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Memorial Monday – Bowen-Merrill Bookstore Fire

Memorial Monday

Incident Date: March 17, 1890
Department: Indianapolis Fire Department (IN)
Number of Line-of-Duty Deaths: 13

On the afternoon of March 17, 1890, Indianapolis firefighters were called to the Bowen-Merrill Bookstore on West Washington Street to deal with what appeared to be a routine fire. Instead, it became a major catastrophe, claiming the lives of more firefighters than any other incident in Indianapolis history. The call came at approximately 3:00 pm from employees at the bookstore, who had seen smoke. Firefighters arrived at the scene and believed the situation to be relatively safe, with the fire contained to the basement of the building. Because of the flammable contents of the store, firefighters stayed on the scene to make sure the fire was extinguished. A few hours later, however, flames were seen coming from windows in the upper stories. A number of firefighters stationed themselves on top of the building, while others entered the four-story building through upper windows. Without warning the walls collapsed, dropping many firefighters into the flames. Thirteen firefighters lost their lives, and more than a dozen were seriously injured.

Killed in the Basement of the Bowen-Merrill Bookstore:

Thomas A. Black

John Burkhart

Superintendent Andrew O. Cherry

 

George Faulkner

Ulysses Glazier

George W. Glenn

 

Albert Hoffman

William F. Jones

David O.R. Lowery

 

William R. McGinnis

Espy Stormer

Anthony Voltz

 

 
Henry D. Woodruff

 

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More About Memorial Monday

Memorial Monday is established to remember the sacrifice of firefighters who died in the line of duty before the National Memorial was created in 1981. On the last Monday of every month, a firefighter, or groups of firefighters, will be remembered through information located about the firefighter and their sacrifice.