Survivor List
(last names beginning with "P")

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.

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

Padua, Paul (12)
  • Known to have gone to circus and survived.
Pagano, Helen (adult); 150 Hawthorne Terrace, Torrington, CT
  • Attended the circus with her son, Nicholas J. Pagano, and Siri Montagna and her daughter Karen Montagna. All in their party survived without no serious injuries.
Pagano, Nicholas J. (13); 150 Hawthorne Terrace, Torrington
  • Nicholas attended the circus with his mother, Helen Pagano, and Siri Montagna and her daughter Karen Montagna. All in their party survived without no serious injuries.
Page, Freda; Hopewell Rd, Glastonbury
  • Sent home after being given first aid.THC 
Pagerino, Christine (9); Walnut St, Middletown
  • Went to the circus with her father Joseph Pagerino, and Thomas J. Flynn and his daughter Patricia Flynn.  The group sat in Section R, and escaped under the sidewall canvas near the middle exit on the north side.  Nobody in the party was injured. 
Pagerino, Joseph (adult); Walnut St, Middletown
  • Went to the circus with his daughter Christine Pagerino, and Thomas J. Flynn and his daughter Patricia Flynn.  The group sat in Section R, and escaped under the sidewall canvas near the middle exit on the north side.  Nobody in the party was injured. 
Palmer, Joan M. (6); Hartford
  • Attended the circus with her mother, Helen (Trant) Palmer and both survived.  
  • Joan M. Palmer, age 85, passed away Monday, September 11, 2023, after a brief illness. [link to obituary / back-up link]
Pandolfo, Anthony J.; 53 Ferry St , Middletown
  • Was at the circus with his daughter and a boy "Renaldi", whose father had given him two tickets and Anthony bought his own. They sat in the southeast bleachers, near the bandstand, and just as the animal act finished someone shouted "Fire!" and Anthony saw the fire come up from the edge of the canvas roof.  When the flames hit the center, they travelled fast and Anthony jumped down with the children just as the fire was on top of them.  The canvas came down but didn't get them. They went outside and ran to a Coca-Cola wagon which also started to burn.  Anthony saw a woman and a boy behind him, badly burned with crinkled skin and their hair all burned, and he took them to find help.  A clown took the boy in his arms and the mother collapsed. Anthony also met Clifford Tuttle at the scene, who said he was right near the menagerie and that he knew where the fire began. 
  • Was awarded $500 by the arbitration board for injuries received in the fire.THC 
Pantano, Rose (about 14)
  • Attended circus with Rose Maimore and Donald Baggish. They escaped by sliding down to the back of the seats exiting under the tied down canvas.  Charles Nelson Reilly was also with his friend Donald Baggish.
Pape, Mrs. Adele (32); C-332 Charter Oak Terrace, Hartford
  • Mrs. Pape was 5 months pregnant when she attended the circus, and she strained her right side when attempting to lift her son Raymond over the back of a chair while trying to escape the fire.  She was awarded $6,500 by the arbitration board for her injuries.
Pape, Raymond (5); C-332 Charter Oak Terrace, Hartford
  • Raymond sustained a contusion to his forehead when he was thrown into the end of a bleacher board while his mother was pulling him out of the burning big top.  He was awarded $500 by the arbitration board for his injuries.​
Parker, Mrs. Arline (33); 3 Branford St, Hartford
  • Carried her son Randoph to safety, both were unburned.  Mrs. Parker was awarded $2,500 by the arbitration board for injuries, consisting of nervousness. 
Parker, Henry Jay "Randolph" (4); 3 Branford St, Hartford
  • Randolph was carried out of the fire to safety by his mother, and was awarded $1,500 by the arbitration board for injuries, consisting of nervousness.
Parrott, James (adult)
  • Connecticut State Police officer, assisted with tagging the deceased who were being brought to the State Armory. 
Pasco, Shirley M.
  • Mentioned on a memorial brick.
Paskowski, Nellie M.; New Britain
  • Was awarded $200 by the arbitration board for injuries received in the fire.THC
Paskowski, Philip J.; New Britain
  • Was awarded $200 by the arbitration board for injuries received in the fire.THC 
Paskowski, Philip W.; New Britain
  • Was awarded $200 by the arbitration board for injuries received in the fire.THC 
Paskus, Walter (adult); New Britain
  • Went to the circus with his wife and their 3-year old daughter, and Walter's friend John M. O'bright and his two children.  They sat in Section S, eighth row, seats 11 thru 16, and escaped the burning tent by going to the top of the seats and sliding down a pole. 
Pawloski, Edward Jr.  (8); Glastonbury, CT
  • Attended the circus with his mother Lucy and sister Jean, and they all escaped without injury.  Read Edward’s story here: Personal Accounts - Page 7
Pawloski, Jean (6); Glastonbury, CT
  • Attended the circus with her brother Edward Jr. and their Lucy, and they all escaped without injury.  Read Edward’s story here: Personal Accounts - Page 7
Pawloski, Lucy (33); Glastonbury, CT
  • Attended the circus with her children, Edward Jr. and Jean, and they all escaped without injury.  Read Edward’s story here: Personal Accounts - Page 7
Payne, Arthur Joseph (10)
  • Attended the circus with younger brother, "unknown" Payne.
Payne, "unknown" (7)
  • Attended the circus with older brother, Arthur Joseph Payne.
Pearse, Mrs. Katherine B.; 9 Sunny Slope Dr, West Hartford
  • Was awarded $1,000 by the arbitration board for injuries received in the fire.THC
Pearse, Mrs. Lena G.; 400 West 118th St, NY
  • Was awarded $1,000 by the arbitration board for injuries received in the fire.THC 
Pease, Betty; Glastonbury
  • Reported missing.THC
Pease, William; Glastonbury
  •  Reported missing.THC 
Peck, Florence M. (36); 246 South Whitney St, Hartford and/or 38 Tower Rd, East Hartford
  • On the Injured List at Hartford Hospital, 7/7/44.THC 
  • On the Injured List at Hartford Hospital, 7/11/44.THC 
  • Was awarded $22,000 by the arbitration board for injuries received in the fire.THC 
Peck, Robert (7); 246 South Whitney St, Hartford and/or 38 Tower Rd, East Hartford 
  • On the Injured List at Hartford Hospital, 7/7/44.THC 
  • On the Injured List at Hartford Hospital, 7/11/44.THC 
  • Was awarded $5,000 by the arbitration board for injuries received in the fire.THC 
Pellens, Grace J.; Hartford
  • Was awarded $2,155 by the arbitration board for injuries received in the fire, consisting of burns to both elbows, burns to scalp, contusions to right leg, anxiety, and probable disability to her left arm.  Mrs. Pellens' daughter Constance died in the fire. 
Pelton, Janet (12); South Windsor, CT
  • Attended the circus with Iva and Ann Howard, and they sat in the southwest bleachers to the right of the main entrance, about 3/4 of the way up, on the right end of the row. Someone shouted "Help!" and Janet looked back to her right and saw a large flame at the edge of the canvas roof.  She got up and walked down the seats with Iva ahead of her and Ann behind, and they continued on out the main entrance. There weren't many people at the main entrance when they left, and no pushing or shoving. 
Penning, Loretta (15); Hartford
  • Loretta was a survivor of the Hartford circus fire. 
  • Loretta "La" Francis, 94 years of age, passed away peacefully on Wednesday Dec. 27th, 2023. [LINK to obituary / Back-up LINK]
Peowski, Margaret (12); 121 Earle St, Hartford
  • Went to the circus with her cousin Billie, they sat in the southwest bleachers to the right of the main entrance, about in the center and in the 4th or 5th row. May Kovar's animal act had just finished in the ring nearest their seats, and Margaret looked up and saw fire on the edge of the canvas roof right behind her seat.  She got up and grabbed Billie, yelled "Fire!", and headed for the main entrance. People were pushing and shoving, and she was knocked down three times. They went out the main entrance and out to Barbour Street.  She saw men hitting elephants in a lot to quiet them. 
Perkins, Herman; Pvt., 79th, Hdqrs. A.A.A., Rentschler Field
  • Attended the circus with a group of convalescing soldiers from Bradley Field in Windsor Locks, Connecticut.  The group sat in Reserved Section A, first and second rows.  At the conclusion of the animal act, they heard a cry of “FIRE” from behind them and to their left; they looked back and saw fire where the sidewall meets the roof canvas.  When the fire began to spread rapidly, the group hurried out of the big top.  
Perone, Mrs. Helen; 42 Enfield St, Hartford
  • Was awarded $750 by the arbitration board for injuries received in the fire.THC 
Perry, Edward (11); 489 Broad Street, Meriden
  • Was awarded $5000 by the arbitration board for injuries received in the fire, including fractures and compression of vertebrae and a sprained ankle. 
Perrin, Carl (13); 90 Evergreen Ave, Hartford
  • Went to circus with his uncle Charles Powell, Jr., and they saw the sideshows first before entering the big top just before the show. They sat in the southwest bleachers to the right of the main entrance, about 3 rows from the top and 15 feet south of the main entrance. When the fire broke out, the bleachers were full.  Charles looked around saw the fire and told Carl.  Carl saw the fire a little to his right, burning all the way from the ground up on the canvas sidewall, almost to the top.  A woman yelled "Fire!" and Charles and Carl jumped down through the bleachers and went under the seats to the main entrance, and went under a canvas flap that was at the end of the bleachers. They had to wait a minute for the pipe fencing to be removed so they could get out to the grounds. 
Peterman, Mrs. Cornelia D. Slink; 79 Sunnyreach Dr, East Hartford
  • Was awarded $8,000 by the arbitration board for injuries received in the fire.THC 
Peters, Arthur M. (adult)
  • HPD detective, arrived at fire scene about 2:50pm. Firemen were struggling with the hose, it was full of water and they couldn't pull it to the fire. Arthur hollered for some men to help and several arrived. Arthur was approached by Mr. Lucius Robinson and police commissioner Max Miller and he helped them find their families, then he went to the rear of the lot and helped cover bodies and collect lost articles. He was later detailed to the State Armory with Det. Edward Lowe and Thomas Barber to assist medical examiner Dr. Walter Weissenborn, where he helped the secretaries check the identified victims. Det. Peters was detailed to the armory on July 7th to continue with identification work, and on July 8th he was detailed to the Hartford Hospital morgue for the same. 
Peterson, James P. (13); 561 Main St, Hartford
  • Went to circus with his friend Herbert Newman, and they sat in the northwest bleachers on the top seat, just to the left of the main entrance. 
Petrone, Mrs. Rita Melhorn; 43 Center St , Hartford
  • Was awarded $1,200 by the arbitration board for injuries received in the fire.THC 
Petroulis, Thomas (35-37); Allen House, Hartford
  • On the "Missing List", Friday, 7/7/44. (mentally unbalanced).THC 
Petryske, Aurelia M.; Meriden
  • Was awarded $1,500 by the arbitration board for injuries received in the fire.THC 
Pfau, Mrs. Veronica N.; 102 Water St, Unionville
  • Was awarded $750 by the arbitration board for injuries received in the fire.THC 
Phelan, Sheila (3)
  • Sheila Phelan Wright writes about her experience at the circus fire in her blog (link). 
Phillips, John Jr. (15); Hartford
  • John was a survivor of the 1944 Hartford circus fire.
  • John Anthony Phillips, Jr., 88, of West Suffield, passed away on June 24, 2017 surrounded by his loving family. [LINK to obituary / Back-up LINK]
Phipps, Raymond (11); 30 Sequin St, Newington
  • Sixth grader at Elmhurst School in New Britain, went to the circus with Mrs. Olmstead and Mrs. Hunter, and Janice Hunter, Allen Olmstead, and Jennie Lou Olmstead.  Raymond was sitting in Section R and saw, just about where the fire started, a man sitting near the top was smoking and threw the cigarette over his shoulder.  
Piacenta, Tony
  • Went to the circus that day with friends, but his parents didn't know he was there so he left early to get home before they found out.
Pickering, Rosamond Pearson (Foster) (adult); Beverly, Mass.
  • Attended the circus with her daughter "Pickie", and both survived.  
Pickering, Rosamond "Pickie" Pearson (10); Beverly, Mass.
  • Attended the circus with her mother, and both survived.  
  • On the morning of Saturday, September 16th, 2023, Rosamond "Pickie" Harvey-Smith passed away peacefully at the Waveny Care Center in New Canaan, Connecticut. [link to obituary / back-up link]
Pierce, Attorney Kendall (adult), 27 Broadview St , Bristol​
  • Attended circus with his son, Noble, and he sat in Section G, row 14, seat 15.  After the fire started, Kendall went down the steps and found that the aisle was blocked with people.  He was pushed over, then the crowd pushed him to his knees.  He held onto the rail to avoid being trampled, then exited out the rear of the tent and into a field where he found poison ivy.  Attorney Pierce was awarded $900 by the arbitration board for injuries received in the fire.THC 
Pierce, Mrs. Dorothy D., Farmington
  • Was awarded $1,250 by the arbitration board for injuries received in the fire.THC 
Pierce, Joan C., Farmington
  • Was awarded $500 by the arbitration board for injuries received in the fire.THC 
Pierce, Noble (child), Broadview St., Bristol
  • Attended circus with his father, Attorney Kendall Pierce, both got out safely.
Pierre, Geraldine (14), West Hartford
  • Attended circus with her mother Katie, and both survived. 
  • Geraldine (Pierre) Scheide passed away peacefully on February 27, 2019.  Link to obituary / Back-up link.
Pivko, Diana (15); 215 Grandview Terrace, Hartford
  • Sophomore at Bulkeley High, attended the circus with Helen Austin and they sat in the northeast bleachers about three rows from the top, at the west end of the section and they could see the animals go through the runway cages. Diana heard someone yell "fire!" and she saw a small fire near the main entrance, mostly on the canvas roof. She and Helen jumped down under the seats and went under the canvas to get out. Just outside, she saw men leading horses to a grove and and telling people to get out of the way. 
Plouff, Louis A.; 129 Collins St, Hartford
  • Accepted $158 as settlement with RBBB for minor injuries received as a result of the fire.THC 
Podann, Carol (7); Glastonbury
  • aka Carol (Podann) Brown. Went to the circus with her parents and friends Jose and Tina Moriera. All survived.CFR 
Podann, Mr. (adult); Glastonbury
  • Mr. and Mrs. Podann went to the circus with their daughter and friends Tina and Jose Moriera. All survived.CFR 
Podann, Mrs. (adult); Glastonbury
  • Mr. and Mrs. Podann went to the circus with their daughter and friends Tina and Jose Moriera. All survived.CFR 
Poirot, J.J. (adult)
  • Lieutenant with the HPD Traffic Division, was at headquarters when the fire broke out and immediately went to the scene. Upon arrival, he assisted in getting all officers into the main tent area to remove the injured and dead. He provided a way for emergency vehicles to get in and out at the west end, where they were removing the deceased. Detailed officers at street corners bordering the circus grounds to cut off traffic leading to the grounds, and assisted in sending 25 officers to the State Armory to assist with identifications and to regulate traffic. Later, J.J. assisted Chief Hallissey at the circus grounds, was relieved at midnight and drove the chief to the armory where they stayed until 2am. 
Portner, Harold "Hal" M. (13); Earle St, Hartford
  • Hal and his friend Ralph Baum helped water the elephants for the circus on July 5th, and were each given a free ticket for the show.  The boys pocketed the tickets and snuck under the canvas to get in.  Hal insisted they sit near the band, and Ralph followed him to the Northeast Bleachers.  They saw a flash of fire across the way, watched, and then joined the screaming mob rushing for the exits.  They slipped between the bleacher seats and got out under the canvas sidewall of the big top and ran home to tell their mothers!CFM
  • It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Harold (Hal) Portner, 93, of Amherst, MA on April 29, 2024. [LINK to obituary / Back-up LINK]
Potter, Henry J. (63)
  • During Hartford's tragic circus fire, and while serving on the Grand Jury, Mr. Potter did volunteer work caring for the burned and injured. (from 9/30/82 obituary)THC 
Powell, Charles Jr. (18)
  • Private in the US Marine Corps, went to the circus with his nephew Carl Perrin. Charles later returned to duty at Parris Island, SC. 
Powers, William E.; Cpl., Co. “E” 169th, Inf., 43 Div., Camp Croft
  • Attended the circus with a group of convalescing soldiers from Bradley Field in Windsor Locks, Connecticut.  The group sat in Reserved Section A, first and second rows.  At the conclusion of the animal act, they heard a cry of “FIRE” from behind them and to their left; they looked back and saw fire where the sidewall meets the roof canvas.  When the fire began to spread rapidly, the group hurried out of the big top.  Powers was being treated for malaria after returning from duty in the Southwest Pacific.  Stated that he saw a circus tank truck streaming water on three circus wagons to prevent them from catching on fire.  
Pregozen, Ellen (14); Acton St, Hartford
Pregozen, Herb (6)
  • Ellen and her brother Herb attended the circus with a friend and her sister.  They sat on the top row of the bleachers, near the entrance.  When they heard the screams of "fire", they all jumped down to the ground snd crawled under the tent to safety.CFM
Preston, Brendan (youth)
  • Attended the circus with the Jim McCarthy group, all escaped unharmed.  Read Jim McCarthy’s story here: Personal Accounts - Page 8.
Prost, Barbara (4); 44 Capen St, Hartford
  • Daughter of circus fire victim Eva Prost, sister of Rochelle Prost.
  • On the Injured List at Hartford Hospital, 7/7/44.THC 
  • On the Injured List at Hartford Hospital, 7/11/44.THC 
  • Awarded $3,500 by the arbitration board for injuries received in the fire.
Prost, Saul (32); 44 Capen St, Hartford
  • Husband of circus fire victim Eva Prost, father of Rochelle Prost.
  • On the Injured List at Hartford Hospital, 7/11/44.THC 
  • Awarded $4,000 by the arbitration board for injuries received in the fire.
Purcell, Mrs. Sylvia; 6298 Saunders St, Forest Hills, Long Island, NY
  • Was awarded $1,250 by the arbitration board for injuries received in the fire.THC

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
CFM: Circus Fire Memories
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