Posted 7/7/2005 3:11:41 PM by Editor
News from Gary C. Payne viewed 1606 times
Wednesday, July 06, 2005 - Hartford, CT
Hartford and the Greatest Show On Earth RECONCILE!
168 Victims Memorialized forever!
It rained virtually everywhere in the state of Connecticut July 6, 2005, but NOT at the site of the 1944 Ringling Bros. & Barnum & Bailey Circus fire of 1944. 1,000 or more gathered literally at the site of the horrific disaster to finally dedicate the long overdue Hartford Circus Fire Memorial. A fitting and moving tribute to the 168 who died, the hundreds who were injured, those who helped, and the thousands more who were adversely affected by the tragedy of July 6, 1944. Present were the Governor's foot guard. Two recording artists who sang. The Fire Department Pipers and Drummers. Representatives from the Governor. The Mayor of Hartford. About 50 survivors were present. A path leads thru the trees to the site of the big top. The giant tent's footprint is outlined with newly planted trees clearly showing the tent's perimter. Along the path are numerous granite stones and bronze plaques with engraved pictures and descriptions of the disaster. You follow the path to the center of the big top, and the main memorial monument...... Key speakers at the dedication included Don Massey, co-writer of the book "A Matter of Degree", now considered the "bible" on the the July 6, 1944 Circus Fire. The book spells out the facts, states the truth, and is pro-circus. It is based upon the new and scientific findings of Rick Davey, local/retired fire investigator. Don & Rick were both members of the committee to erect the memorial. Mr. Davey had made it one of his goals. His other goals? To identify Little Miss 1565, the little girl never given a name. To determine the "cause" of the fire. (Davey didn't buy the idea that it was accidental) To achieve "reconciliation" between victims, the city, the circus. Rick Davey does much to offer a degree of peace to anyone the fire disturbs. In his book he spells out the facts. The fire could NOT have been accidental. Davey & Massey assert it was deliberate,it was set, an act of arson, and they tell who and why , how and where it was done. Davey pursued his investigation on his own time, and retired two years after his conclusions. Little Miss 1565 is Eleanor Emily Cook. Based upon Rick's findings, Miss Cook's remains were exhumed and removed to be interred with those of her brother Edward in a Massachusetts cemetery. Surviving brother Donald agreed with the findings. Unfortunately, new information reveals there was ANOTHER unidentifed child, an infant, assigned the number 001 and duly honored at the memorial. Rick Davey spells out negligence on the part of the City of Hartford. Fire apparatus was not present! Inspections had not taken place. An official took tickets in place of proper procedures. The nearest fire plug was too far away to be of use which would have been apparent if an inspection was done. The city of Hartford took advantage of the Circus' willingness to sign off full responsibility for the fire, landing circus officials in jail, but putting the show back on the road. Some 50 years later, Rick Davey, investigator, gets to the bottom of the story. To make it even MORE incredible, the State of CT had a chance to bring a confessed multiple arsonist, Robert Dale Segee, back to CT to be questioned in connection with the Circus Fire. Mr. Segee confessed to the 1944 conflagration, and gave details, that fit the crime. He later recanted. The State of CT sent officials to cover up the Segee situation. He was never held responsible and has since passed away. Don Massey's speech was complimentary of the CFA. Don stated to the 1,000 present, "........there were members of the Circus Fans Assn, here on July 6, 1944. While you, the City of Hartford, threw stones at the circus people, the Circus Fans took them into their homes and offered comfort. The Circus Fans Assn. is here today......they are the folks wearing the red shirts. They are doing the same thing today, helping out. They have been invaluable to us." With that statment, the CFA members who were all over the site, were approached by many with outstretched hands. The man standing next to this author extended his hand...."...are you a circus fan"? "Yes, I am", I replied. "I was too, on July 6, 1944", he stated. And he shook my hand. All over the lot, survivors were embracing each other, and shaking the hands of CFA members.
Survivors of July 6th, 1944 present on 7/6/2005. There were about 50 survivors in a crowd of 1,000 present for the dedication. When told of the CFA members present, the survivors extended their hands and arms...... "I was a circus fan too", one remarked , ".....July 6th, 1944, right here........I got out........." Photo by Whitney Nadolney
Ringling Bros. & Barnum & Bailey, VP of Northeast Field Marketing, John Paul Basile represented The Greatest Show On Earth. The first official of the Circus as far as we know to return to the Barbour Street site. He shook many hands July 6, 2005.
Rick Davey Photo by Whitney Nadolney
Rick Davey stepped up to the podium in front of the covered monument. He was the final speaker prior to the unveiling. Rick re-stated what his goals had been. He declared mission accomplished. He asked the crowd if he could now be relesed from his dutys. The crowd responded with emotional applause..... 
The huge bronze medallion was unveiled. Photo by Whitney Nadolney
It is at the center of a ring of bricks. It is literally at the center of the center ring, surrounded by granite ring curbs, or benchs. Each brick carrys the message of it's donor. "Lest We Forget" Fr. Jack Toner "Mom's last words: Meet you outside" "As close to hell as I want to get" "Fallen Angels, Agnes, Judy, Eva and Michael Norris" "In Memory of Eleanor Emily Cook"
Photo by Whitney Nadolney
Hundreds of bricks. The first in the path leading to the center ring, signed simply "Peggy Williams" Next to it, Circus Fans Association of America. On to the center ring, surrounding the bronze medallion, dozens of bricks signed by known members of the CFA, many with messages. All present had some reason they were especially happy with their brick's location. Very quietly, 168 names (of the victims) were recited by the members of the memorial commmittee. A fire bell tolled a single time for each. There was great emotion. Especially at the reading of the name of Eleanor Emily Cook. Children carried a single white rose to the bronze medallion for each name. Survivors placed wreaths.
Photo by Whitney Nadolney
20 members of CFA had volunteered to help. Many of us, and many CFA members from across the country purchased commemerative "bricks" @ $50.00 each to raise the more than $125,000. for the memorial. The volunteers were spread across the circus grounds which look little different from 1944 in the words of a survivor. None of the survivors had any difficulty orienting themselves to the lot, to the location of their seats, and where they got out. Our CFA contingent was helpful in raiseing funds, in answering questions, selling books and materials in support of the memorial throughout the ceremony's yesterday. CFA member Wil Hevey's Show Lighting Co. provided generator, PA system, and a crew to operate/provide power/sound and a press feed for the many TV stations. CFA member Bruce Johnson was glued to his camera and hopes to create one of several videos of the historic event. Last evening a local radio station re-broadcast WTIC transmissions from July 6, 1944. It was a two hour stunning broadcast. Interspersed with interviews of survivors and the assertions of Rick Davey and Don Massey. ...... "The fire was an act of arson - it was not possible for it to start accidentally". "The State of CT covered up......" (Referring to Robert Segee) "The City of Hartford was negligent....." "There was no fire apparatus present......" After a long day of mourning and celebration, many members of CFA listened to the local radio and television broadcasts well into the night. We heard , then Governor Baldwin pleading for calm, pleading for people to stay away from the State Armory, unless looking for the missing, amongst the bodys in the morgue there. The location of the Circus Fire Memorial is behind the Fred Wish Elementery School. The school is built where the sideshow stood in 1944. It protects the location of the big top in the field behind it. It's staff and the children are aware of history of the site they occupy. The field? It looks like the circus is about to play there. There is the sound of children laughing and playing. Two sides of the lot are almost unchanged since 1944. The other two sides are new homes...... Appropriate isn't it? Fans traveling thru the area are encouraged to call for a ride to the site, or provide directions for you...........Gary Payne will be happy to take you there. (860-833-7925) Rick Davey & Don Massey spoke at our CFA Tent Banquet last June. We had a heads up to all of the above information. They have become fast friends of CFA. Promised to me yesterday...........AN EXCLUSIVE STORY for CFA, I hope to work on with the two together, with photographs and exclusive points for WHITE TOPS.... For some, this fine memorial will offer a degree of closure. For others it opens a door. It is, as Rick Davey's and Don Massey's book is entitled.......... "A Matter of Degree"
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