You may be using an older version of the Adobe Flash Player. To enjoy multimedia content on WGBH.org, please click here to upgrade to the latest version of the free Flash player.

Legacy of the Cocoanut Grove Fire of 1942
September 14, 2004
Stephanie Schorow reporter, writer, Boston Herald

Stephanie Schorow, reporter for The Boston Herald and author of Boston on Fire: A History of Fires and Firefighting in Boston, examines many myths and misconceptions about the Cocoanut Grove nightclub fire, and evaluates its legacy and its continuing impact on Boston.

The fire that swept through the Cocoanut Grove nightclub in Boston on November 28, 1942, was one of the worst in the nation's history, resulting in at least 492 deaths and hundreds of injuries. The fire led to new building codes, medical innovations in burn treatment and legal precedents in manslaughter law.

Culture & Identity | History
Boston | Fires | Natural Disasters | Nightclub Fires
WGBH
Old South Meeting House
Image of The Crime of the Century
Author: Stephanie Schorow
Publisher: Commonwealth Editions (2008)
Binding: Hardcover, 256 pages
Image of Boston's Fire Trail: A Walk Through the City's Fire and Firefighting History
Author: Boston Fire Historical Society
Publisher: The History Press (2007)
Binding: Paperback, 128 pages
Image of East of Boston: Notes from the Harbor Islands
Author: Stephanie Schorow
Publisher: The History Press (2008)
Binding: Paperback, 160 pages
Image of Boston on Fire (Paperback)
Author: Stephanie Schorow
Publisher: Commonwealth Editions (2006)
Binding: Paperback, 256 pages
Image of The Cocoanut Grove Fire (NE Remembers)
Author: Stephanie Schorow, Robert Allison
Publisher: Commonwealth Editions (2005)
Binding: Paperback, 96 pages
Login or register to post comments