Place: Cocoanut Grove Fire Site
Address: 17 Piedmont Street
Neighborhood: Bay Village
On March 11, 2014, I took a walk around Bay Village, one of the lesser known neighborhoods in the City of Boston. In 1942, a big fire took place at the Cocoanut Grove nightclub, which led to the importance of fire safety regulations. Presently, there is a garage on the site of the nightclub.
To visit the site of the Cocoanut Grove Fire, ride the Green Line to Arlington or the Orange Line to New England-Tufts Medical Center. Bay Village is nestled between the two stations.
"On the evening of November 28, 1942, a fire that started in the Melody Lounge swept through the Cocoanut Grove nightclub, killing more than 490 people. Overcrowding, locked exit doors and toxic flammable furnishings all contributed to the death toll, the highest in the history of Boston. The lessons from this tragedy saved the lives of many future fire victims; fire safety codes and public building regulations were strengthened and the treatment of burn injuries and smoke inhalation changed dramatically."
To learn more about the Cocoanut Grove Fire:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cocoanut_Grove_fire
https://www.bostonfirehistory.org/firestory11281942.html
