1929 — Sep 20, Fire, Study Club Dance Hall, 65 East Vernor Highway, Detroit, MI — 22

lornajarrettblanchard September 20, 1929

–22 Barlay, Stephen. Fire: An International Report. 1973, p. 26.

–22 National Fire Protection Association. Key Dates in Fire History. 1996.

–22 NFPA. “The Study Club Fire.” Quarterly of the NFPA, Vol. 23, No. 2, Oct 1929, p. 125.

–22 UP. “Martin Cohn Held for Manslaughter,” Marshall Evening Chronicle, MI. 9-30-1929, 1.

Narrative Information

NFPA: “‘Dance for Your Health’ was the slogan printed upon the papers of matches distributed at the Study Club, 65 East Vernor Highway, Detroit, prior to the fire which took twenty-two lives and injured forty-five or more people at 1:32 A.m., Friday, September 20, 1929. One of these same matches carelessly discarded by a patron on his way out of the building may have been the cause of the fire. The loss of life and injury occurred on the second floor, where the dance hall and dining room were located. There was no exit at the rear of the building and the occupants were trapped like rats.

“The building was originally a residence of the better class. In 1913 a two-story rear addition was erected, the building then being occupied by a medical society….The original portion of the structure was of ordinary brick joisted construction. The rear portion was of a better grade of construction with metal lath ceilings, wired glass windows, etc. It was in the rear portion on the second story that the loss of life occurred.

“The, features of construction and arrangement which were primarily responsible for the loss of life were due to the alterations and decorations which had been installed for the night club occupancy. In the prior occupancy the rear of the second floor had been used for a library occupied by a small number of persons. With this occupancy there was no criticism of the exit arrangements or fire-safety. When altered for the night club occupancy all of the windows with the possible exception of one or two windows at each side near the forward end of the hall and one window from the dressing room at the rear, had been blocked off and plastered over, there being no indication from the interior as to the location of the windows… Two false windows for decorative purposes located in the rear wall did not coincide with the actual windows. The entire interior was decorated with highly flammable materials. Light wooden lattice work, highly flammable cloth, and oak leaves which had been treated with either wax or lacuer to add to their luster, made for an extremely rapid fire…

“With normal ventilation through the windows unavailable it was necessary to provide for some sort of ventilation. Accordingly, a large fan was installed exhausting from the roof space above the dance hall, two openings in the ceiling leading to this space. This fan, some 30 inches in diameter and driven by a three-quarter horse power motor, exhausted the air from the ceiling. No provision, however, was made for ingress of fresh air to the room except by leakage and through the main doorway. It was reported by persons who visited the club prior to the fire that the draft through the corridor was so strong as to cause distinct annoyance while walking through the corridor.

“At one side of the building was a doorway designed to lead to a fire escape…This fire escape (of a type unsuitable for the present occupancy) had not been installed and at the time of the fire was lying on the ground outside of the building. It is reported that the building department had ordered a rear fire escape installed a year before the fire and that the proprietor of the establishment indicated when applying for a permit to operate the dance hall that he would shortly install a fire escape at the rear of the building. Had a proper fire escape been installed at the rear of the hall it is probable that little or no loss of life would have occurred….

“At the rear of the dance hall there was a small dressing room for entertainers, five feet wide by thirteen feet long. (Fig. 9.) The door to this room was the only doorway at this end of the structure, and in the excitement of the fire was mistaken for an emergency exit. One of the two windows from this room had been closed over, leaving only one window available. This was equipped with a factory-type steel-frame and wired-glass tilting sash, most unsuitably arranged and located as an emergency exit. There was a clear drop of 22 ft. from this window to the brick paved alley below…

“At the time of the fire the night club was in full swing, although as the closing hour, 2 A.M., approached, it is probable that the occupants had already begun to leave. The club was licensed as a. dance hall for two hundred and fifty people. No definite statement can he made as to the exact number of occupants in the building at this time, but all reports agree that the number was less than two hundred. Estimates range from seventy-five to one hundred seventy-five, the latter figure being based upon the theory that approximately one hundred may have escaped by way of the kitchen. Owing to the apparent difficulty of escape through the kitchen, the estimate of seventy-five seems more reasonable….

“At about 1:30 A.M. on Friday, September 20, a man and girl (who have not subsequently been located or identified) were leaving the building. When passing the check room off the first floor hallway adjacent to the entrance, the man spoke to the coat room girl, saying, ‘Did you know there is a fire back there, girlie?’ The girl saw a small fire in a drapery near the foot of the stairway…The exact point of origin of the fire was at the head of the basement stairway, which had been closed off by a wallboard partition and concealed by the draperies and decorations with which the entrance hall and stairway were completely lined. The girl ran into the first floor kitchen to get water to extinguish the fire. On returning with a pail of water she found that the fire had gained too great headway for her to handle, so she ran from the building calling “Fire.” Within a few seconds the chef on duty on the first floor kitchen started to notify the patrons on the second floor, but found that the fire had preceded him up the stairway, so he abandoned his attempt and made his escape from the building. The fire traveled up the stairway through the corridor and into the main dance hall with a lightning-like rapidity…The powerful draft through this passage induced by the large ventilating fan located above the roof of the dance hall was increased when the front door was left open by employees making their escape from the building. Apparently it was only a matter of seconds from the time the fire was first noted until flame and smoke were belching into the dance hall area.

“The exact cause of the fire has not been determined, but the most probably cause would appear to be a carelessly discarded match thrown against the drapery by a patron leaving the building….

“Twenty-two persons lost their lives as a result of this fire. Eighteen were dead when removed from the building or died the same day; the others died later in hospitals. There were approximately forty-five cases of reported serious injury. It is assumed, however, that the actual casualty list was larger than this and that any who escaped from the building with minor injuries failed to report them. The deaths and injuries were largely due to suffocation and crushing. Of those killed, half a dozen were seriously burned, the other deaths being due to suffocation. The injuries were divided between burns, suffocation, fractures sustained in jumping from windows, and combinations of these….” (NFPA. “The Study Club Fire.” Quarterly of the National Fire Protection Association, Vol. 23, No. 2, October 1929, pp. 115-126.)

Newspapers

Sep 20: “Detroit, Sept. 20–(AP)–Seventeen persons were killed and more than 50 others are in hospitals with injuries suffered in a fir which gutted the Study club, a night club on the edge of the downtown theatre district early this morning.

“One hundred thirty patrons and 40 employes, including entertainers, were in the club when flames broke through the wall at the first floor and swept up the main stairway, cutting off th only means of egress.

“Patrolman James McGuire, who discovered the blaze, ran to a nearby fire box, and returned to find the flames and smoke roaring up the staircase. Before patrons and employes were aware of their danger, the fire was upon them. A cigarette girl was suffocated as she stood in the center of the dance floor and dropped down over her tray. Her body was found by firemen.

“Many patrons rushed for safety into a small dressing room, seven by fifteen feet, in the rear of the building. Thirty of them were found piled unconscious in th tiny space when firemen broke into the room. Several were dead. Others were badly injured.

“The interior of the building was ruined, but the exterior presented an almost unblemished appearance save for broken windows and a fire escape which hangs useless, a mockery to those who ventured to trust it as an exit.

“Marty Cohen, proprietor of the club, and Robert Jackson, master of ceremonies, were closeted with police this morning. Cohen attributed the fire to rivals in business. The Study club had been operating fro about a year and had prospered….

“Firemen who tried to enter the building through windows, found that the window openings had been covered on the inside with wall board….

“…Most of the fatalities, physicians said, resulted from suffocation….”

“Death list in fire:

Mrs. Florence Parker, 42, Utica.

John J. Kaufman, 25, Detroit.

Lawrence Luther, 40, a waiter.

Derrick Brown, 25, Detroit.

Walter Kroger, 38, Grand Rapids.

Morrison Manning, 30, Grand Rapids.

Harold B. Smith, 38, Detroit.

D. Tedford, 47, Detroit.

Waverly J. Green, 36, Detroit.

Mrs. Bertha Kelley, 27, maid.

Miss Ruby Emery, 30, Detroit.

Mrs. Gussie Rosenbloom, 27, Detroit.

Mrs. Marjorie Jan Ward, 30, Detroit.

Miss Phyllis Wiese, 22, Detroit.

Miss Lockey Magee, 19, Detroit.

One unidentified man.

One unidentified woman.”

(AP. “17 Killed in Detroit Blaze Early Today.” Ironwood Daily Globe, MI. 9-20-1929, p. 1.)

Sep 21: “Detroit, Sept. 21–(AP)–The death list in the fire which early Friday swept the Study club, a Detroit cabaret, was increased to 20 this morning. The latest death was that of Mrs. Helen Snyder, wife of Stuart Alfred Snyder of Montreal. He body of a woman in the county morgue was identified today as that of Miss Mabel Ireland of Saginaw, Mich. The body of the remaining unidentified victim was definitely identified as that of Alan Klein, 31, vice president of the Goldsmith Publishing company of Cleveland….

“While Henry J. Clarvin, a detective inspector, tentatively placed the blame for the tragedy on the cloak room girl who is said to have opened the front door when the flames were first discovered on the first floor of the club, County Prosecutor James Chenot announced that his office not only would seek to place criminal responsibility for the fire but would hold to account as well, the authorities who permitted the place to operate.

“Department which will be affected in view of the prosecutors’ statement were the recreation department, which granted the license for dancing; the building department, which approved a permit for remodeling of the place when it was opened last year, and the fire commission, which permitted the building to open after its investigation was supposed to have proved the place was safe.

“Persecutor Chenot said Martin Cohn, owner of the club, held pending the investigation, admitted he recently had been ordered to install a fire escape to replace an old one….

“Sixteen of the 20, ten men and eight women [adds to 18], were trampled and suffocated to death in the press of mad humanity, which a moment before the fire ate rapidly up a stairway, had been a gay crowd of dancers.” (AP. “Fire Dead List up to 20…” Ironwood Daily Globe. 9-21-1929.)

Sep 21: “Detroit, Sept. 21 (AP)….The city’s effort to fix the blame for the tragedy proceeded today with Martin Cohn, proprietor of the Study Club, a prisoner at police headquarters. His bond had been set at $25,000 following his appearance on writ of habeas corpus but Judge DeWitt H. Merriam refused to accept the property Cohn offered as security…..

“There was no fire escape at the building, the old one having been removed a week ago and the new one not erected yet.

“Mayor John C. Lodge, in addition to ordering a thorough investigation of the Study Club, has ordered officials to check up on other similar places of amusement about the city to see if dangerous conditions exists….” (AP. “Night Club Fire Death Toll Mounts.” The Escanaba Daily Press, MI. 9-22-1929, p. 1.)

Sep 24: “Detroit, Sept. 24 (AP)–The alternative of stripping their establishments of all ceiling and wall decorations or going out of business was given four Detroit night club proprietors today. The order was issued by city officials investigating the fire at th Study club last week which resulted in the death of 20 persons. Officials believe the rapid spread of the flames in the Study club was caused by the inflammable character of the decorations….” (AP. “Order Night Clubs to Remove Ceiling, Wall Decorations,” The Escanaba Daily Press, MI. 9-25-1929, p. 1.)

Sep 27: “Detroit, Sept. 27 (AP)–The twenty-second death resulting from the Study Club fire here early last Friday was recorded tonight. The victim was Miss Pauline Hunt, 23 years old, of Detroit.” (AP. “Night Club Tragedy Claims 22^nd Victim.” The Escanaba Daily Press, MI. 9-28-1929, p. 1.)

Sep 30: “Detroit, Mich., Sept. 30.—(UP)—Martin Cohn, proprietor of the Study Club cabaret in which 22 persons were fatally burned in a fire ten days ago, was charged with manslaughter here today in a warrant signed by judge Christopher E. Stein in recorder’s court. Valois E. Crosley, assistant prosecuting attorney, announced the manslaughter warrant had been recommended and signed. Cohn was taken in custody again after dismissal of a habeas corpus writ under which he was free on $25,000 bond. He was turned over to the police homicide squad for arraignment later in recorder’s court on the manslaughter charge.” (United Press. “Martin Cohn Held for Manslaughter,” Marshall Evening Chronicle, MI. 9-30-1929, 1.)

Oct 22: “Detroit, Mich., Oct. 22.–(AP)–Prosecuting Attorney James E. Chenot Monday admitted that the evidence upon which the manslaughter charge is based against Martin Cohn, proprietor of the Study club in which 22 persons lost their lives by fire and panic, was not adequate. The prosecutor further admitted inability of his office to secure evidence under which to prosecute the case.” (AP. “Evidence Not Adequate in Case Against Cohn.” Daily News, Ludington, MI. 10-22-1929, p. 7.)

Fatalities

Brown, Derrick., 25, Detroit, MI.
Emery, Miss Ruby, 30, Detroit, MI.
Green, Waverly J., 36, Detroit, MI.
Hunt, Miss Pauline, 23, Detroit, MI.
Ireland, Miss Mabel, Saginaw, MI.
Kaufman, John J., 25, Detroit, MI.
Kelley, Mrs. Bertha, 27, maid, Detroit, MI.
Klein, Alan, 31, Cleveland, OH.
Kroger, Walter, 38, Grand Rapids, MI.
Lowe, Ronald (or Rolland), 39, Detroit, MI.
Luther, Lawrence, 40, a waiter, Grand Rapids, MI.
Magee, Miss Lockey, 19, Detroit, MI.
Manning, Morrison, 30, Grand Rapids. (Another source notes New York.)
Miller, Frank, 25, Detroit, MI.
Parker [or Parke], Mrs. Florence, 42, Utica.
Rosenbloom, Mrs. Gussie, 27, Detroit, MI.
Smith, Harold B., 38, Detroit (or Hartford, CT).
Snyder, Mrs. Helen, Montreal, Quebec.
Tedford, E. D., 47, Detroit, MI.
Ward, Mrs. Marjorie Jan (or Gane), 30, Detroit, MI.
Wiese, Miss Phyllis, 22, Detroit, MI.
Not able to identify.

Sources

Associated Press. “17 Killed in Detroit Blaze Early Today.” Ironwood Daily Globe, MI. 9-20-1929, p. 1. Accessed 9-27-2017 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/daily-globe-sep-20-1929-p-1/?tag

Associated Press. “Evidence Not Adequate in Case Against Cohn.” Daily News, Ludington, MI. 10-22-1929, p. 7. Accessed 9-27-2017 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/ludington-daily-news-oct-22-1929-p-7/?tag

Associated Press. “Fire Dead List up to 20 Now.” Ironwood Daily Globe, MI. 9-21-1929. Accessed 9-27-2017 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/daily-globe-sep-21-1929-p-1/?tag

Associated Press. “Night Club Fire Death Toll Mounts.” The Escanaba Daily Press, MI. 9-22-1929, p. 1. Accessed 9-27-2017 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/escanaba-daily-press-sep-22-1929-p-1/?tag

Associated Press. “Night Club Tragedy Claims 22^nd Victim.” The Escanaba Daily Press, MI. 9-28-1929, p. 1. Accessed 9-27-2017 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/escanaba-daily-press-sep-28-1929-p-1/?tag

Associated Press. “Order Night Clubs to Remove Ceiling, Wall Decorations,” The Escanaba Daily Press, MI. 9-25-1929, p. 1. Accessed 9-27-2017 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/escanaba-daily-press-sep-25-1929-p-1/?tag

Barlay, Stephen. Fire: An International Report. Brattleboro, VT: Stephen Greene Press, 1973.

National Fire Protection Association. Key Dates in Fire History. 1996. Accessed 2010 at: http://www.nfpa.org/itemDetail.asp?categoryID=1352&itemID=30955&URL=Research%20&%20Reports/Fire%20statistics/Key%20dates%20in%20fire%20history&cookie%5Ftest=1

National Fire Protection Association. “The Study Club Fire.” Quarterly of the National Fire Protection Association, Vol. 23, No. 2, October 1929, pp. 115-125.

United Press. “Martin Cohn Held for Manslaughter,” Marshall Evening Chronicle, MI. 9-30-1929, 1. Accessed at: http://www.newspaperarchive.com/FullPagePdfViewer.aspx?img=131374597