nurses were arriving to assist Physicians and nurses were arriving to assist

families both medically and psychologically.families both medically and psychologically.The second floor of the storehouse became the The second floor of the storehouse became the

“hospital”.“hospital”.

Victim identification was no easy task. Victim identification was no easy task. In many cases, identification was In many cases, identification was accomplished by circumstantial accomplished by circumstantial evidence. Eight-year-old Danny evidence. Eight-year-old Danny Clark's remains were identified by Clark's remains were identified by his favorite bright green marble his favorite bright green marble located on his torso. Nine-year-old located on his torso. Nine-year-old Russell Newberry was identified from Russell Newberry was identified from a watch chain fragment. Recent a watch chain fragment. Recent dental fillings and shreds of new dental fillings and shreds of new clothes helped to identify others.clothes helped to identify others.

Hour after grisly hour, the process Hour after grisly hour, the process continued. Once a loved one was continued. Once a loved one was identified it would be wrapped in identified it would be wrapped in white and the family escorted out to white and the family escorted out to make way for the next family’s make way for the next family’s ordeal.ordeal.

Police Chief McIlrath, at one point, told Police Chief McIlrath, at one point, told that one of his children was dead, that one of his children was dead, went to the morgue, identified the went to the morgue, identified the remains, then went back to his remains, then went back to his duties well into the night.duties well into the night.

By 4PM, 165 bodies were arrayed By 4PM, 165 bodies were arrayed on the storehouse floor. All but on the storehouse floor. All but 56 were identified by midnight. 56 were identified by midnight.

These were later These were later

removed to the removed to the

town hall. In town hall. In

time all but time all but

nineteen bodies nineteen bodies

were identified.were identified.

Town Hall

Lost Innocence

The Next 24 hoursThe Next 24 hours

Nearly 25,000 people converge upon Collinwood.Nearly 25,000 people converge upon Collinwood.American Amusement Co. begins selling souvenir American Amusement Co. begins selling souvenir

postcards of the scene to the public.postcards of the scene to the public.The Young Women’s Christians Association of The Young Women’s Christians Association of

Cleveland send 100 volunteers to care for the Cleveland send 100 volunteers to care for the families and the injured.families and the injured.

Two hundred members of the Salvation Army arrive.Two hundred members of the Salvation Army arrive.Various church groups, doctors, and nurses also Various church groups, doctors, and nurses also

come to assist.come to assist.Crowd control provided by members of the Crowd control provided by members of the

Collinwood and Cleveland Police Departments.Collinwood and Cleveland Police Departments.

The Next Few DaysThe Next Few Days

As one segment of the Collinwood family begins to As one segment of the Collinwood family begins to bury its dead, the coroner’s office, the school bury its dead, the coroner’s office, the school board, and the village council begin their series board, and the village council begin their series of investigations.of investigations.

The janitor is singled out by the community as The janitor is singled out by the community as having played a part in the fire. Rumors spread having played a part in the fire. Rumors spread that he was not at his post and that he had that he was not at his post and that he had locked the doors of escape. Fearing his life was locked the doors of escape. Fearing his life was in danger, police provided guards to protect him in danger, police provided guards to protect him from the hundreds gathered at his house. Only from the hundreds gathered at his house. Only the sight of the white caskets of his children the sight of the white caskets of his children issuing from his house forced the throng to issuing from his house forced the throng to reconsider any thoughts of revenge.reconsider any thoughts of revenge.

EPILOGUEEPILOGUE

Recovery

A Funeral Procession

Another white casket leaving homeone last time

Horse drawn hearse with a white coffin

Lake View Cemetery and the burial site of a number of the school firevictims

Close-up of theCollinwoodElementarySchool Monumentat the Lake ViewCemetery

The gravelayout of thevictims at Lakeview Cemetery. The top row contains theunidentified.Grace Fiske isat the lower lefton the bottom row.

Note that many of the names are of Middleand Eastern Europeanancestry.

A GravesideCasket

The City of Collinwood purchased a common grave at Lake View Cemetery for the interment of the 21 children who remained unidentified and unclaimed.

WhiteCaskets In Array

Teacher and pupils: Together indeath and forever

Lakeview Cemetery graves registration card for one of the unidentified children

Another Lakeview Cemetery graves registration card

Amidst the dirtand fallen leaveslies embeddeda grave marker ofone of the unidentifiedchildren.

The Memorial Elementary Schoolwas built on the site of the previous school.

1910

Boarded-up entrance of the now-defunct Memorial School

19091909

A memorial garden created

Despite a general ignorancesurrounding this tragedy, efforts continue to assure that the victimsare not forgotten.

Note: Only knownrecord that a rescuerwas also killed onthat day.

Marie Pengler,the last knownCollinwood survivor

mementomori

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