Winecoff Hotel Fire

Major General Paul Baade

2009-11-11T17:30:00.010-05:00

During World War II Winecoff fire survivor Paul Baade was commander of the 35th Infantry Division in Europe. His division saw almost continuous combat action during the eleven months that followed D-Day. His wartime papers are housed at the Truman Library.

A veteran of both World Wars, Paul Baade, 57, was sixty-eight days into retirement when he and wife Margaret were guests at Atlanta's Winecoff Hotel.

"My wife and I were awakened to the screams of, 'help help'. We got up. I smelled a little smoke. I opened the door, found the hall full of smoke and realized we could only be saved out the window," Baade said. They were trapped - six stories up.

The corner room afforded a view of both Ellis Street and the back ally. Slowly the enormity of the event and the urgency of their situation within it became evident. Fire was below them and rising. A grueling period of uncertainty ensued. An areal ladder was fully extended toward room 618.

"When the ladder did arrive, it was only six inches on the window and how Mrs. Baade and myself got on and down is still a miracle," he said.

Baade said of the Winecoff fire, "I have never seen anything worse than this in all of my experience in the war. There you have chance for an escape. You can lie down or you can move. Here you just had to wait."

Nell McDuffie

2009-10-13T20:14:00.021-05:00

Nell McDuffie came to work at the Winecoff Hotel in 1928. She was a capable secretary to several general managers during the next eighteen years. She knew the hotel's operation top to bottom. "I was sort of the assistant manager and just general flunky really," she said. During World War II she moved into the hotel.

She survived the Winecoff fire when Atlanta firefighters rescued her by ladder from the window of room 1120, across the ten foot ally way and into the Mortgage Guarantee building. She was still there when Ed Kiker Williams fell - unconscious - from room 1520 and landed miraculously on the ladder still stretched across the ally - a three story plunge. He was injured but survived.

McDuffie later recovered the Gideons bible from her room and claimed it as her own with an inscription. She also typed out some of her special memories of her years at the hotel. Nell McDuffie moved to Raleigh, NC. following the fire but eventually returned to Atlanta.

Listen to a three minute excerpt from The Winecoff Fire authors' 1987 interview with Nell McDuffie. She is asked about co-lessor Robert O'Connell and a disturbance in the hotel's bar on Thursday night December 5th, 1946. Click here.

Awestruck

2009-09-23T00:42:00.004-05:00

Atlanta Journal photographer Bill Wilson captured this photo on Sunday December 8th, 1946 - one day after the fire. (Click on photo to enlarge it.)

Medical College of Georgia Magazine Article

2009-09-10T20:33:00.008-05:00

The Medical College of Georgia has published in its quarterly magazine an article on the extraordinary life of Grady Hospital Nurse Betty Jean Tarrant including her vital role in the emergency response to the Winecoff fire. The article by Christine Hurley Deriso is here.

Dwight Morrison Photo Newly Acquired

2009-08-19T11:08:00.018-05:00

This photo of Winecoff fire victim Dwight Morrison, 26, and his wife Hilda was taken in early 1946 shortly after their marriage. They'd met a year earlier while Dwight was stationed at Tyndall Field in Panama City, Florida.

During World War II Dwight Morrison was a B-26 pilot who flew sixty-five bombing missions over Europe. His fellow pilots felt safe when Dwight would lead their group because he was "lucky," one said.

Like several other Winecoff Hotel guests, Morrison was on terminal leave from the service at the time of the fire. He was in room 1026 on the building's back side above the alley. His brother, Wilbur Morrison, went up to Dwight's room the week after the fire and found a rope made of sheets in the room. Two months after the fire Hilda gave birth to the couple's son, Dwight Jr. A few years later Hilda was drawn to room 1026. She told Winecoff Fire co-author Sam Heys, "You think you want to go up there but then you get up there and it's like you don't have any legs."

To honor the memory of her husband, Hilda - along with another of Dwight's brothers, Carlton Morrison - attended a remembrance ceremony in Atlanta in 1993 recognizing the 119 victims of the Winecoff fire.

The Morrisons' story is told on pages 168, 169 and 217 of The Winecoff Fire.

Ethel Stewart - Photo Newly Acquired

2009-05-06T16:32:00.025-05:00

From the very home in which she grew up comes this photo of Winecoff fire victim Ethel Stewart. Miss Stewart, 20, and five other young female victims were University of Alabama students. They were in Atlanta working internships at Davison's and Rich's department stores. Ethel Stewart was prepared to work the Christmas rush at Rich's. She had worked at her parents' country store during high school. She was a senior at the university and was engaged to be married.
"She was very outgoing, very lovable, very smart, down to earth and easy-going" said her hotel roommate, survivor Rose Harvey, in an interview with Winecoff Fire co-author Sam Heys.
The photo was submitted by her nephew, Allen Stewart of Ralph, Alabama. He lives in the same house where his Aunt Ethel grew up. Her personal dressing table is still kept in the home. Ethel Stewart's story in told beginning on page 53 of The Winecoff Fire.

Winecoff Table Discovered

2009-04-06T20:25:00.010-05:00

A Winecoff Fire reader in Roswell, Ga. says this table has been passed down within her family along with a story: It was bought at an auction of furniture recovered from the Winecoff Hotel. She says it originally showed scorch marks from the fire but was later refinished.

In the days following the fire some furnishings were put into storage, which brought accusations that the hotel's operators were attempting to hide assets. The furnishings were eventually ordered sold at auction to help satisfy the judgment of the court.

Today the sturdy table upholds the family television and DVD player!

Sworn Statement Discovered

2009-03-06T11:19:00.008-05:00

An original 1946 copy of a sworn statement given by Winecoff fire survivor Paul Lankford has been discovered. Lankford, 26, of Birmingham, Alabama was an Army Air Force veteran of World War II and was in Atlanta working for the Southern Natural Gas Co. He was asleep in room 324 of the hotel when the fire broke out and was one the first to discover it.
In the weeks that followed, he was one of many asked to give sworn statements to insurance investigators.
His son Wayne recently made the find: his dad's carbon copy of the statement. The statement is here. Paul Lankford's story is told beginning on page 21 of The Winecoff Fire.

Grady Hospital Nurse Faces Grim Duty

2009-01-24T13:54:00.013-05:00

Winecoff Fire reader Rusty Tanton has discovered that his own great aunt played an important role in the emergency response to the Winecoff Hotel fire. Betty Jane Tarrant was a night supervisor at Atlanta's Grady Hospital when the alert was sounded, "be prepared - the Winecoff Hotel is on fire." She tells her story to Rusty in this explicit five minute video interview. Click here for the interview.

Bainbridge High Senior Girls

2008-11-25T13:08:00.005-05:00

Pictured here shortly before the Winecoff fire are three who perished: Sue Broome (left), Ruth Powell (center right) and Maxine Willis (right). The three Bainbridge, Georgia high school seniors were Youth Assembly delegates and were registered into room 920 of the hotel. This photograph appeared in The Bainbridge Post-Searchlight in 1993. Also pictured is Mary Francis Barber (center left).

Richard Turk - Newly Acquired Photo

2008-07-27T00:03:00.004-05:00

Richard B. Turk, room 1022, used a blanket and a rope to help three other guests escape the fire before escaping himself. His story is told beginning on page 68 of The Winecoff Fire.

Crime Scene?

2008-07-12T17:27:00.005-05:00

Little doubt remains that the Winecoff Hotel was the scene of a vicious crime in 1946. Today, some claim it is also the scene of a colossal case of mortgage fraud. Writing for OpEdNews.com Micheal McCray raises the issue anew. His article is here. His second article is here.

Bob & Pauline Bault - Newly Acquired Photo

2008-06-18T23:44:00.009-05:00

Few survived The Winecoff fire as narrowly as Bob & Pauline Bault. Fourteen floors above Peachtree St. searchlights found them and spectators gasped as they moved precariously from the window of room 1404 to the window of room 1406. Trapped there, room 1406 became a virtual oven during the fire. It was directly above the middle floors which were roaring flames from their windows during the fire's explosive flashover. Fortunately, eleven month old Sally Bault was safe at home with the family's maid. The Baults' story is told in chapter three of The Winecoff Fire.

Tested And Found Worthy

2008-05-17T00:30:00.004-05:00

Atlanta firefighter Richard Ellington, 56, moves across his ladder from the roof of The Mortgage Guarantee Building toward room 1518 of the burning Winecoff Hotel. Even through dense smoke rising in the alleyway, many were rescued using this method. Ellington's son Relford, 26, also fought the blaze.

Margaret & Warren Foster - Newly Acquired Photo!

2008-04-12T21:41:00.003-05:00

Margaret and Warren Foster were rescued by ladder from room 508.
It was what Warren overheard happening in the room next door, prior to the fire, that has intrigued arson investigators ever since. He overheard an argument, a fist fight, breaking glass and a threat as a man departed room 510-12, "I'll get even with you before the night's over!"

Connie Foster

2008-04-12T20:56:00.005-05:00

One year old, Connie Foster and her parents were recued from room 508 by Atlanta Fire Captain Rick Roberts. He carried little Connie down a ladder to the safety of Peachtree Street. "That baby was smiling all the way down the ladder," said Captain Roberts.
This newly acquired photo shows Connie in the dress her parents bought for her at Davison's Department Store following the fire.
Connie Foster and Rick Roberts were reunited first in 1993 after the publication of The Winecoff Fire and again in 2006. Said Roberts, "I recognized her eyes immediately!"

Water Pitcher Discovered

2008-03-28T20:41:00.003-05:00

Winecoff Fire reader Julie Cleaves discovered this hammered copper water pitcher at a Pennsylvania antiques auction. What caught her attention was a mysterious tag attached to it. It reads: "Hand Made Hammer Copper Water Picture From Wine Coft Hotel Atlanta". Julie quickly assumed that the word "picture" was intended to be "pitcher" and that "Wine Coft" should read "Winecoff". Did this pitcher actually come from the Winecoff Hotel? We're posting this photo in hopes the pitcher will look familiar to one of our readers. If so, e-mail Winecoff Fire co-author Allen B. Goodwin: allenbgoodwin@yahoo.com

Tornado Strikes Downtown Atlanta

2008-03-15T01:03:00.004-05:00

Only minor damage to the old Winecoff Hotel building was reported: "A couple of broken windows," said an Ellis Hotel telephone operator. The tornado struck March 14th at 9:38 pm and caused significant damage elsewhere in the downtown area.

Ed Kiker Williams - Newly Acquired Photo

2008-02-28T21:07:00.013-05:00

Ed Kiker Williams, 15, was excited about going to Atlanta. When he left Cordele, Ga. that Friday he was behind the wheel of his aunt's big blue Buick. His mom, aunt, little sister and three cousins were all on board. The weekend in Atlanta was a shining star ahead for each of them. His sister Clair had her heart set on seeing the Disney film, Song of the South. The ladies were going to Christmas shop for special gifts unavailable in Cordele. Ed was content just to be the driver.
The group took two rooms in the Winecoff Hotel, 1530 for his aunt and cousins, 1520 for him, his mom and little sister.
At 3:42 am Saturday morning life began to change for Ed Kiker Williams. The story of his struggle to live and his miraculous survival is told in Chapter 4 of The Winecoff Fire.
Hear a six minute segment of the authors' original 1986 interview with Mr. Williams: Ed Kiker Williams.mp3

Mildred Johnson - Newly Acquired Photo

2008-02-13T21:49:00.010-05:00

Mildred Johnson, room 628, fell into the alley behind the Winecoff Hotel when flames from the window of room 528 severed her sheet rope. She survived with injuries. One hand was permanently disfigured by the fall. This photo, taken before the fire, was one of her favorites because it shows her hands. Her story is told on pages 26 and 166 of The Winecoff Fire.

Vintage Newspaper Discovered!

2008-01-17T10:54:00.002-05:00

Winecoff Fire reader Donna Howard Parker has discovered this vintage issue of The Augusta Chronicle. It is dated Sunday December 8th, 1946. Donna reports it was found among the effects of the late Lilly Howard of Augusta, Ga. Lilly saved the issue throughout her life because she was so touched by the tragedy it describes. The earliest news reports inaccurately inflated the number of fatalities. The correct count was 119. One U.P.I. story reported 123. This issue reports 127. It also includes a vivid account of the Muns brothers' miraculous escape from room 1206 via sheetropes.

Tenth Floor Now For Women Only

2008-01-13T22:26:00.001-05:00

The Atlanta Journal & Constitution reports that the the entire tenth floor of the Ellis Hotel is now reserved for women only.

Winecoff Remembrance Page Debuts

2007-12-30T21:22:00.002-05:00

To honor the victims of the Winecoff Hotel fire, winecoff.org debuts a special Remembrance Page. The page will feature photographs we acquire of the fire's victims. Family and friends are invited to submit photos to Winecoff Fire co-author Allen B. Goodwin, 110 Sweetwood Way Roswell, Ga. 30076-2750 or via e-mail: allenbgoodwin@yahoo.com . Your photos will be scanned and returned to you promptly.
The Remembrance Page is here

A Pulitzer Prize Winner Passes

2007-12-06T21:20:00.001-05:00

Pulitzer Prize winning amateur photographer Arnold Hardy has died. He was the Georgia Tech student who brought the most memorable image of the Winecoff Hotel fire to the world.
Hardy passed away December 5th from complications following hip surgery. His funeral was held, fittingly, on December 7th, the sixty-first anniversary of the fire that brought him a Pulitzer Prize -- and a sense of consternation that it was earned in the midst of tragedy.

For more than forty years the woman in the famous photo remained unidentified and was presumed to have died from her fall. In 1993 the book The Winecoff Fire revealed that she was a badly injured survivor, Daisy McCumber.

Hardy was a mechanical engineer and founder of Hardy Manufacturing, which still makes medical X-Ray equipment.
He was proud of his photo. He was most proud, however, of the important role it played in shaping public opinion to improve fire safety codes worldwide. He was 85.
Arnold Hardy: A useful life - defined by a moment that mattered.

To read the Associated Press obituary click here

The Luckey Brothers - Newly Discovered Photos

2007-11-16T13:11:00.002-05:00

A Winecoff Fire reader has agreed to share these newly discovered photos of her great uncles, King & Frank Luckey. The Luckey brothers are believed to have been among the group of gamblers who occupied room 330 of the Winecoff Hotel at the time of the fire.

She also made this surprising revelation: "I've talked to my aunts and uncles and from things that were said in the family or things they've heard from family members or rumored in the family was that King and Frank started the fire. One uncle heard that they escaped from a third room window and climbed on the roof top of a building next door. He also said that he heard the reason was because they were accused of cheating while gambling that night. Now whether or not this is true we will never know."

In interviews with "The Winecoff Fire" authors Sam Heys and Allen B. Goodwin, two Atlanta newspaper reporters also put credence in the idea that the fire was somehow tied to the poker game in room 330.

In 1993 Atlanta Constitution reporter Keeler McCartney said, "It was the card game. Somebody got thrown out and then came back. But I never could nail it down and neither could the police."

In 1985 Atlanta Journal reporter Aubrey Morris said, "I remember the stories that allegedly someone in the poker game got mad and set fire to the place."

Both of the Luckey brothers are now deceased.

This and other arson theories are examined in Chapter 10 of The Winecoff Fire: The Untold Story of America's Deadliest Hotel Fire.