On Ash Wednesday, March 4, 1908, Collinwood's Lake View
Elementary School became the site of the country's
worst school tragedy. Shortly after 9:00 a.m., and while school was in
session, overheated steam pipes ignited nearby wood joists, resulting in a
raging fire. The fire caused a large panic, and roughly half of the
students were unable to escape, crowded in the doorways. In the end,
172 children, 2 teachers and 1 rescuer perished in the fire.
Initially, it was believed that the students were unable to escape because
the doors opened inward. This later proved in error--the children died
partly as a result of their own panic. Nonetheless, this tragedy
resulted in improved building and fire codes, as well as the practice of
fire drills.
The bodies of 19
students could not be identified. The city of Collinwood purchased a common grave
for the unclaimed children, who were buried in a row, in individual white
caskets. In a second row in front of the unidentified children (and
closest to the monument) are 10 additional graves of victims who were
identified, but whose families chose to bury next to the other children.
