Ironically, it was Boston’s infamous Cocoanut Grove Fire on November 28, 1942 which resulted in the loss of 492 lives, the largest loss ever in a nightclub fire, that resulted in the change and enforcement of many building codes.

Despite these changes, the use of a pyrotechnic display by the group Great White, plus highly flammable foam insulation and lack of sprinklers, was a recipe for disaster at the West Warwick dance hall.

Since many of our members are of an age where they can remember the Cocoanut Grove, some from personal experience, we decided to revisit November 28, 1942, which newspapers proclaimed “Boston’s story of the century.”

Cocoanut Grove, Boston’s largest nightclub, was located on Piedmont Street, one block from Park Square. It was bordered by Broadway and Shawmut Streets.

On the fateful Saturday night the Grove was filled to well over capacity, when at 10:10 PM a small fire broke out in the Melody Lounge located in the basement of the Grove’s main ballroom.

Within twelve minutes, flames and lethal smoke enveloped the entire Grove complex. By 10:45, firefighters had extinguished all flames and were inside the Grove searching for survivors. But in that short period of time, 492 victims were dead or later died in area hospitals.

The bulk of the victims were taken to Boston City Hospital. Mass. General received the second largest number with Beth Israel, Carney, Faulkner, Mass. Memorial, Peter Bent Brigham, St. Elizabeth’s, St. Margaret’s, Cambridge City and Malden City receiving lesser numbers.

Methods never before thoroughly tested under disaster conditions were hurriedly used for surface burns in a desperate attempt to save lives.

At the time, the government was frantically working on the development of burn treatment serums to use in treating burn injuries suffered by Allied armed forces personnel in World War II.

In a December 13, 1942 special Cocoanut Grove Edition of the Boston American, a new drug called pencillin (not spelled penicillin at that time) was first mentioned. The following is an excerpt from the American:

“Probably the outstanding example of complete cooperation and unstinting help given was the action of two chemists from the Merck Institute in Rahway, NJ racing to Boston with a ‘mystery serum’ which was credited with saving lives of many of the seriously burned.

“The serum, known professionally as pencillin, was placed at the disposal of Boston’s physicians. The drug was mixed with a broth and sprayed, or daubed, on a victim’s burns, and scientists awaited with keen expectation the results of the first widespread use of the experimental serum.

“Physicians pointed out that pencillin was especially helpful in combating the development of pneumonia and infection, the two dread threats to persons suffering burns.”

Almost every Association member, with whom we have talked, can recite exactly where he or she was on that fateful evening. Many were in the armed forces, some were beginning their careers, while others were still in school.

The most vivid memories of all belong to those members who, for one reason or another, were actually at the scene of the disaster or worked in the treatment of the victims.

Five of those members are Frank Arnao, Marguerite Leonard andVin Bolger. Arnao was among the first firefighters on the scene. Leonard worked in the temporary on-site morgue. Bolger who later became a Boston firefighter was sent to theCocoanut Grove along with other military personnel on duty in Bost at that time.

Frank Arnao was a 27-year old Boston firefighter living in Roxbury and stationed on Engine 23 on Northampton Street. He was on duty the night of the Grove fire and outside the Melody Lounge within minutes after the alarm was struck.

“We were attempting to take our 2-1/2 inch hose into the Melody Lounge where the fire first started, but the door had been padlocked to keep patrons from leaving without paying their bill.

“The men from Ladder 12 broke down the door,” said Arnao. “What a sight. We had to move bodies out of the way in order to move inside. All had died of asphyxiation. There were also many bodies on the stairwell going down to the Melody Lounge, which was on a lower level. The passageway had become clogged when a revolving door was jammed. If the padlocked door had been open, they could have escaped.”

“As a firefighter, I’ve tried to put fire deaths out of my mind. But how can I ever forget the Grove! I can see those bodies just as clear today as I did 60 years ago,” said Mr. Arnao, who now lives in Largo, Florida.

Marguerite Leonard had been in first-aid training as part of World War II’s civilian preparedness program. She was sitting at home in Brookline, listening to the radio, when the doctor, who conducted the training program, banged on her door and proceeded to rush her into his car. Twenty minutes later, Leonard was in the midst of a scene she will never forget.

“Bodies were being carried across the street to the film exchange garage. I assisted Doctor Reeves, as he checked bodies for signs of life. We heard a woman groan from underneath a pile of bodies in the garage. She had been presumed dead. We managed to drag her out, put her in a taxi along with another nurse’s aide and sent her to City Hospital. I doubt she lived, but I will always wonder,” said Leonard, who later worked for the state at the Group Insurance Commission.

Mr. Bolger, who enlisted in the Navy two days after the Pearl Harbor attack, was on naval intelligence duty in Boston on that Saturday evening.

“Realizing that many Naval and Marine personnel were on Saturday night liberty, my commander immediately deployed a team of men to the Grove. It was a sight I shall never forget,” said Bolger. Ironically, his most vivid memory took place in the very same garage that Ms. Leonard described.

“Many sailors and Marines were in the garage that served as a temporary morgue. Most had died of asphyxiation, were not burned, and therefore, could be easily recognized by their uniforms. We were checking their dog tags for identification, when I looked into the face of a young man whom I recognized. He was a Marine from Charlestown named Jim Kelly. I had met him two weeks previously over a ‘few beers.’ You can well imagine my feelings at that time – it is a feeling that will never be forgotten,” said Bolger, who later became a member of the Boston Fire Department and retired as a district chief.

Undoubtedly, other Association members were at the Cocoanut Grove on that evening, perhaps as firefighters, police, medical workers or even patrons. It is certain that these members have memories similar to the unforgettable memories of Frank Arnao, Marguerite Leonard or Vin Bolger.

The Cocoanut Grove was badly overcrowded the night of the fire. It is estimated that between 900 and 1,000 patrons had been packed into a nightclub whose license allowed for only 460. Also, several of the Grove’s fire exit doors were found to have been locked.

Owner Barney Welansky was indicted on a manslaughter charge, found guilty by a jury on April 15, 1953, and sentenced to twelve to fifteen years in state prison.

The Governor’s Council voted to set Welansky free after three years and seven months. He was dying of cancer at the time.

Others besides Welansky, including fire and police officials, who had certified to the Grove’s safety, were also indicted. However, all were acquitted or had their cases dropped.

In Rhode Island, the group Great White claims the owners of The Station knew they would be using a pyrotechnic display during their performance. The owners deny such knowledge. Great White had used pyrotechnics at other venues.

Like the Cocoanut Grove case, indictments, trials and lawsuits will take years, if ever, to be finalized. Meanwhile, the dead have been buried and dozens of badly burned victims continue their painful treatment and therapy, many in Massachusetts burn centers.

Editor’s Note: Quotes by Marguerite Leonard are from an earlier edition of the Voice. Leonard, who later lived in Dorchester, is now deceased.