A New York St. Patrick’s Day Tragedy
More Than 80 People Die At The Windsor Hotel Fire
Windsor Hotel Fire, March 17, 1899. Showing collapse of roof water tower during blaze. photographer: unknown
As thousands of New Yorkers were celebrating the St. Patrick’s Day Parade on Friday, March 17, 1899, the Windsor Hotel on the east side of Fifth Avenue between 46th and 47th Streets caught fire. The inferno caused the building to collapse. At least 86 people died, though the exact number perishing remains unknown.
We have previously written about the fire and how 31 unidentified victims were finally acknowledged with a memorial at Kensico Cemetery in Valhalla, NY in 2014.
To commemorate the anniversary of the tragedy we are reproducing images that have not been seen since their original publication.
The following seven photo sequence was taken by a photographer for Frank Leslie’s Magazine. The final photo sequence shows the building collapsing in stages.
Was there ever information on the workers? I believe my great-grandmother’s (Anna) mother may have been an employee who died. We believe Anna was born to a mistress of John Holgate from Michigan in February 1899 and was then baptized and put up for adoption in August 1899 by her father with no mother listed. Anna saved articles about this fire and we have always wondered if it was in connection to her mother. Would love any information.
Nothing that I am aware of. The best source for any information on the workers would be contemporary newspapers.
Thank you for posting these photographs which show the extent of the devastation.
I would like to know if you have come across a list of employees at the Windsor Hotel at the time of the fire in 1899.
I would also like to know if there is a list. My great grandfather was suppose to have worked there and I have heard stories of him passing away when he got pnemonia after helping to fight the fire. If there is any kind of information I can get it definitely be helpful in my genealogy research
If you provide your great grandfather’s name, I can possibly give you a lead on your research.
It’s so sad when victims of tragedies like this go unidentified. Certainly they had friends, relatives, co-workers who knew they were staying at the hotel, didn’t they?