Fifty years ago today our nation suffered an horrific tragedy, the assassination of President John F. Kennedy in Dallas, Texas. Everyone remembers exactly where they were and what they were doing when they heard the news. I was a senior at Lorain High School in Lorain, Ohio in Mr. Schnieder’s Senior Government class. The school Principal, Mr. Holder, came on the PA and made the announcement and told everyone that school was dismissed for the day. It was so quiet as we all left the building it was almost scary. We all sat glued to our tv’s (black and white, probably 19” screen) for the next few days and watched the whole story unfold.
Now for the “forgotten tragedy”. Tomorrow, November 23, is the fiftieth anniversary of what is called the “Golden Age Nursing Home Fire”. The home was located near Fitchville, Ohio about 10 miles south of Norwalk. It was a single story building, probably 60’ wide by 150-200’ long., 8’ high walls. It was wood frame construction and had no sprinkler system or automatic alarms or anything of that nature. It had a patient population over 60 souls. It was nothing more or less than a “warehouse” for old, forgotten folks who hadn’t gotten around to dying yet!! Sad, but true!!
It was located in a Township that had fire service contracts with 3 separate departments, Norwalk, North Fairfield, and New London. All of them approximately the same distance from the place, roughly 10 miles. Norwalk was the only full-time department, the other 2 were all volunteer
In the early morning hours, a fire broke out somewhere in the building. Passersby stopped and attempted to assist, but to no avail. Calls were made to the fire department(s) and after some delays, a response was initiated. Far too little and way to late!!
The end result was 66 victims deceased, and a tragedy of monumental proportions. But for the assassination of the President, headlines all over the country would have been screaming about it!!
At the time, I had been working for Carl at the ambulance service in Lorain for just a few months. I’ve related before that when you started in the business there you handled the deceased before you ever got to ride an emergency coach. Saturday morning was quite busy. Body bags and hearses were rounded up from all over this part of Ohio and sent to Fitchville. What was removed from the ruins of the place were not much more than cremains Most all of the victims were burnt beyond any hope of recognition. Sights and smells no 17 year old should ever have to endure.
What makes this pro-car related is the fact that there is at least one photograph that was published at the time showing maybe 25 or 30 hearses lined up along Rt. 250. I’ve asked my friend Kristi at the Firelands Historical Society to see if she can locate it and get it to me. If so, I’ll post it here.
I’ll finish this later today, I’ve got to leave for work right now.
Now for the “forgotten tragedy”. Tomorrow, November 23, is the fiftieth anniversary of what is called the “Golden Age Nursing Home Fire”. The home was located near Fitchville, Ohio about 10 miles south of Norwalk. It was a single story building, probably 60’ wide by 150-200’ long., 8’ high walls. It was wood frame construction and had no sprinkler system or automatic alarms or anything of that nature. It had a patient population over 60 souls. It was nothing more or less than a “warehouse” for old, forgotten folks who hadn’t gotten around to dying yet!! Sad, but true!!
It was located in a Township that had fire service contracts with 3 separate departments, Norwalk, North Fairfield, and New London. All of them approximately the same distance from the place, roughly 10 miles. Norwalk was the only full-time department, the other 2 were all volunteer
In the early morning hours, a fire broke out somewhere in the building. Passersby stopped and attempted to assist, but to no avail. Calls were made to the fire department(s) and after some delays, a response was initiated. Far too little and way to late!!
The end result was 66 victims deceased, and a tragedy of monumental proportions. But for the assassination of the President, headlines all over the country would have been screaming about it!!
At the time, I had been working for Carl at the ambulance service in Lorain for just a few months. I’ve related before that when you started in the business there you handled the deceased before you ever got to ride an emergency coach. Saturday morning was quite busy. Body bags and hearses were rounded up from all over this part of Ohio and sent to Fitchville. What was removed from the ruins of the place were not much more than cremains Most all of the victims were burnt beyond any hope of recognition. Sights and smells no 17 year old should ever have to endure.
What makes this pro-car related is the fact that there is at least one photograph that was published at the time showing maybe 25 or 30 hearses lined up along Rt. 250. I’ve asked my friend Kristi at the Firelands Historical Society to see if she can locate it and get it to me. If so, I’ll post it here.
I’ll finish this later today, I’ve got to leave for work right now.
