Personal Accounts ~ page 3
(email your story to [email protected])
...saw the smoke and went there with his camera.
Here are the first few photos that my father-in-law (Henry J. Hallock Sr.) took at the 1944 Hartford Circus fire. The story I have heard from my wife was that both her parents were suppose to go to the circus that day, but something came up and they couldn't go. My father-in-law not being to far from the circus saw the smoke and went there with his camera. My wife has always been told that because of the graphic photos they were never allowed to look at them as children.
-- Peter Alessi
-- Peter Alessi
They went as a birthday present...
My father was Albert W. Toth, my grandmother at the time was Louise Toth (later became Louise Connor).. My dad was four at the time of the fire, his date of birth was 4-6-40, he later died 12/17/1987... My grandmother was born in 1913, August I believe, and died in 1988. Joan and Regina Toth were my aunts, I obviously never met them, so I dont know much about them except their birthdays were both around the time of the circus fire (and my birthday is July 6th ironically) I think Joanie was July 2nd and Regina July 7th. They went as a birthday present. My father had a 10% chance of survival and beat the odds, thankfully or I would not be writing this..My grandmother was in the hospital in a coma, and there for a couple of months with severe burns to her body. She didnt even know her daughters died until a couple months after the incident.
-- Steve Toth
-- Steve Toth
...my father handed down her boy to her...
We were talking about the fire yesterday with my father who is now in a nursing home in Port Charlotte Florida with end stage Parkinson's. He was at the Circus that horrible day. He was 15 and went with a neighbor and her son. When the fire broke out the women jumped down from the bleachers and my father handed down her boy to her and they both turned and ran leaving my father. He grabbed a pole that was holding the tent up thinking he would shimmy down and the pole fell, thank God landing outside the tent and not inside where he surely would have perished.
He is 81 now and won't talk about it. His name is Norman T. Smith and he lived in Hartford. Your website if very informative, but unfortunately I wont be sharing this with him because it still upsets him.
-- Maggie Smith Furstein
He is 81 now and won't talk about it. His name is Norman T. Smith and he lived in Hartford. Your website if very informative, but unfortunately I wont be sharing this with him because it still upsets him.
-- Maggie Smith Furstein
My dad was 2 years old at the time...
Does anyone have the pics from the Hartford or East Hartford papers from the fire. I was told that there is a picture of my dad sitting on the shoulders of a fireman [might have been a clown] in the newspaper? My dad was 2 years old at the time and had blond curly hair and my grandmother and he were in the fire. My Grandmother's name was Elena Nicoletta Rock (9/13/23 to 9/13/03) and my dad's name is Charles Michael Rock (4/25/42) - both survived the fire. They used to live at 118 Central Avenue, East Hartford, CT. My grandmother is buried in East Hartford. My dad lives in Santa Clara County, California.
-- Donna McLean (Rock)
-- Donna McLean (Rock)
After helping hundreds over that barrier, he died in the fire...
I survived the circus fire, thanks to (probably) the same good Samaritan that lifted Father Payne over the animal cage tunnel -- He lifted me over also and I was able to escape. I was told later that he was a reporter from The Hartford Times, and that, after helping literally hundreds to safety over that barrier, he died in the fire. I was 12 at the time, and I had gone to the circus with our neighbors, photographer Ruby Schaller, and his family.
The neighbor family I went to the circus with: father was Ruby (Ruben?) Schaller and the older son was Earl Schaller. I don't remember the younger son's name, and I don't think Mrs. Schaller (Helen) went to the circus with us.
Another kid, my age and also a survivor, that I later learned was there, was Paul Padua, who now lives south of Boston, I believe. He is an engineer.
-- David M. Elovitz, PE
The neighbor family I went to the circus with: father was Ruby (Ruben?) Schaller and the older son was Earl Schaller. I don't remember the younger son's name, and I don't think Mrs. Schaller (Helen) went to the circus with us.
Another kid, my age and also a survivor, that I later learned was there, was Paul Padua, who now lives south of Boston, I believe. He is an engineer.
-- David M. Elovitz, PE
"I'm here to take my grandsons to the circus..."
My grandfather was a circus performer in his early days and was retired by the time 7/6/44 rolled around. He was also a domineering, abusive alcoholic who terrorized my mother throughout her childhood. On the morning of the fire my grandfather showed up on my mother's doorstep and said I'm here to take my grandsons to the circus. My mother stepped out onto the porch and said, "What about your granddaughter?" (my sister) He repeated louder this time..."I'm here to take my grandsons to the circus."
My mother who knew better than to oppose this man looked him dead in the eye and said, "Sorry Dad it's all or nothing. If Phyllis can't go, the boy's can't go either." She then turned on her heel and walked back into the house closing the door in his face.
I am so grateful for my Mother's independence day. I was born 12 years later and would possibly be an only child had she caved into his demand. And...in some odd way I am also grateful that he was a jerk because had he been a nicer fellow...again...I may have been an only child.
-- Barbara Emerson
My mother who knew better than to oppose this man looked him dead in the eye and said, "Sorry Dad it's all or nothing. If Phyllis can't go, the boy's can't go either." She then turned on her heel and walked back into the house closing the door in his face.
I am so grateful for my Mother's independence day. I was born 12 years later and would possibly be an only child had she caved into his demand. And...in some odd way I am also grateful that he was a jerk because had he been a nicer fellow...again...I may have been an only child.
-- Barbara Emerson
...he shook his head, and said "no, that isn't her"
In 1944 my Dad was in the Connecticut State Police Academy, class of '44'. After the academy, his first assignment was to help clean up after the circus fire. During those days at the fire scene and armory, he would come home at night, and burn his clothes behind the garage every day. For obvious reasons.
I remember him telling me about a little girl who they had in the armory for identification. She was badly burned. A man came in looking for his daughter who was of the same general age and description. He said when the man saw the little girl, he shook his head, and said "no, that isn't her". He said that from observing the man's reaction, he thought it was just that the man could not admit that it might have been his daughter. I have always wondered if this might have been the unidentified little girl who became know as Little Miss 1565.
Dad passed away in 1986, I'm sure he would have been glad to tell what he remembered. The memory of the man that viewed the little girl, and denied her, was very clear in his mind. He too was of the opinion that it was his little girl, and he could not bring himself to say so.
Ironically he was a lifelong circus fanatic, and would always get up early, go down to the rail head in Waterbury to watch the Greatest Show on Earth unload from the trains. He told me of the time that he traded his father's Stetson walking shoes for a ticket to the circus. Being a Circus fan and a Carney before joining the Department, he was aware of the practice of waterproofing the tents with gasoline and paraffin, I don't think this is a new revelation, however it should be noted. At that time everyone smoked cigarettes and flicked them on the ground, still burning, when done.
A possible source of information would be anyone in the class of '44' at the State Police Academy. They did much of the grunt work between the fire scene and the armory. The CSP Museum in Meriden might have that info. And if any of them are still with us.
Please feel free to use any of this info on your website. It would be a fitting tribute to Trooper Alden Thompson.
-- Warren Thompson
I remember him telling me about a little girl who they had in the armory for identification. She was badly burned. A man came in looking for his daughter who was of the same general age and description. He said when the man saw the little girl, he shook his head, and said "no, that isn't her". He said that from observing the man's reaction, he thought it was just that the man could not admit that it might have been his daughter. I have always wondered if this might have been the unidentified little girl who became know as Little Miss 1565.
Dad passed away in 1986, I'm sure he would have been glad to tell what he remembered. The memory of the man that viewed the little girl, and denied her, was very clear in his mind. He too was of the opinion that it was his little girl, and he could not bring himself to say so.
Ironically he was a lifelong circus fanatic, and would always get up early, go down to the rail head in Waterbury to watch the Greatest Show on Earth unload from the trains. He told me of the time that he traded his father's Stetson walking shoes for a ticket to the circus. Being a Circus fan and a Carney before joining the Department, he was aware of the practice of waterproofing the tents with gasoline and paraffin, I don't think this is a new revelation, however it should be noted. At that time everyone smoked cigarettes and flicked them on the ground, still burning, when done.
A possible source of information would be anyone in the class of '44' at the State Police Academy. They did much of the grunt work between the fire scene and the armory. The CSP Museum in Meriden might have that info. And if any of them are still with us.
Please feel free to use any of this info on your website. It would be a fitting tribute to Trooper Alden Thompson.
-- Warren Thompson
... five out of six of us had planned on going to the circus that day.
In 1958, I sat at a table with a group of young women, all of whom had entered the Sisters of Mercy from all different parts of the state. For some reason or other, we got talking about the circus fire.
I recounted that my brother and I had come down with chicken pox, so were unable to go. Another told of having been prevented from attending by a flat tire on the way to the circus. Yet another said that her family had been walking to the circus, and it was so blistering hot that when they went past an air-conditioned theater, they went there instead. I don't recall what what had happened in the other two instances, but we soon discovered that five out of six of us had planned on going to the circus that day.
I still remember the feeling of electricity that went through the air as we all realized that. And the feeling of gratitude continues to this day.
I was only six years old at the time, but I do recall that our neighbors, the Kuhnly's (mother and daughter) from Rockville were killed and the other two children were able to escape. From what I understand, either Mrs. Kuhnly or her daughter had fallen trying to escape, the other tried to help her up, and they were both trampled upon.
-- Mary Fahy RSM
I recounted that my brother and I had come down with chicken pox, so were unable to go. Another told of having been prevented from attending by a flat tire on the way to the circus. Yet another said that her family had been walking to the circus, and it was so blistering hot that when they went past an air-conditioned theater, they went there instead. I don't recall what what had happened in the other two instances, but we soon discovered that five out of six of us had planned on going to the circus that day.
I still remember the feeling of electricity that went through the air as we all realized that. And the feeling of gratitude continues to this day.
I was only six years old at the time, but I do recall that our neighbors, the Kuhnly's (mother and daughter) from Rockville were killed and the other two children were able to escape. From what I understand, either Mrs. Kuhnly or her daughter had fallen trying to escape, the other tried to help her up, and they were both trampled upon.
-- Mary Fahy RSM
Haunting Memories...
My father William M. Clark Jr. of Windsor survived the circus fire, he was fifteen years old at the time and decided to go to the circus rather than the movies. This was to be an adventure, and one of the first times he would be allowed to go into Hartford alone. He has since passed away but the circus fire always seemed to haunted him.
As a child I can recall going only once to the circus, it was the Shrine Circus at the Hartford Armory. As we arrived I could tell that my father was not looking very well and at the last moment he decided to wait in the car. We stayed at the circus for about half an hour and my mother decided that it would be best for us to leave.
My father rarely spoke of the fire, but recalled jumping from the back of the riser down to the back of the tent, he could feel the heat of the fire over his head. He became tangled in some loose chairs, an older gentleman helped him get loose and he ran out of the tent as fast as he could and went straight home. He was reluctant to tell his other Mother that he did not go to the movies when she arrived home from work that evening.
I am in the Windsor Kiwanis Club and the circus fire comes up every once in a while. One of our club members is Nellie Homes-Mason, she was featured on the front page of the newspaper July 7, 1944 as a young nurse helping with the injured and identifying the deceased. She has some very interesting stories about peeling back watches to determine if the deceased persons skin color was white or black and the horrific smell. She has a scrap book with many proposals of marriage that followed from the newspaper coverage.
-- William M. Clark III
As a child I can recall going only once to the circus, it was the Shrine Circus at the Hartford Armory. As we arrived I could tell that my father was not looking very well and at the last moment he decided to wait in the car. We stayed at the circus for about half an hour and my mother decided that it would be best for us to leave.
My father rarely spoke of the fire, but recalled jumping from the back of the riser down to the back of the tent, he could feel the heat of the fire over his head. He became tangled in some loose chairs, an older gentleman helped him get loose and he ran out of the tent as fast as he could and went straight home. He was reluctant to tell his other Mother that he did not go to the movies when she arrived home from work that evening.
I am in the Windsor Kiwanis Club and the circus fire comes up every once in a while. One of our club members is Nellie Homes-Mason, she was featured on the front page of the newspaper July 7, 1944 as a young nurse helping with the injured and identifying the deceased. She has some very interesting stories about peeling back watches to determine if the deceased persons skin color was white or black and the horrific smell. She has a scrap book with many proposals of marriage that followed from the newspaper coverage.
-- William M. Clark III
...got my leg caught and someone fell on me...
I went to the circus with my mother (Mary Hindle) and my grandmother (Ada Hall Hindle). Ada was supposed to go home to Norwich Connecticut but stayed an extra day to take me to the circus. She turned out to be a victim. I was 6 years old and will never forget that day or the days that followed.
We were watching the trapeze act and the lion and tigers who were in center ring when the fire broke out. The wild animals were rushed out so the array of cages could be removed. The trapeze group were down on the ground very quickly. People started going down the bleachers throwing chairs left and right as they went when I got my leg caught and someone fell on me. My mother had turned around and grabbed and pulled me to safety. We had lost track of Ada who was taken to the hospital. My mother and I made it to the street and tried to get on a bus. A police officer directed us to a ambulance which took us to a hospital. The heat inside the tent was so severe that although we were not exposed to flames we were burnt over our body.
-- Edmund Hall Hindle
We were watching the trapeze act and the lion and tigers who were in center ring when the fire broke out. The wild animals were rushed out so the array of cages could be removed. The trapeze group were down on the ground very quickly. People started going down the bleachers throwing chairs left and right as they went when I got my leg caught and someone fell on me. My mother had turned around and grabbed and pulled me to safety. We had lost track of Ada who was taken to the hospital. My mother and I made it to the street and tried to get on a bus. A police officer directed us to a ambulance which took us to a hospital. The heat inside the tent was so severe that although we were not exposed to flames we were burnt over our body.
-- Edmund Hall Hindle