Collinwood School Fire: March 4, 1908
Description
The fire at Lake View Elementary School in Collinwood, Ohio on March, 4, 1908 cost the lives of 172 students, 2 teachers, and 1 rescuer. Though the school was newly constructed, the fire safety precautions of the time are thought to be the major contributors to the tremendous loss of life.
Tragedies like this often bring about change. The Collinwood School Fire, like the Triangle Shirtwaist Fire in 1911, and the Cuyahoga River Fire in 1969 led to sweeping progressive reforms to prevent similar circumstances from happening, ultimately saving lives and improving urban enviornments.
Not only did the Collinwood School Fire take the lives of 175 people, it destroyed families, and ultimately cost the village of Collinwood its autonomy.
Credits
Steven Ast, Jennifer Hyland, and Keith Leffler