1959 — Feb 15, Residential Home Fire (grandmother and six children), South Bend, IN — 7

–7 Evening Journal, Lubbock, TX. “Midwestern Fires Kill 12.” 2-16-1959, p. 11.
–7 UP. “Grandmother…Six Children Die in…Fire.” Logansport Pharos Tribune, IN. 2-16-1959, p. 1.

Narrative Information

Feb 16: “South Bend, Ind. (UP) – Six children and their grandmother, who was babysitting with them, were killed Sunday when they were trapped in a fire that swept their tiny four-room concrete block home. A seventh child, Queen Esther Pitman, 6, escaped the flames when her grandmother, Mrs. Mary Reeves, 58, ordered the girl to alert neighbors and call the Fire Department.

“The mother, Mrs. Amelia Parker, 32, was visiting in South Bend when the flames broke out.

“Killed besides Mrs. Reeves were her grandchildren Wilbur Parker, 10; Terry Parker, 8; Harold Pitman, 7; Laurel Pitman, 3; Jeannie Pitman, 18 months and Mary Elizabeth Pitman, 6 months.

“The surviving child told authorities that hot coals that dropped from a stove touched off the tragic blaze.

“Deputy Coroner F. Dale Nelson said Mrs. Parker had been married twice and resumed the name of her first husband after parting from her second.” (United Press. “Grandmother and Six Children Die in South Bend Fire.” Logansport Pharos Tribune, IN. 2-16-1959, p. 1.)

Sources

Evening Journal, Lubbock, TX. “Midwestern Fires Kill 12.” 2-16-1959, p. 11. Accessed at: http://newspaperarchive.com/fullpagepdfviewer?img=196744265&sterm

United Press. “Grandmother and Six Children Die in South Bend Fire.” Logansport Pharos Tribune, IN. 2-16-1959, p. 1. Accessed 12-15-2022 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/logansport-pharos-tribune-feb-16-1959-p-1/