Fitchville in Huron County, Ohio — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)
Golden Age Nursing Home Fire / Killed in the Fire
Golden Age Nursing Home Fire
Located one mile north of Fitchville, the Golden Age Nursing Home caught fire and burned to the ground at 4:45 a.m., November 23, 1963, killing 63 of 84 patients. Fire departments from New London, Greenwich, North Fairfield, and Plymouth responded. Ignited by the arcing of overloaded wiring, the incident called for action to require sprinklers, automatic fire detection systems, and electrical wiring compliance to building codes in all nursing homes. The worst tragedy of its kind in the nation, the incident was overshadowed by the assassination of President John F. Kennedy and was not widely reported. Twenty-one unclaimed bodies were interred in a 60-foot grave in Woodlawn Cemetery in Norwalk. Those killed in the fire are listed on the reverse.
Killed in the Fire
Mary Baldo, Frank Bandeen, Leslie Benethun, Mary Berganski, Harry Berman, Mary Boyer, William Brockman, Robert Carey, Martha Carpenter, Pauline Charneky, Lonnie Clark, William Cox, Ouida Davis, Marie Defrank, Christine Demuth, John Doran, Agnes Driscol, Minnie Dwyer, Reuben Echelbarger, Ella Ehle, Samuel Factor, Josephine Gormek, John Hanon, Marguerite Hermes, Clara Hile, Clayton Hires, Ruby Hohlfelder, Lucy Holmes, George Jenhaus, Emma Johnson, Louise Kehrers, John Kerchner, Leo Krueger, John Kuczinski, Logan Lamb, Maude Lehman, Katie Lepis, John Linder, Anna Lothi, Lena Lynn, Margaret MacDonald, Margaret McNary, Mamie Malloy, Tony Marlette, Walter Meilander, Henry Parnell, Andrew Pavulus, Maude Reid, Sam Rood, James Rook, Louis Rosenberg, Gottlieb Schulke, Charles Shamek, Luby Smoley, August Solli, Charles Steirert, Upson Todd, Angelina Traut, Metta Tretchel, Mrs. Underwood, Grace Waters, Charlotte Whelen, and John White
Erected 2007 by New London Area Historical Society and The Ohio Historical Society. (Marker Number 2-39.)
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Disasters. In addition, it is included in the Ohio Historical Society / The Ohio History Connection series list. A significant historical date for this entry is November 23, 1963.
Location. 41° 5.653′ N, 82° 29.29′ W. Marker is in Fitchville, Ohio, in Huron County. Marker is on Ohio Route 13 near U.S. 250, on the right when traveling north. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: New London OH 44851, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 12 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. Fitchville Bridge 1929 - 2013 (within shouting distance of this marker); Greenwich Veterans Memorial (approx. 5 miles away); Early Catholic Missionary Settlement (approx. 10.8 miles away); Savannah Academy Bell (approx. 11 miles away); The Original Bandstand (approx. 11 miles away); Rev. John Haney (approx. 11 miles away); Fire Triangle (approx. 11 miles away); World War I Memorial (approx. 12 miles away).
Also see . . . Golden Age Nursing Home fire. Article on Wikipedia (Submitted on August 30, 2016, by Joel Seewald of Madison Heights, Michigan.)
Credits. This page was last revised on August 8, 2021. It was originally submitted on August 30, 2016, by Joel Seewald of Madison Heights, Michigan. This page has been viewed 1,849 times since then and 130 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on August 30, 2016, by Joel Seewald of Madison Heights, Michigan. 3. submitted on July 31, 2021, by Denise Boose of Tehachapi, California.