1960 — March 27, home fire (faulty burner? ); widow and five children, Winthrop, ME– 6

— 6 AP. “Widow, Five Children Die in Fire.” Times Record, Troy, NY. 3-28-1960, p. 18.

Narrative Information

Associated Press, March 28: “Winthrop, Maine (AP) – A 46-year-old widow and five of her 12 children perished early yesterday in a fire that destroyed the small five-room family residence on the outskirts of town. Mildred Frost was in the two-story wooden house with six of her children when it was swept with flames as they slept. Dead with Mrs. Frost were Oscar, 14, Harry, 10, Rita, 9, Glennice, 8, and Archie, 5. The only survivor of the flames was another son, Roland Frost, 21, who escaped death by leaping from the second floor after a vain effort to reach others in the family. Roland was taken to Augusta General Hospital with burns on his hands and forearms. His condition was not serious.

“Sheriff John De Winter said six other children were away from home at the time. Esther, 12, was staying at the home of neighbors; Melvin, 22, resides at Mt. Vernon, Maine; Beatrice, 16, lives at Hallowell, Maine; a married daughter, Mrs. Elida Mosher, lives elsewhere in Winthrop….

“Sheriff De Winter said the fire might have been caused by a faulty oil burner. He said the fire department twice this winter was called to the modest Frost residence because of a faulty burner.” (Times Record, Troy, NY. “Widow, Five Children Die in Fire.” 3-28-1960, p. 18.)

Source

Associated Press. “Widow, Five Children Die in Fire.” Times Record, Troy, NY. 3-28-1960, p. 18. Accessed 2-10-2013: http://newspaperarchive.com/fullpagepdfviewer?img=79667736&sterm