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The Hartford Circus Fire, which occurred on July 6, 1944, in Hartford, Connecticut, was one of the worst fire disasters in the history of the United States. The fire occurred during an afternoon performance of the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus that was attended by 6,000 to 8,000 people. The fire killed at least 167 people and more than 700 were injured.
This project is a memorial to the victims, and to the survivors who were changed forerver.
Victims
The official number of victims killed by the fire is 167, though it is commonly believed to be higher. Biographical sketches can be found here.
- Abatte, Donald - age 5; of Hartford, Connecticut
- Abatte, Mary (Sicuranza) - age 34; of Hartford, Connecticut
- Adams, Gertrude (Wiley) - age 62; of Hartford, Connecticut
- Akerlind, Elaine - age 15; of Hartford, Connecticut
- Baker, Frederick age 63; of Bolton, Connecticut
- Barry, Gail Ann - age 5; of Hartford, Connecticut
- Barry, Gladys - age 40; of Hartford, Connecticut
- Bedore, Mary "Peanut" - age 13; of Pleasant Valley, Connecticut
- Bell, Roy "Rickey" Jr. - age 6; of Amityville, New York
- Bergin, Eldoras - age 18; of Bakerville, Connecticut
- Bergin, Mary F. - age 46; of Middletown, Connecticut
- Bergin, Mary E. (Collins) - age 70; of Hartford, Connecticut
- Berman, Judith Ann "Judy" - age 7; of Wethersfield, Connecticut
- Berman, Rose (Pierson) - age 39; of Wethersfield, Connecticut
- Berube, Ann - age 5; of Plainville, Connecticut
- Birch, Arland - age 12; of Meriden, Connecticut
- Birch, Marguerite (Palmer) - age 36; of Meriden, Connecticut
- Birch, Shirley Ann - age 9; of Meriden, Connecticut
- Booth, Sarah
- Boyajian, Alice
- Boyajian, Fred
- Boyajian, Stephen
- Bradley, Frank
- Bradley, Helen
- Brooks, Miss Dorothy
- Brooks, Mrs. Dorothy
- Brooks, George
- Brooks, James
- Budrick, Miss Edith
- Budrick, Mrs. Edith
- Budrick, Joseph Jr.
- Burns, Annie
- Carrier, Jacqueline
- Charter, Walton
- Clark, Edward
- Clark, Emily
- Clark, Grace
- Conlon, Evelyn
- Connolly, Edward Jr.
- Connolly, Rita Ann
- Cook, Edward
- Cook, Eleanor
- Corttis, Edith
- Cosgrove, Mary
- Curlee, William Jr.
- de la Vergne, Elizabeth
- DeNezzo, Joseph Jr.
- DeNezzo, Katherine
- Derby, Carolyn
- Dillus, Anna
- Dillus, Loretta
- DiMartino, Anna
- Dineen, William
- DuHamel, Alice
- Edson, Ellen
- Elliott, Jane
- Elliott, Richard
- Erickson, Raymond
- Fifield, Grace
- Fitzgerald, James III
- Fitzsimmons, Shileen
- Ford, Louise
- Franz, Mary
- Franz, William
- Gallucci, Mary Jane
- Gallucci, Rose
- Garrison, Margaret
- Goff, Maurice
- Goff, Muriel
- Goldstein, Adrienne
- Goldstein, Sylvia
- Gorsky, Kenneth
- Goulko, Ann
- Goulko, Claire
- Goulko, Elizabeth
- Goulko, Nancy
- Grant, Hulda
- Gray, Helen
- Hagar, Audrey
- Hart, Nellie
- Hess, Minnie
- Hindle, Ada
- Hines, Peter
- Johnson, Helen
- Kavalier, Esther
- Kavalier, Sandra
- Kellin, Shirley
- Kelly, Dorothy
- Koob, Bernard Jr.
- Koob, Helen Marie
- Kruh, Roslyn
- Kuhnly, Dorothy
- Kuhnly, Georgianna
- Kurneta, Mary
- Lapuk, Sarah
- Lapuk, Seymour
- LeVasseur, Marion
- Locke, Elaine
- Locke, Viola
- Logan, Sandra
- Marcovicz, Francis Jr.
- Marcovicz, Stephanie
- Marcus, Martin
- Mason, Jarvis III
- Mason, Marcia
- Mather, Lola
- Mather, Sarah
- Matteson, Theresa
- Matthews, Dorothy
- Matthews, Roslyn
- Mearman, Charlotte
- Metcalf, Marjorie
- Miles, Monica
- Milliken, Stephen
- Moore, Martha Ann
- Murphy, Charles
- Murphy, Hortense
- Murphy, Walter
- Nogas, Valerie Jane
- Norris, Agnes Emma
- Norris, Eva
- Norris, Judy
- Norris, Michael
- North, Miss Irene
- North, Mrs. Irene
- O'Brien, Daniel
- O'Connell, Doris Jean
- O'Connell, Eveline
- O'Connor, Mary
- Pellens, Constance
- Pistorio, Carmela
- Poglitsch, Frank
- Poglitsch, Lillian
- Prost, Eva
- Prost, Rochelle
- Putnam, Elizabeth
- Putnam, Mary
- Rester, Elizabeth
- Rester, Rose
- Roberts, Elizabeth
- Schinkel, Doris
- Smith, Joan Lee
- Smith, Thyra
- Snelgrove, Edwin
- Snelgrove, Olive
- Steinberg, Louis
- Surdam, Clarence
- Surdam, Katherine
- Testa, Vincent
- Tomalonis, Charles
- Toth, Joan
- Toth, Regina
- Traver, Laura
- Venberg, Anna
- Vensas, Katherine
- Verret, Ida
- Verret, Myrtle
- Viering, Mildred
- Viering, Paul
- Wabrek, Anna (Seitz) - age 45; of New Hartford, Connecticut
- Wabrek, Lorraine - age 13; of New Hartford, Connecticut
- Waichen, Anna
- Wakeman, Bruce
- Wakeman, Virginia
- Walters, Edith
- Woodward, Edwin
- Woodward, Lucille
At least three others died later from associated causes:
- Kullick, Katherine
- Sartori, Evelyn
- Thompson, Anna
There were six victims never claimed:
- Unidentified #1503
- Unidentified #1510
- Unidentified #1565
- Unidentified #2109
- Unidentified #2200
- Unidentified #4512
Survivors
More than 700 people were treated for injuries, with countless others leaving the premises for help.
- Berube, Esther (Gosselin) - injured; daughter Ann died
- Bovee, Barton W. - 12-year-old from Berlin who had skipped school to attend
Notable Survivors
- Hal Blaine, renowned rock/pop session drummer
- Eunice Groark, first female lieutenant governor of Connecticut
- Charles Nelson Reilly, actor, comedian, and director
Circus
Two circus performers in particular -- clown Emmett Kelly and bandleader Merle Evans -- are remembered for their heroism and bravery during the fire.
- Fred Bradna, ringmaster
- Merle Evans, circus bandleader
- Emmett Kelly, legendary circus clown
- May Kovar, big cat trainer
- Frieda Pushnik, disabled performer
- Joseph Walsh, big cat trainer