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Post by timholycross on Nov 22, 2023 14:44:25 GMT -5
Cannot think of a purely non-football event more connected to Holy Cross Football; save for the "political football" the memorial's creation became at times.
"Roslindale native Charles Capone stopped by the Cocoanut Grove the night of Nov. 28, 1942, to wish a farewell to some of his buddies who were going off to fight in World War II.
“A pleasant evening ended in tragedy,” says his niece and goddaughter Phyllis Cavan, of Medfield.
Capone and 489 others lost their lives in the deadliest nightclub fire in history, while 166 people were sent to city hospitals with injuries, an event that many refer to as Boston’s “worst catastrophe.”
Decades in the making, a memorial honoring those who died and the major advancements in burn treatment, trauma response and fire codes that came out of the blaze is set to break ground at Statler Park on Sunday.
Cavan said she will be attending the grand occasion, carrying a picture of her uncle, who was 26 years old at the time of the fire, which robbed him from the chance to “live, marry and have children.”
Around the time of the anniversary, while growing up, Cavan and her father would attend mass at Holy Name Church in West Roxbury to honor her uncle. She admitted she didn’t think the memorial would come to fruition but she is “very grateful that it will be a reality.”
“It means so much that he and the other victims will be honored in this way with a memorial,” said Cavan, who was 16 months old when her uncle died. “This will be something for history, something I can show my grandchildren, and they will always remember.”
The monument will be built to the specifications of the club – 18 feet wide and 11 feet tall – with three 7-foot arches, said Michael Hanlon, vice president and treasurer of the Cocoanut Grove Memorial Committee. There will be 490 granite bricks inscribed with the names of each victim along with informational panels describing the history of the fire.
Construction is slated to wrap up next September, after Labor Day, Hanlon told the Herald, adding roughly 60 married couples and four brothers died in the fateful blaze.
“We want to make sure those bricks are side by side or up and down from each other,” Hanlon said Wednesday. “There is some method to the madness in terms of the placement of each one of these bricks.”
Hanlon estimated the cost of the memorial to be roughly $750,000, including $250,000 that the City Council awarded in 2021 in Community Preservation Act funds as well as an additional $450,000 allocated towards the project in the city’s 2023 fiscal year capital budget.
“The Cocoanut Grove fire was a horrific and painful memory for Boston, but it also brought our city together as a community,” City Council President Ed Flynn told the Herald.
Though the cause of the fire is officially unknown, it is believed to have been sparked by a busboy who didn’t fully extinguish a match he was using to change a lightbulb. Faulty wiring, a club at twice its allowed capacity, and side exits that were either blocked or bolted shut are thought to have made the catastrophe exponentially worse.
A plaque erected by the Bay Village Neighborhood Association in 1993 has honored those who died and were injured in the area of 17 Piedmont St., the address for the Cocoanut Grove. The city in 2013 changed a nearby street name to Cocoanut Grove Lane.
“There was very little publicity about preserving the history of the Cocoanut Grove,” Hanlon said. “I kind of thought that something more should be done about this, but it was just kind of a wish.”
The fateful blaze is credited with triggering an overhaul of building and fire codes, including requiring emergency exits and sprinklers.
More than 80 years after the fire, officials at Massachusetts General Hospital continue to explore ways to improve treatment for burn patients.
In September 2022, researchers introduced what the hospital calls “a first-of-its-kind hydrogel for second-degree burns that can be dissolved quickly and easily to reduce the pain of wound dressing changes in burn patients.”
“We look at this memorial as an educational feature,” Hanlon said. “We think this memorial will attract people to come and read the information panels … and people will learn from this giant mistake, what it has brought forward in terms of fire prevention and fire procedures.”
The 81st anniversary of the Cocoanut Grove fire and groundbreaking ceremony will be held Sunday at 1 p.m. at Statler Park, on Stuart Street, across from the Revere Hotel."
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Post by td128 on Nov 22, 2023 17:46:37 GMT -5
TimHC, thanks very much for sharing this. Would seem this memorial is long overdue but certainly better late than never. My grandfather, a BC grad Class of 1914, was a prosecuting attorney in the Cocoanut Grove case that led to the institution of new fire codes. A great day for Holy Cross FB given the huge upset over the Eagles which was subsequently overwhelmed by the enormity of this tragedy. Here’s a link for those interested in more background details: www.cocoanutgrove.org/lastsurvivors |
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Post by timholycross on Nov 23, 2023 9:41:56 GMT -5
"The final score of the historic Saturday afternoon collegiate football upset at Fenway
Park was Holy Cross 55, Boston College 12.
Three alumnae of Boston College lost their lives in the disaster: Francis Gatturne,
Donald MacMillan, age 30, Quincy, MA, and John McCann, age 43, Newton, MA
The fire claimed two alumnae of the College of the Holy Cross: Joseph Boratyn age 22,
Whitinsville, MA and Timothy Feeny, age 34, Medford, MA.
Boston College equipment manager and assistant trainer Lawrence “Larry” Kenney, age
38, Dorchester, MA, who died with his wife, Marie, age 33, was the only fire death
directly connected on-field to the afternoon BC/HC football game at Fenway Park.
Despite the big afternoon football match at Fenway Park between nationally ranked
Boston College and mediocre Holy Cross, no undergraduates from either school were
killed or injured at the Grove fire.
Shortest life span of a profound statement: “This city is now famous for two historical
events, the Boston Massacre and the Boston College Massacre”, (The Boston Herald,
November 29, 1943, penned in the fleeting hours between the afternoon Holy Cross
football rout of Boston College and start of the Cocoanut Grove blaze)."
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Post by sader1970 on Nov 23, 2023 9:46:54 GMT -5
Very sad day for Boston. However, “alumnae?” Really?
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Post by Chu Chu on Nov 24, 2023 11:14:54 GMT -5
Very sad day for Boston. However, “alumnae?” Really? According to online Mirriam-Webster, as sader1970 obviously is aware, "For an individual graduate, an alumnus is a single male, an alumna is a single female, and an alum is the gender neutral term. For the plurals, alumni refers to multiple male or gender neutral graduates, alumnae is for multiple female grads, and alums is the gender neutral plural. These terms are often used loosely and their strict definitions are in flux." It seems obvious to me that the article was written by a BC grad. |
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Post by sader1970 on Nov 24, 2023 14:33:34 GMT -5
  Soooo, when I initially wrote my prior post, I had "couldn't have been written by either a Holy Cross or BC grad as either would know this was incorrect" but then thought the better of it as those of us of a certain age likely took Latin and knew the correct usage. I then thought the better of it realizing that most here did NOT take Latin and would not realize the mistake. I hate to date myself but am proud to say that I was the only one in my high school class to pass the Latin NY State Regents exam (I went to a Franciscan High School, so that's our excuse.  ). I also had the benefit of being an altar boy when the Mass was strictly in Latin and had to memorize all the prayers and had a father who explained to my older brother and me what the English translations were. I do think whether one took Latin or not, especially Holy Cross alums (see what I did there?), they should know the difference between alumna/ae and alumnus/i. So, thank you Chu!
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Post by Chu Chu on Nov 25, 2023 10:33:42 GMT -5
Soooo, when I initially wrote my prior post, I had "couldn't have been written by either a Holy Cross or BC grad as either would know this was incorrect" but then thought the better of it as those of us of a certain age likely took Latin and knew the correct usage. I then thought the better of it realizing that most here did NOT take Latin and would not realize the mistake. I hate to date myself but am proud to say that I was the only one in my high school class to pass the Latin NY State Regents exam (I went to a Franciscan High School, so that's our excuse. ). I also had the benefit of being an altar boy when the Mass was strictly in Latin and had to memorize all the prayers and had a father who explained to my older brother and me what the English translations were. I do think whether one took Latin or not, especially Holy Cross alums (see what I did there?), they should know the difference between alumna/ae and alumnus/i. So, thank you Chu! Introibo ad altare Dei . . . Being an altar boy really did help with Latin! |
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Post by joutsHC77 on Nov 25, 2023 11:46:15 GMT -5
Ad Deum qui laetificat juventutem meam.
I still serve at the Latin Mass.
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Post by mm67 on Nov 25, 2023 11:52:52 GMT -5
Off track but may be of interest to a few. Yes, I'm sure some of us were altar boys. I served at age 10 & dutifully memorized the Latin.The opening line of the Mass above brought back bittersweet memories of my brief life on the altar. Often served the 5:30AM Mass. I was an overly intense, extremely clumsy altar boy who wanted to do everything perfectly +. As a result I made a lot of mistakes which resulted in mayhem on the altar. To wit: Carrying the "Big Book" on a flat wooden holder I bent down so low the book slid & slipped onto the floor tearing some pages. The priest picked up the book with annoyed glance & i was directed to the side altar.Also, I regularly pushed the communion plate too hard into the throats of the recipients so as not to let a precious crumb spill onto the floor. Many communion recipients gagged, some pushed my hand back. One time during communion, at the rail my feet intertwined with the feet of the priest causing him to trip & fall onto the floor and spill the wafers onto the floor. He was on the floor looking up at me & yelled at me to please move to the side altar and stay there. Finally, during a benediction I was holding onto the gold chain with the incense smoker at one end. On the other end there was a gold ring. During the service I became distracted and absentmindedly began to lick the inside of the ring with my tongue. The priest noticed, sternly came down to me, grabbed the chain and banished me to the side altar. And there were other misadventures on the altar. None of this went well. I was removed one could say for the salvation of the church. I go to the altar of God for He is the joy of my youth.
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Post by rgs318 on Nov 25, 2023 12:02:13 GMT -5
My memories as an altar boy include one day when the women of the Rosary and Altar Society were to have a mass and Father Joe forgot. I was playing basketball in the parking lot when Father came out looking for someone to serve for him. I joined him, but pointed out that I only had my Converse high top sneakers to wear. He said "Don't worry sbout that, just lead me out onto the altar." I did, but the sneaker squeeks got pretty loud after 30+ minutes on the marble floor of the sanctuary. After Mass he did say next time he would listen to my comments. PS: I alsp whacked/tapped a throat or two with the paten during distribution of Communion hosts. |
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Post by sader1970 on Nov 25, 2023 15:17:42 GMT -5
. . . . . and down the side road we go! Perhaps we should have a separate altar boy thread but I do need to contribute this little tidbit about the paten vis-a-vis throats. As altar boys, we not only served Masses on Sunday (this was prior to Masses counting on Saturday afternoon) but we also served in the Church during the week and there was an early Mass in the parish school's convent chapel. Only ones at that Mass were the nuns, the priest and the altar boy (from memory, instead of the usual two - bells & book - just one). So, all the nuns you had in the past, present and future were at the chapel Mass. Some of the nuns were not so nice, many were. But for those who weren't . . . . . you know where this is going, right? The Sisters of Mercy's habits essentially covered all but their face and their necks were not visible but the starched collar came out to what almost looked like the prow of a ship. On an occasion, an altar boy might get a little aggressive with certain nuns with the paten and do a slight karate chop to a nun's neck. The nun was helpless to do or say anything because it was obviously just a mistake on the part of the altar boy who was simply ensuring the safety of the host. They knew it. The altar boy knew it. The priest was always oblivious to it (or was just a wink and a nod likely having nuns himself when he was young.) The nuns never said anything even in school. Just a little payback. I must make very clear, the vast majority of the nuns were wonderful people. Brides of Christ and all. |
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Post by Crucis#1 on Nov 25, 2023 21:37:50 GMT -5
To continue the Tales from the Altar Boys…
I singed the hair on the front of my head while standing with the candle for the stations of the cross. I can still remember the smell of the hair burning on my forehead and calmly tapping my head to put out the fire and continuing the procession.
Also like 67, I dropped the big book while preparing the altar for Midnight Mass for the Easter vigil. The book split on its spine. Fortunately for me Fr. Charles was a kind and understanding man and told me not to worry, it can be repaired.
Along with a thread…Tales from the Altar Boys, we should have a thread…..Mean Nuns, and where are they now, Up or Down…..🤣🤣🤣
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Post by rgs318 on Nov 26, 2023 17:24:08 GMT -5
A small side light on our detour...just a reminder that most of the women we are speaking about are "sisters." "Nuns" live a cloistered life - almost unheard of today. |
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Post by sader1970 on Nov 26, 2023 19:58:07 GMT -5
You say tomato, I say toe-mah-toe. You may well be accurate but we were brought up to use “nun” and “sister” interchangeably.
For example: you call a priest, “father.”
We called a nun, “sister.”
Now, we can next discuss what cloistered actually means. The nuns/sisters who taught us lived together in a convent and really didn’t see them in public except in school teaching or across the street in church. They weren’t generally walking around town. Does that count as cloistered?🤷🏻♂️
I’m prepared for another lesson on the subject.😉
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Post by Crucis#1 on Nov 26, 2023 20:23:47 GMT -5
When you are 70 plus in age, do you call a 35 year old priest …..father?
Does he say ….. “Bless you my son?”…..🤔
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Post by rgs318 on Nov 26, 2023 20:30:48 GMT -5
When I served Mass for an ordained sister I did ask if I "shoud call you father, sister?" She said "reverend would serve nicely." And remember, all nuns are sisters, but not all sisters are nuns. |
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Post by hchoops on Nov 26, 2023 20:48:36 GMT -5
After the early 60s I rarely served at a Mass.
In 2003 I was asked to serve at the NYC Memorial Mass for former HC coach, Jack Donohue.
The third person in the altar was the eulogist, who had been Coach Donohue’s most famous player, Kareem Abdul Jabbar. (Lew Alcindor)
Kareem offered a relatively brief, but most meaningful tribute to his coach, never mentioning basketball.
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Post by sader1970 on Nov 26, 2023 21:13:31 GMT -5
Sorry, I already forgot this.😂
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Post by td128 on Nov 29, 2023 5:58:45 GMT -5
One of the last known survivors of this fateful tragedy provided this interview. He was in attendance that afternoon at Fenway Park to witness the Holy Cross upset of Boston College. Rather chilling to read of the locking of the doors that created the fire trap leading to this historic tragedy.
Interview with Cocoanut Grove Fire Survivor Bob Shumway (November 18, 2020)
www.cocoanutgrove.org/bobshumway
Naples resident remembers the 78th anniversary of the Boston Cocoanut Grove Fire
Seventeen-year-old Bob Shumway sits on the edge of his seat at Fenway Park in Boston, Massachusetts, in 1942. He is watching Holy Cross College beat rival and undefeated Boston College in a huge upset in college football, 55-12. After the game, Shumway and his friend, Dick Moulton decided to visit the Cocoanut Grove nightclub on their way home.
They have no idea their lives are about to change forever.
November 28, 2020, marks the 78th anniversary of the Cocoanut Grove disaster, the deadliest nightclub fire in history. Shumway, now 96-years old, is one of only three people still living since the fire. Although Shumway's memory is fading, he will never forget the horrors of that Saturday night.
"We were open to anything fun," said Shumway. "We just happened to be there." The Cocoanut Grove nightclub was the most well-known nightclub in Boston. On the night of the fire, 950 people were at the club - well past the 460-capacity limit. Shumway and Moulton mingled with people inside the club, walked outside and then went back into the main floor of the nightclub near the Caricature Bar.
"We weren't there too long," said Shumway. "We were there, and then all of a sudden, something exploded."
The explosion was a blue and orange ball of fire that started in the basement of club where the Melody Lounge was located. The Boston Fire Department report estimates that it took between 2-4 minutes for the fire to spread 40 feet and reach the staircase to the main floor. The staircase acted like a chimney, and the fire raced up the staircase to the bar area and dining room.
"l kept thinking, "Gee, you gotta have a way out of here," said Shumway.
The nightclub had six functioning doors, but Barney Welansky, the owner of the Cocoanut Grove nightclub, had locked them. He was concerned that people were sneaking out of the nightclub without paying their bill. On the night of the fire, the only way out of the nightclub for 950 patrons was through one revolving door. Shumway and Moulton along with hundreds of club patrons sprinted to their only escape: the front revolving door of the nightclub. Panic and fear rose as people were stuck inside the revolving door.
'When you get excited, you forget which way the door is supposed to go," said Shumway. Shumway and Moulton pushed and pulled several people out of the door and onto the street. Once outside the nightclub, Shumway and Moulton helped injured people into cars and taxis that took them to Boston City and Massachusetts General Hospital. ln a little over an hour, the fire was out, and 490 people had died.
Shumway and Moulton drove back home to Easthampton, Massachusetts, after the fire. Shortly after the fire, Shumway was drafted into the Army in World War ll and was in the 89th Infantry Division under General George Patton. He was deployed to France and Germany and was one of the first soldiers over the Rhine River.
"l've seen plenty," said Shumway. "That's just another thing. lt (the fire) was pretty bad but so was the war."
Legislators suggested bills within 24 hours after the Cocoanut Grove fire to increase laws around fire protection and building inspections. Regulations changed four days after the fire in cities like St. Louis, Miami, Cleveland, Philadelphia, Detroit and Chicago After the Cocoanut Grove fire, building with revolving doors also added hinged doors. Emergency lighting became necessary. Physicians at the Massachusetts General Hospital and Boston City Hospital changed the treatment of burn care by using skin grafts to treat burn patients. lt was also the first time that Penicillin was used in a civilian population. These treatments and innovations of fire and building codes in additional to the medical treatment were adopted worldwide as a result of the Cocoanut Grove fire.
Barney Welansky and 10 others were charged in the Cocoanut Grove nightclub fire. Welansky was convicted of 19 counts of involuntary manslaughter, (first time this verdict was found in US), and was sentenced to 15 years in prison. He was pardoned four years later and died of cancer on January 27, 1947.
Theories have developed over the years, but no one knows for sure how the fire started on November 28, 1942. Shumway will always remember one detail about the Cocoanut Grove nightclub and that dreadful night.
"Every time I see those (revolving) doors, it reminds me of the big fire", said Shumway.
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). I also had the benefit of being an altar boy when the Mass was strictly in Latin and had to memorize all the prayers and had a father who explained to my older brother and me what the English translations were. 