Incident Date:
November 15, 1942
Department:
Boston Fire Department (MA)
Number of Line-of-Duty Deaths:
6
Long before dawn on the blustery, 12-degree morning of Sunday, November 15, 1942, a fire broke out that would leave a lasting impact on both the East Boston neighborhood—and the entire Boston Fire Department. A man doing odd jobs cleaning the Luongo’s Tap kitchen discovered a grease fire and ran into the street shouting for help. A neighbor called to report the fire at 2:26 am and Engine Company 40 and Ladder Company 2 were dispatched to the scene.
When Patrolmen John Norton and William McLean from the East Boston station arrived on the scene, the fire had already spread to the adjacent liquor store and up into the dinner/dance hall on the second floor . At 2:27 am, they sent the remaining companies on Box Alarm 6153: Engine Companies 9, 5, 11, Ladder Company 31, and Acting District 1 Chief Jacob Berninger.
After his size-up, Chief Berninger reported that the fire had started in the rear kitchen ceiling.
The Building
Over the years, the building at the corner of Maverick Square and Henry Street became known by various names and played a significant role in the community. Constructed sometime before 1858, the 5 ½-story, 35 foot by 65 foot (Type III construction) brick-and-joist structure featured a 3 ½ story granite façade and was initially named Ritchie Hall after its original owner. Its large space, known as Lyceum Hall, hosted numerous events, community gatherings, and political rallies—making it a lively hub for the city.
By the time of the fire, the structure had been renamed the “Old Armory Building,” although it never served as an armory. In 1942, the building housed a liquor store and café on the first floor and dine and dance hall on the second floor. On the night of the fire, over 200 patrons had been in the hall up until midnight.
The Collapse
Just as the fire was deemed under control, the upper floors of the building gave way—thus collapsing onto the Henry Street side of the building. The building’s granite cornerstone shattered, spilling into the street and toppling a light pole in its path.
More than forty firefighters were buried in the collapse on the Henry Street side of the building. The explosion threw 6 additional firefighters across Henry Street.
It appears from what the firemen and other witnesses say that the bearing walls collapsed following a probable internal explosion of such velocity as to destroy and break off the truss rods supporting the upper floors.
When the fourth and fifth alarms were sounded, additional firefighters rushed to the scene. Mayor Tobin, Police Superintendent Edward W. Fallon, and Medical Examiner William J. Brinkley also responded, joined by more ambulances and doctors as well as rescue workers from the Coast Guard.
After the collapse, the adjacent building on Henry Street erupted in fire—sending 11 families in their night clothes into the street. Red Cross workers provided warm clothes and blankets to shield them from the bitter cold. Although wartime rationing was in effect, they also supplied a large amount of coffee, doughnuts, and sandwiches to assist the rescue efforts.
In the commotion, cries of trapped firefighters led to emergency calls to all police stations. As more police responded, members of the Coast Guard arrived at the scene and went to work rescuing those who were trapped in the debris. The Boston civilian defense organization was mobilized, bringing over 200 police and the Boston Public Safety Committee’s demolition squad to the scene.
Narrow Escapes and Heroic Actions
Afterward, witnesses recalled the quick work of the battered and injured firefighters, who continued to fight the fire that had erupted after the collapse. They worked to control the fire spread and protect those who were trapped and injured by the collapse. Their keeping the fire at bay allowed other firefighters to make rescues.
- Lieutenant Charles Connors, who was standing with Chief Samuel Pope near Ladder 8 at the time of the collapse, described the moment as “a sudden loud roar followed by a puff of smoke.” Both narrowly escaped being buried beneath the falling debris.
- Chief Pope had just come down from the second floor moments before it gave way.
- Hoseman Joseph Griffin, who also had just come down from the second floor for some air before the collapse, rushed back up the stairs. With the help of Captain James Kennedy and Hoseman Florence Sullivan, he attempted to lift the fallen beam off of Hoseman Daniel McGuire.
- District Chief Michael Aylward and Chief James Crowley were injured trying to rescue Ladderman Patrick McCarthy, who was trapped under heavy timber.
- Jerry McCarthy worked to free a trapped firefighter—only to find it was his own brother, Patrick McCarthy—who had suffered two broken legs.
- Lieutenant Francis Hanron, a former Boston firefighter and U.S. Coast Guard member, arrived at the scene to assist with the rescue efforts. He discovered his friend and colleague, John Foley, among the victims.
- Overcome with emotion, Hanron collapsed and required first aid.
- During the rescue and recovery efforts, a dozen local priests climbed through the rubble offering blessings to the injured. One priest, while up to his knees in water, comforted a critically injured firefighter. The Boston Traveler later reported, “At one point, the rescuers paused, heads bared, while priests administered the last rites of the Catholic Church. Then the rescue work resumed.”
At dawn, tired and injured firefighters were laying in the streets. Ambulances shuttled the injured to hospitals and returned to the scene for more.
All possible rescues were made before noon and the injured were taken to City Hospital and Massachusetts General. Those injured in the collapse included:
- John Abbott, possible fractured spine
- Gus Amsler, arm injury
- Frederick Bachofner, fractured nose
- Harry Butterworth, possible fractured spine, cuts and bruises to the back
- John Carr, burns to the face, scalp, and eyes
- Paul Carter, fractured elbow and lacerations to the right arm
- Patrick Coffee, possible fractured right ankle, lacerated toe
- Angelo Corrola, concussion, fractured thumb
- James Crowley, possible fractured spine
- Edward Galvin, lacerated scalp, fractured left leg, and sprained back
- Thomas Donovan, lacerated scalp, contusions of the left scapula
- Edward Doyle, fractured ribs and chest injuries
- Captain Peter J. Dunn, knee and ankle injuries, exposure
- Thomas Feeney, compound fracture of the right ankle
- Charles Fleming, a puncture wound to the foot
- John Frangello, possible fractured spine (Ladder 11)
- Arthur Fraser, fractured right arm, possible fracture of the knee
- John Howe, fractured foot (Engine 5)
- John Horgan, possible concussion, fractured right rib
- Ernest Jule, plaster in the eyes, concussion, sprained back
- Joseph Kenney, possible fracture of the left ankle, facial injuries
- Thomas Kennedy, concussion
- Daniel Killen, Sailor attached to an army transport, for exposure
- John Larson, chest and knee injuries
- Thomas Lydon, possible collapsed lung, laceration to the eye (critical condition, possible fractured spine, internal injuries)
- Thomas Mellyn, contusions to the knee and thigh
- Harry Murphy, possible fractured foot, sprained back
- Patrick McCarthy, possible fractured rib, fractured left ankle, shock
- Charles McDevitt, possible leg fracture, concussion
- Harry McDonald, fractured ribs
- Hugh McMakin, sprained back
- Lt. John McNamara, smoke inhalation
- William Reynolds, contusions to the chest
- John Skeffington, possible fractured spine
- Captain John Stapleton, fractured nose, shock (critical condition, shock and head injuries)
- Henry Welz, possible fractured collarbone, fractured ribs, lacerations
- Patrolman Richard White, lacerated scalp
- Police Lt. William Riordan, broken finger (Police Station 7)
- Christian Dahnke, fractured skull (grave condition)
- Lt. Henry Ducey, fractured right leg, fractured pelvis (Engine 3) (grave condition, leg fracture and internal injuries)
- John Brown, nail in the foot
- Chief John McDonaugh, nail in the foot
Throughout the afternoon, exhausted firefighters, the demolition squad, and riggers from the Lawley shipyards used massive cranes to move the wreckage in order to reach the six fallen firefighters.
The firefighters who were killed were all on the second floor when the collapse occurred. They were all found around the same area:
- Around 9:00 am, they located the remains of Edward F. Macomber from Engine 12, trapped beneath bricks and a support beam.
- At 1:00 pm, they discovered Francis F. Degan of Engine 3 at the head of the stairs, buried under a pile of bricks.
- Malachi F. Reddington of Engine 33 was rescued and rushed to the hospital, where Patrolman Edward J. Montague, who was on duty that day, volunteered for a blood transfusion in an effort to save Malachi’s life. Tragically, Malachi’s injuries were too severe, and he passed away at 6:35 pm.
- Following the hoseline, searchers came upon the remains of Peter F. McMorrow at 4:00 pm from Engine 50 and Daniel E. McGuire of Ladder 2 a half hour later.
- Moving across the room, Coast Guard Seaman Burton Rought and Chief Boatswain’s Mate A.P. Brooks, himself a former Boston firefighter, found John F. Foley of Engine Company 3 at 9:45 pm. His remains were recovered at 10:15 pm.
Despite the urging of fellow firefighters and a physician to rest, Chief Pope stayed at the scene until the last fallen firefighter was recovered 10:15 pm. After the “all-out” was reported at 11:31 pm, he read the names of the fallen to the hundreds gathered. His voice broke as he called it an “awful, awful blow.” Overcome with emotion, he later collapsed and required medical attention.
Remembering
The White Elephant and Joseph B. Sullivan
Initially purchased by the City of Somerville, the 125-foot aerial ladder—painted white—was reported to be the largest of its kind in the country. It was so large, in fact, that when Somerville received the ladder truck, they found it couldn’t fit inside their firehouse. Soon thereafter, it was purchased by the Boston Fire Department for $20,000 and designated as Ladder 8.
At the time of the collapse, Ladder 8 was on the Henry Street side of the building. When the walls fell, it too was buried under the rubble.
Paul Carter was in the cab of Ladder 8 when the collapse occurred, and he escaped with a fractured elbow and lacerations. Many firefighters credit the sturdiness of the ladder truck in shielding them from the falling debris. It became an escape route for firefighters and later a platform to conduct the excavation.
Following the Maverick Square Fire, the ladder truck was fixed—and it returned to service as Ladder 19 in South Boston.
Tragedy struck once more a few years later during routine maintenance when the brakes were being tested. On December 3, 1947, Ladder 19 overturned, resulting in the death of Provisional Firefighter Joseph B. Sullivan. Following this accident, the truck was taken out of service.
Remembering
Families’ Anxious Vigil
Boston firefighter families, many still unaware that they had already lost a loved one, anxiously awaited news from the fireground. James Foley, 18, held a ten-hour vigil at the scene, waiting for firefighters to find his father, while his mother remained at home—unaware of her husband’s fate.
John Degan from Ladder 1 arrived at the scene with his wife after hearing news of the fire. When they got there, his fellow firefighters recognized John and delivered the heartbreaking news that their son, Francis, had died in the collapse.
Meanwhile, Mrs. Helen McMorrow—who had feared for her husband’s safety—learned he was missing only after a reporter called her home.
Mutual Aid in Times of Loss
The Brockton Fire Department rallied to support their Boston brothers, organizing a tag day fundraiser to aid the families of the fallen firefighters. Just a year earlier, Boston firefighters had extended their support to Brockton when 13 of their own lost their lives in the Strand Theatre Fire.
After experiencing significant civilian loss earlier that January, Lynn firefighters gathered a $200 donation to aid the injured and support the families of those who had lost their lives.
The eastern Massachusetts area mobilized to raise funds for the families of the fallen firefighters. The first donation, in the amount of $200, came from the Boston Building Inspectors’ Association. Fire Chief Scanlon of the Lynn Fire Department added another $200—and announced that their department had established a committee to raise funds for the families. In Somerville, a fundraising committee was established to help the families.
Line of Duty Benefit in 1942 for a Boston Firefighter’s Family
In 1942, the widow of a Massachusetts fallen firefighter received a $1,000 per year for life or until she re-married, as well as $200 per child.
Maverick Square and Coconut Grove Fires Test Boston’s Resolve
While Boston firefighters were still searching for their missing colleagues, they responded to another two-alarm fire that morning that resulted in two additional firefighter injuries. Throughout the day, as recovery efforts continued, they also tackled a series of brush and trash fires.
Several investigations by the Boston Fire Department’s Fire Prevention Bureau, the Boston Police Department’s Arson Squad, and the State Fire Marshal’s Office began immediately after the Maverick Square collapse.
Following the series of funerals for each of the fallen firefighters, a solemn requiem mass in honor of all six was held.
However, the community’s grief was overshadowed by another tragedy, as the Coconut Grove fire took the lives of 492 people less than two weeks later. The overlap of these two events ultimately led to the Luongo Restaurant Fire in Maverick Square becoming the “forgotten fire.”
Restoring Memory: A Monument to the Heroes of the Forgotten Fire
In 2006, newly elected City Councilman Sal LaMattina, upon learning of the tragic fire, began advocating for a monument at its East Boston site. His vision was fulfilled in 2012, marking the 70th anniversary of the fire. Local officials, Boston Fire Department members, East Boston residents, and families of the six fallen firefighters gathered to honor their memory: dedicating the memorial and once again speaking their names.
For generations of new East Bostonians, when they see this memorial, they will know about that fire that took place in East Boston. The Luongo Fire will no longer be the 'forgotten fire' in Boston.
