1966 — Jan 6, Fire (cigarette), Hotel Carlton (and Apartments), St. Paul, MN — 11
–11 Blanchard estimate of fatalities.[1]
–12 NFPA. Spreadsheet on Large Loss of Life Fires (as of Feb 2003).
–12 NFPA. “The Major Fires of 1966.” NFPA Fire Journal, May 1967, p. 37.
–12 Ward, Neale. “Hotel Fires: Landmarks in Flames…,” Firehouse, March 1978, p. 41.
–11 AP. “2 St. Paul Hotels to be Closed Soon.” Austin Daily Herald, MN, 2-19-1966, p. 20.
–11 Assoc. Press. “Another Victim of Hotel Blaze Dies.” Austin Herald, MN, 1-20-1966, p. 5.
–11 Associated Press. “Files Suit,” Austin Herald, MN, 1-27-1966, p. 8.
–11 Fond du Lac Commonwealth Reporter, WI. “11 Persons Lose Lives…” 1-6-1966, p. 1.
–11 Millett. “Fires in downtown St. Paul reshaped the cityscape in the 1950s and ‘60s.” 2019
–11 NFPA. Summary of Fire Incidents 1934-2006 in Hotel Fires in the United States. 2008.
Narrative Information
Millett: “….The last of the downtown St. Paul fires, at the nondescript Carleton Hotel, proved to be the deadliest. At the southwest corner of St. Peter and Exchange streets, the four-story Carleton had been built around 1900 and was described in newspaper accounts as a ‘workingman’s hotel.’ The fire ignited around 4 a.m. on Jan. 6, 1966, when a hotel resident, who would be among the dead, apparently fell asleep with a lighted cigarette in a second-floor bathroom.
“Smoke and flames raced through the building, catching sleeping residents unawares, and many had to run for their lives. One firefighter told the Minneapolis Tribune that when the first fire crews arrived, they found ‘three women screaming down the hall…their clothes flaming like torches. We doused them with water.’
“The building was a smoldering shell in less than two hours. Nine bodies were found in the rubble and 17 other residents (two of whom later died from their injuries) were taken to hospitals.
“It was among the most lethal fires in St. Paul history and fueled calls for better inspections of the city’s many old hotels and apartments….” (Millett, Larry. “Fires in downtown St. Paul reshaped the cityscape in the 1950s and ‘60s.” Star Tribune, St. Paul, MN. 12-20-2019.)
Jan 6: “St. Paul, Minn. (AP) — The death toll in today’s hotel-apartment building fire climbed to 11 this afternoon, authorities revealed.
“St. Paul, Minn. (AP) – Fire swept a downtown St. Paul hotel apartment house early today leaving at least 7 dead and 16 injured and taken to hospitals Four were in critical condition. Fire-men searched rums of the four story Carleton Hotel and apartments for more bodies.
“Survivors fled into zero weather….when the fire broke out about 4:30 a.m.
“A number of persons were led to safety down fire escapes and through smoke filled hallways by building employees. One employee said the blaze started in a first floor lavatory and swept upward.
“The building is located at Exchange and St. Peter streets.
“The bodies of a man and a woman were found shortly after firemen started fighting the flames. Other bodies were located when the fire service was able to enter the ruins shortly after 8 a.m. None of the dead was identified immediately…..” (Fond du Lac Commonwealth Reporter, WI. “11 Persons Lose Lives in St. Paul Hotel Fire.” 1-6-1966, p. 1.)
Jan 7: “St. Paul, Minn. (AP) – Three women, one of them pregnant ran screaming from the building, their clothing afire, as firemen arrived at the old Carleton Hotel in St. Paul early Thursday [Jan 6] to fight flames that took nine lives and injured 17 persons. Some of the injured were badly hurt in leaps from second and third-floor windows. One man suffered a broken back. Both legs and feet of another man were fractured. ‘It was a screaming mass when we got there,’ said Asst. Fire Chief William Maurer. He said people were shrieking from windows when firemen arrived. Some terror-stricken occupants, trapped on upper floors by smoke-filled hallways, jumped as firemen were putting up rescue ladders in the zero cold. ‘We heard them fall as we were moving ladders to the building,’ said Dist. Chief Clarence Freirmuth.
“The three women, met by firemen as they dashed from the building were doused with water from a hoseline to extinguish their flaming clothes. None was seriously hurt.
“Among the dead were six men and three women….
“`Thanks to God I’m here.’ Said Cora McCarroll, 76, one of several elderly among the 51 occupants of the hotel. She said firemen pounded on her door to awaken her and help her out of the building.
“The dead positively identified at the Ramsey County morgue included Louis Dunn; Philip H. Deye, 62; George Schwarz, 65; and Gertrude Miller, 55.
“Three hotel employees, Francis Dilts, night clerk; Genny Katz, manager, and Stanley Grim, 48, a maintenance man, helped many to safety after setting off alarm bells.
“Freiermuth said the fire appeared to start about 4:30 a.m. in a second-floor bathroom in which one of the dead was found.” (Terre Haute Star, IN. “St. Paul Hotel Fire Kills 9 Persons and Injures 17.” 1-7-1966, p. 1.)
Jan 7: “St. Paul, Minn. (AP) – A tenth person died this morning from burns suffered in the fire that swept through the Carleton Hotel in downtown St. Paul…Latest victim was Benjamin Gilstrap, 47, who had face, shoulder and arm burns. He died shortly before 6 a.m. ….
“The Ramsey County Morgue identified seven of the victims as: Louis Dunn, 64; Philip H. Deyo, 62; George Schwarz, 65; Gertrude Miller, 55; Delia DeMeara, 82; Julian Hands, about 35; and Virgil Benson, about 43….” (Associated Press/Gene Lahammer. “Authorities Seek Identities of 2 of Dead, Cause of St. Paul Hotel Fire.” Austin Daily Herald, MN. 1-7-1966, p. 2.)
Jan 8: “St. Paul (AP) – Authorities sought positive identification today of the last of 10 victims of the Carleton Hotel fire in St. Paul early Thursday. Three of the injured continued in critical condition. A woman victim has been identified as Amy Dawn Wilder, 55. Thomas Flaherty Sr., chief deputy coroner, said the other remaining victim is believed to be Frank Michaels.” (Assoc. Press. “One Fire Victim Unidentified.” Fergus Falls Daily Journal, MN, 1-8-1966, p. 1.)
Jan 20: “St. Paul (AP) – Mrs. Benjamin Gilstrap, 41, died Wednesday [Jan 19], the 11th fatality from the Jan. 6 fire at the Carleton Hotel. Her husband, 47, died the day after the blaze destroyed the building. Meanwhile, firemen probed the ruins to determine whether a 12th resident may have died. John Michaels has been missing since the fire and a body originally thought to be his is now unidentified.” (AP. “Another Victim of Hotel Blaze Dies.” Austin Herald, MN, 1-20-1966, p. 5.)
Jan 27: “St. Paul (AP) – Walter Edward Wiedeman, who survived the Jan 6 Carleton Hotel fire that took 11 lives, filed a $75,000 claim for personal injuries with the City of St. Paul Wednesday. He charged that the city was negligent and failed to enforce fire regulations adequately.” (Associated Press. “Files Suit,” Austin Herald, MN, 1-27-1966, p. 8.)
Jan 31: “St. Paul (AP) – The body of one of the victims of the Carleton Hotel fire Jan. 6 has been exhumed in an attempt to clear up identity of a body still held at the Ramsey County morgue. Authorities believe the body identified as Benson’s may be that of Frank Michaels, who has been missing since the fire. Dental X-rays show that the unidentified body is not Michaels.” (Associated Press. “Exhume Body of Fire Victim.” Austin Daily Herald, MN, 1-31-1966, p. 1.)
Feb 2: “St. Paul (AP) – The body of a Carleton Hotel fire victim buried at Anoka has been identified as that of Frank Michaels, who has been missing since the Jan. 6 fire. The Ramsey County coroner’s office said examinations on the exhumed body and of X-rays made during Michael’s lifetime established the identity. The body had been identified as that of Virgil Benson, another fire victim, by his parents and other occupants of the hotel. X-rays of an unidentified body held at the morgue since the fire match a rib fracture Benson had suffered, the coroner’s office said.” (AP. “Identify Victim of Hotel Fire.” Albert Lea Evening Tribune, MN, 2-2-1966, p. 1.)
Named Fatalities
- Virgil Benson
- Delia DeMeara, 82.
- Philip H. Deye, 62
- Louis Dunn, 64
- Benjamin Gilstrap, 47 (10th victim, died Jan 7)
- Benjamin Gilstrap, 41 (died Jan 19)
- Julian Honda, about 35
- Frank Michaels
- Gertrude Miller, 55
- George Schwarz, 65
- Amy Dawn Wilder, 55
Sources
Associated Press. “2 St. Paul Hotels to be Closed Soon.” Austin Daily Herald, MN, 2-19-1966, p. 20. Accessed 2-18-2020: https://newspaperarchive.com/austin-daily-herald-feb-19-1966-p-20/
Associated Press. “Another Victim of Hotel Blaze Dies.” Austin Herald, MN, 1-20-1966, p. 5. Accessed 2-18-2020 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/austin-daily-herald-jan-20-1966-p-5/
Associated Press/Gene Lahammer. “Authorities Seek Identities of 2 of Dead, Cause of St. Paul Hotel Fire.” Austin Daily Herald, MN. 1-7-1966, p. 2. Accessed 2-18-2020 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/austin-daily-herald-jan-07-1966-p-2/
Associated Press. “Exhume Body of Fire Victim.” Austin Daily Herald, MN, 1-31-1966, p. 1. Accessed 2-18-2020 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/austin-daily-herald-jan-31-1966-p-1/
Associated Press. “Files Suit,” Austin Herald, MN, 1-27-1966, p. 8. Accessed 2-18-2020 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/austin-daily-herald-jan-27-1966-p-8/
Associated Press. “Identify Victim of Hotel Fire.” Albert Lea Evening Tribune, MN, 2-2-1966, p. 1. Accessed 2-18-2020: https://newspaperarchive.com/albert-lea-evening-tribune-feb-02-1966-p-1/
Associated Press. “One Fire Victim Unidentified.” Fergus Falls Daily Journal, MN, 1-8-1966, p. 1. Accessed 2-18-2020 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/fergus-falls-daily-journal-jan-08-1966-p-1/
Fond du Lac Commonwealth Reporter, WI. “11 Persons Lose Lives in St. Paul Hotel Fire.” 1-6-1966, p. 1. At: http://newspaperarchive.com/fullpagepdfviewer?img=6192514&sterm=hotel
Millett, Larry. “Fires in downtown St. Paul reshaped the cityscape in the 1950s and ‘60s.” Star Tribune, St. Paul, MN. 12-20-2019. Accessed 2-18-2020 at: http://www.startribune.com/fires-in-downtown-st-paul-reshaped-the-cityscape-in-the-1950s-and-60s/566377712/
National Fire Protection Association. Spreadsheet on Large Loss of Life Fires (as of Feb 2003). (Email attachment to B. W. Blanchard from Jacob Ratliff, NFPA Archivist/Taxonomy Librarian, 7-8-2013.)
National Fire Protection Association. Summary of Fire Incidents 1934-2006 in Hotel Fires in the United States as Reported to the NFPA, with Ten or more Fatalities. Quincy, MA: NFPA, One-Stop Data Shop, Fire Analysis and Research Division, January 2008, 4 pages. Accessed at: http://www.nfpa.org/assets/files/Press%20Room/Hotelfirefatalitiesreport.pdf
National Fire Protection Association. “The Major Fires of 1966.” NFPA Fire Journal, May 1967, p. 37.
Terre Haute Star, IN. “St. Paul Hotel Fire Kills 9 Persons and Injures 17.” 1-7-1966, p. 1. Accessed at: http://newspaperarchive.com/fullpagepdfviewer?img=119025843&sterm=hotel
Ward, Neale. “Hotel Fires: Landmarks in Flames, History’s Famous Hotel Fires,” Firehouse, March 1978, pp. 40-45.
[1] The largest loss of life reported by a newspaper we have seen (searched up to Feb 2) is 11. The NFPA reports 11 in one source and 12 in another. Neale Ward reports 12 in Firehouse. Our listing of fatalities comes to eleven.