Survivor List
(last names beginning with "H")
Nearly 7,000 circus fans attended the afternoon show on July 6, 1944, and many were fortunate enough to survive the blaze. Here are the names of some of the survivors, and also the names of those who helped or are otherwise associated with the Hartford Circus Fire, though they may not have been in attendance during the tragic performance.
Names are sorted by "last name first"; in cases of women who got married after the circus fire, their name in 1944 is used when known. The search function at the top of the each page can also be used to search the entire website for a name or term.
Names are sorted by "last name first"; in cases of women who got married after the circus fire, their name in 1944 is used when known. The search function at the top of the each page can also be used to search the entire website for a name or term.
A - B - C - D - E - F - G - H - I - J - K - L -M - N - O - P - Q - R - S - T - U - V - W - X - Y - Z
Hager, James William Jr. (16 months); Marlborough, Conn.
- James Jr. attended the circus with his parents, James and Audrey Hager. When they noticed the fire, James grabbed James Jr. and jumped to the ground behind the bleachers to escape, thinking that Audrey was behind them. Audrey's body would be found on the circus grounds after the fire.
- James William Hager, Jr, 76, passed away early Wednesday morning on December 11, 2019 after a battle with Melanoma Cancer. [obituary / back-up link]
Haley, James A.
- First vice president of the RBBB circus. When he first heard of the fire, Haley was in the office wagon, outside of the big top to the left of the main entrance and behind the ticket wagons. He could look out of his office window and see the main entrance. When he heard people screaming, he looked out the office door and a quarter of the canvas roof had already been consumed by fire. Haley stayed on the grounds during the fire; shortly after the fire he went to the Bond Hotel and called RBBB president Robert Ringling in Chicago to tell him of the disaster.
Halliday, Gertrude (56); 10 Sunnyslope Dr, West Hartford
- On injured list at St. Francis hospital with fractured leg, Friday night 7/7/44.THC
- Still remained at St. Francis Hospital Monday, July 11.THC
Hamel, Earl K. (47); 719 Garden St, Hartford
- On the Injured List at Municipal Hospital, 7/7/44.THC
- Was awarded $2,000 by the arbitration board for injuries received in the fire.THC
Hamel, Jr., Earl K.; 719 Garden St, Hartford
- Was awarded $500 by the arbitration board for injuries received in the fire.THC
- Earl K. Hamel Jr., 82, of Lake George, passed away on Saturday, June 15, 2019 peacefully at home. Link to obituary / Back up link
Hamel, Mrs. Grace; 719 Garden St, Hartford
- Was awarded $3,500 by the arbitration board for injuries received in the fire.THC
Hamill, Pervie L.; 201 Washington St, Hartford
- Was awarded $10,000 by the arbitration board for injuries received in the fire.THC
Hamilton, Harry; Glastonbury
- Burned his hands while sliding down a rope.THC
Hamilton, Hugh (child)
- Went to the circus with his twin sister and their father. They turned right when they went through the main entrance and sat in the southwest bleachers, at the top. When they saw the fire rapidly expanding, their father grabbed one child and ran down to the ground, went under the bleachers and pulled the other child down. They escaped under the tent sidewall, father with a child in each arm. CFM
Harding, Mrs. Joseph W.
- Wife of Hartford County sherriff, was among the first to come to the assistance of those stricken by the circus fire. Mrs. Harding pinned on one of her husband's badges and went to the circus grounds, then to the State Armory where she worked all night. She also directed the preparation at the county jail of 650 sandwiches which she served to workers at the Armory.THC
Harris, Pearl (14); 34 Center St, Hartford
- 9th-grader at Henry Barnard School, attended the circus with Anna Bottaro, and Santina and Concetta Giansiracusa, and the girls sat in the top row of seats in the Southwest Bleachers, about 2 board lengths from reserved seating Section A. The sidewall canvas behind her was lowered from the roof edge, and from her seat she could see camels, elephants and a donkey in the Menagerie area, and men cleaning the elephants outside the Big Top. During Mae Kovar's act in Ring One, Pearl looked out and saw smoke to the left of where she was sitting, but could not see where it was coming from. As the Wallendas were going up to start their act, Pearl looked up and to her left and saw the edge of the canvas roof on fire, toward the Main Entrance. She started down the bleachers, fell and got stuck, got up and reached the bottom and saw children being trampled on. Pearl went out the Main Entrance and saw men telling people to take their time. Outside of the tent, crowds of people were screaming and pushing, so she left the lot and went across Barbour Street, met up with friends and walked home. Pearl was treated by her doctor for an inured leg and burns to both arms, above the elbow.
Hastings, Lorna E. (9 1/2)
- (is Hastings her maiden or married name?)
- Went to circus with her brother, father, and a neighbor girl. All of them survived.CFR
Hauschulz, Arlene (11); Wethersfield
- Attended circus with her sisters Nancy Hauschulz and Shirley (Hauschulz) Hunter, and niece Patricia Hunter. All would survive. The group had moved from the bleachers to an uncrowded seating section next to an exit and an animal runway. When they noticed the fire, they were able to step down onto the animal runway and then to the ground. Once outside, they turned to see the tent collapse. Read Arlene (Hauschulz) Carlson's full story here: Personal Accounts Page 6.
- CT Insider story about Arlene with photo
- Arlene H. Carlson (nee Hauschulz), 90, of Plantation, Florida, passed away on March 8, 2023. [link to obituary / back-up link]
Hauschulz, Nancy Ann (14); Wethersfield
- Attended the circus with her sisters Arlene Hauschulz and Shirley (Hauschulz) Hunter, and niece Patricia Hunter. All would survive. Nancy's first husband would later be William Elliott, who lost his mother and brother in the fire. Read Arlene (Hauschulz) Carlson's full story here: Personal Accounts Page 6.
Hazen, Harold (4)
- Attended the circus with his mother, both survived. Read Dr. Harold Hazen's memory of the fire here: Personal Accounts Page 8.
Healy, Margaret C.; Hartford
- Was awarded $500 by the arbitration board for injuries received in the fire.THC
Hearn, Dorothy F. (adult); Main Street, South Windsor
- Still remained at Hartford Hospital, Monday, July 11.THC
- Was awarded $10,971.50 by the arbitration board for injuries received in the fire.
Hearn, Dorothy S. (5); Main St, South Windsor
- On the Injured List at Municipal Hospital, 7/7/44.THC
- Was awarded $400 by the arbitration board for injuries received in the fire, including burns on her arm and scalp, and nervous shock.
Hearn, Patricia; South Windsor
- On the Injured List at Municipal Hospital, 7/7/44.THC
Hearn, Richard (8); Main St, South Windsor
- Was awarded $400 by the arbitration board for injuries received in the fire, including 2nd degree burns to his left elbow.
Heck, Edwin A. (4); Rockville
- Attended circus with parents Eleanor and Edwin J. Heck, all survived
Heck, Edwin J. (adult); Rockville
- Attended circus with wife Eleanor and son Edwin A. Heck, all survived. Edwin J. helped others escape by cutting the canvas tent with a knife.
Heck, Eleanor (adult); Rockville
- Attended circus with husband Edwin J. and son Edwin A. Heck, all survived. Eleanor gave birth to son Robert Heck in the evening of July 6, 1944, following their escape from the fire.
Helm, Mildred "Midge" (14)
- Attended circus with Jean Barker. They originally sat near the animal chutes then decided to move near the entrance for a better view. Both escaped.
Henderson, Mrs. Alice; 103 Quinnipiac, New Haven
- Was awarded $8,500 by the arbitration board for injuries received in the fire.THC
Herman, Edith; 334 Lyme St, Hartford
- On the Injured List at Municipal Hospital, 7/7/44.THC
Herr, Marjorie Isobel (21); Somers
- Marjorie complete the nursing program in 1943 and was one of the nurses responding to the Hartford circus fire.
- Marjorie Isobel Herr Skinner, 86, longtime Vernon resident, passed away Friday, (February 27, 2009) after a period of declining health. [link to obituary / back-up link]
Hershman, Mrs. Goldeane (23); 219 Martin St, Hartford
- Was awarded $5,000 by the arbitration board for injuries received in the fire, including abrasions, contusions, and injuries to her ankle, hip, and buttocks, and nervousness, crying spells, irritability, insomnia, anxiety, and sensory disturbances of the skin. Mrs. Hershman jumped from the top of the bleachers with her 16-month-old son Allan held close to her body. She fell on her back and elbow. She was with an older woman companion, but lost her after getting out.
- Goldeane died November 1, 2016. THC Obituary, 11/6/2016
Hickey, Edward J. (adult)
- Connecticut State Police Commisioner Hickey shepherded nine nieces and nephews, ranging in age from 4 to 14, by tossing them from the top seats to the ground outside. He then took charge of the rescue and relief efforts.THC
- Connecticut State Police Commissioner, would later direct activities while clad in trousers torn to the knee as he escaped from the flaming tent.RDH
- Seated in grandstand area, row 18 (top row in Section G), his party held seats 6 thru 14. Heard a cry of "fire" from the West end, looked over and saw flames shooting up behind the Southwest bleachers on the inside of the canvas wall. Watched for about a minute, and saw the bottom of the roof ignite. Collected the children he was with and got them to safety, then returned to the origin of the fire to begin investigation.WS
Higgingson, Fred H. (71); 18 Westphal St, Hartford
- Married man, worked as a machinist. Mr, Higginson suffered burns on his scalp, back of his neck, ear and hand. He was awarded $2,500 by the arbitration for his injuries.
Hilding, Elizabeth B. (61); 59 Chapel St, East Hartford
- On the Injured List at Municipal Hospital, 7/7/44.THC
- At Hartford Hospital, Monday, July 11.THC
- Was awarded $18,600 by the arbitration board for injuries received in the fire, including broken heels and broken back. Mrs. Hilding jumped from the seats, landed on her heels and fell backward. Her grandson dragged her from danger. A soldier helped her to her feet but she couldn't walk, and was taken by ambulance to Municipal Hospital. She was transferred to Hartford Hospital where she remained until October 12, 1944.
Hindle, Edmund Hall (6); 79 Lenox St, Manchester
- Went to the circus with his mother Mary Hindle, and grandmother Ada Hall Hindle. Ada would perish in the fire, while Edmund and Mary would survive.
- Mrs. Mary M. Hindle of Manchester and her son were burned in the fire. Mrs. Hindle was treated at St. Francis Hospital but her son did not require hospitalization. Mrs. Hindle's mother-in-law, Mrs. Ada (Hall) Hindle, died on 7/26/44 from burns received at the circus fire.THC
- On the Injured List at Municipal Hospital as Edwin Hindle, 7/7/44.THC
Hindle, Mary (27 or 28); 79 Lenox St, Manchester
- Went to circus with her son Edmund Hall Hindle and mother-in-law Ada Hall Hindle. Mary and Edmund survived, Ada died in the fire.
- Mary and her son were burned in the fire. Mary was treated at St. Francis Hospital but her son did not require hospitalization. Her mother-in-law, Mrs. Ada (Hall) Hindle, died on 7/26/44 from burns received at the circus fire.THC
- On injured list as Mrs. Mary Hindle, age 37, at St. Francis hospital with burns, Friday night 7/7/44.THC
- On the Injured List at Municipal Hospital as Mrs. M. Hindle, 7/7/44.THC
- Still remained at St. Francis Hospital Monday, July 11.THC
Hitchcock, Dorothy (adult); 40 Cortland St, West Hartford
- Attended the circus with her daughter Shirley, and sat in the 4th row on the right side of the Southwest Bleachers, next to the reserved seating Section A. Dorothy saw the Wallendas getting in place to perform and she heard commotion. She turned and saw flames on the top of the canvas sidewall behind her. The flames appeared to be a horizontal line of flame, 15-feet across, and about 1-foot from the top of the sidewall where it meets the edge of the canvas roof. Shirley left immediately, while Dorothy stumbled down the bleachers and joined the heavy crowd of people walking out the Main Entrance. Outside, she saw circus employees leading elephants and camels from Menagerie area out to Barbour Street. When she reached the Midway area, she turned and the Big Top seemed to be just black smoke and flames. She reunited with her daughter and they walked to the city.
Hitchcock, Shirley (14); 40 Cortland St, West Hartford
- Went to the circus with her mother, Dorothy, and sat in the 4th row from the ground in the Southwest Bleachers, near reserved seating Section A. Shirley heard screams and turned to see a large sheet of flame directly behind her, on the canvas sidewall above the heads of the people in the top row of the bleacher seats. She ran out the Main Entrance and waited outside for her mother.
Holcombe, Marion (Evarts) (37); West Hartford
- Went to circus with her daughter Mary, both escaped the burning tent safely. Marion was 2 months pregnant at the time with her son Thomas, who years later would help preserve the first fire truck at the scene of the circus fire.
- Marion (Evarts) Holcombe, 89, died Sunday, Sept. 22, 1996, at Avery Heights, Hartford. [link to obituary / back-up link]

Holcombe, Mary (9); West Hartford
- Went to circus with her mother, Marion, and both escaped the burning tent safely. Mrs. Holcombe distracted her daughter during their escape by telling her to look at the trees while they made their way to a safe location.
- aka Mary (Holcombe) Heywood
Hollis, Mrs. Edith B. (71); 1317 Linden Ave, Baltimore, MD and/or 598 Burnside Ave, East Hartford
- On the Injured List at Hartford Hospital, 7/10/44.THC
- Was awarded $900 by the arbitration board for injuries received in the fire.THC
- May have attended the circus with victim Margaret Garrison.
Holmes, Mike (12); Hartford
- Went to circus with friends Bill and Jerry Clifford, Joseph Smith, and Ray Burns. All of the boys survived with no injuries.CFR
Hopkins, Nancy (36 or 33); Tisamere Rd, Avon
- On injured list at St. Francis hospital with burns on back, Friday night 7/7/44.THC
- Still remained at St. Francis Hospital Monday, July 11.THC
Hopkins, Robert (35); Tisamere Rd, Avon
- On injured list at St. Francis hospital with burns on back and shoulder, Friday night 7/7/44.THC
- Still remained at St. Francis Hospital Monday, July 11.THC
- Was awarded $3,500 by the arbitration board for injuries received in the fire.THC

Hopkins, Robert Jr. (5); Tisamere Rd, Avon
- On injured list at St. Francis hospital with burns on leg, Friday night 7/7/44.THC
- Still remained at St. Francis Hospital Monday, July 11.THC
- Was awarded $1,000 by the arbitration board for injuries received in the fire.THC
- Robert S. Hopkins, Jr. graduated from this world with honors and distinction on April 2, 2017. (obituary)
Horan, James F.
- Firefighter with HFD Company 2, one of the first on scene and helped carry women and children to safety. Also helped bring the dead to the morgue.
Horan, Katherine; 223 Retreat Ave, Hartford
- Attended the circus with Antoinette DiBella.WS
Horvath, Patricia (9); Glastonbury
- Survivor of the Hartford circus fire.
- Patricia Horvath Langley passed away on Jan. 28, 2022, in her 86th year due to COVID-19 complications. [link to obituary / back-up link].
Hoyt, Cameron P. "Jerry" (37); 38 Congress St, Hartford
- Was awarded $750 by the arbitration board for injuries received in the fire, including 1st and 2nd degree burns on his arms, nervousness, and shock. Attended the circus with his wife, Florence Hoyt.
Hoyt, Mrs. Florence (38); 38 Congress St, Hartford
- Was awarded $1,500 by the arbitration board for injuries received in the fire, including 1st and 2nd degree burns to her arms, nose, and top of her head, and nervous shock.
- Wife of Cameron "Jerry" Hoyt, Florence was born June 29, 1906 in Norwalk, daughter of Nellie (Gurney) and William Warjenski and was a survivor of the circus fire along with her husband. Mrs. Hoyt passed away on October 26, 1997. [obituary]
Hultman, Allen (8), West Hartford
- Had been reported missing, was found uninjured.
Hultman, Arthur (11); West Hartford
- Had been reported missing, was found uninjured.
Hunter, Patricia (2 1/2), Wethersfield
- Attended the circus with her mother Shirley (Hausculz) Hunter, and aunts Arlene and Nancy Hausculz. All would survive. Read Arlene (Hauschulz) Carlson's full story here: Personal Accounts Page 6.
Hunter, Shirley (Hauschulz) (20); Wethersfield
- Attended the circus with her sisters Arlene and Nancy Hauschulz and daughter Patricia Hunter. All would survive. Read Arlene (Hauschulz) Carlson's full story here: Personal Accounts Page 6.
Huntington, Maxine (9); Wilson
- Attended circus with friends Jean Andrews and Constance Carlton, who also survived the fire. The girls were seated high on the bleachers when the fire broke out, and all prepared to jump except Maxine, who froze. Constance delivered a hard slap to the face of Maxine, and they all jumped to safety. Maxine's brother Richard Huntington is also a survivor of the fire.
Huntington, Richard (15); Wilson
- Brother of Maxine Huntington, who also survived the fire, Richard helped to carry injured and dead and loading them into trucks. He went to the morgue to try to identify his missing sister, who survived the fire but was lost in the surrounding woods with her friends after escaping the burning tent.
Hurlbut, Clinton Munro (9); Hartford
- Survived the circus fire.
- Clinton Munro Hurlbut, 86, passed away peacefully with family at his side on May 3, 2021. [obituary / back-up link]
A - B - C - D - E - F - G - H - I - J - K - L -M - N - O
P - Q - R - S - T - U - V - W - X - Y - Z
Sources:
TWT: The White Tops magazine
WCF: Women and Children First by Donald H. Roy
CFR: Circus Fire Reminiscences (Manchester Public Library)
MEH: Manchester Evening Herald
TCF: The Circus Fire by Stewart O'Nan
UPI: United Press International
SDN: Springfield Daily News
JOWBR: JewishGen Online Worldwide Burial Registry
THC: The Hartford Courant
WCF: Women and Children First by Donald H. Roy
CFR: Circus Fire Reminiscences (Manchester Public Library)
MEH: Manchester Evening Herald
TCF: The Circus Fire by Stewart O'Nan
UPI: United Press International
SDN: Springfield Daily News
JOWBR: JewishGen Online Worldwide Burial Registry
THC: The Hartford Courant