This is just the beginning! Our collection holds over 300 years of history, including rare newspapers, obituaries, marriage records, birth records, and so much more—most of which you won’t find anywhere else!
This newspaper page contains 20 articles. Subscribers can read the full text of each article.
Newspaper
Decatur Daily
Location
Decatur, Alabama, United States of America
Date
Dec 08, 1946
Page
1
Weather outlook mild with 68 high and 45 low reported. Cotton prices quoted Decatur at 30.75 middling and 29.75 strict low. Board of Directors Decatur Chamber to meet Tuesday 6:30 pm at Hotel Lyons. Various notes on hospital admissions births and upcoming Rotary and church activities fill the page.
The 15 story Winecoff hotel in Atlanta burned early today killing 116 people and injuring at least 100. Guests trapped on upper floors either burned or suffocated while others jumped to the pavement below. A revised death toll compiled by late tonight lists 116.
John L. Lewis ended the 17 day walkout and ordered 400000 miners to resume work. President Truman cancelled tomorrow nights broadcast and prepared to negotiate with private mine owners as the government signals possible exit from the coal business.
Mr and Mrs Charles Boschung Jr of Cullman were victims of the Winecoff Hotel fire in Atlanta Georgia The husband was seriously burned and unconscious in an Atlanta hospital while Mrs Boschung died in the blaze Relatives in Cullman say she died after sheets used as a rope collapsed from a lower window Mr and Mrs Boschung Sr had traveled to Atlanta after learning of the tragedy They had married the previous Sunday December 1 in Cullman
At daylight the tall hotel structure showed torn bed-sheets and blankets where victims tried to escape. Eyewitnesses described panic stricken guests swinging from tenth and twelfth floor windows as flames consumed supports and many fell to their deaths.
Miss Sarah M. Aldridge of Falkville, a University of Alabama student, was reported killed in the Atlanta hotel fire. Daughter of Mrs. Emma Kate Ratliff Aldridge of Eva, she taught at a school and was in Atlanta for merchandising experience to earn college credit. The death notice reached Eva mid afternoon Saturday.
Eyewitnesses reported screaming and praying as flames roared through the area. Several injured or dead lay at the intersection before rescue efforts arrived, with ensuing chaos described by witnesses on the scene.
Oscar Napps, assistant Morgan County superintendent of schools, accepts chairmanship of the 1947 Red Cross fund drive announced by Fredrick Hunt Jr. Last year’s quota was 11,900 and Morgan County again exceeded prior drives.
A revised roster lists victims identified in the Winecoff hotel disaster. Names cover Cmdr E A Conzett Norfolk and owner W F Winecoff Atlanta among others in Georgia Alabama North Carolina Tennessee Florida and New York.
Ten Alabamians died in the Winecoff hotel fire including five University of Alabama students and a sixth coed Florida Rieman of Gulfport Mississippi among identified victims. Listed dead from Alabama include Mrs Charles S Boschung Cullman Brook Mr and Mrs Paul Lain Birmingham Margaret Parker Montgomery Sarah Alridge Falkville Martha Harriet Cobb Fayette Ethel Stewart Ralph Jean Pruett Fr Payne Elaine Sullivan Tuscaloosa.
Atlanta dispatch reports the Winecoff hotel blaze killed 120 people with many guests leaping from windows and improvised rope rescues. The fire erupted pre-dawn and responders arrived within 45 minutes as bodies fell or dangled to safety nets and streets.
Morgan County Homes Inc has completed the purchase of land from Decatur Land Co north of Endlam Oaks for 75 houses on 188 lots at a price of 15024 dollars. Construction is expected to start when materials are available. Sam Coleman of Nashville and Mr Nobel of Huntsville are company officials. Streets and 15 acres will receive sanitary and storm sewers and the houses will be offered for sale.
Arnold Hardy, 24, of Shreveport, bought a news camera a month ago and shot dramatic pictures of women leaping from the Winecoff hotel as flames raged. He spoke of staying calm and firing rapidly as the scene unfolded before Georgia Tech studies. His work was sent to the Associated Press. Meanwhile at the capitol Dean Raimundo De Ovies dismissed about 200 Georgia Youth Assembly members after a deadly fire left several dead and many hospitalized.
Hal Boyle reports in Germany the American Negro troops and displaced persons camps strain occupation administration. Officers note more scrapes crimes and disease among black troops, while soldiers feel pride and seek better treatment abroad. German attitudes toward Negro soldiers remain openly hostile among many locals.
Charley L. Alexander age 28 of Moulton died after a head on collision with a 1942 Army type Chevrolet at a sharp curve on a Black Warrior Forest road southeast of Moulton. Companion passengers William J. Rooks and Archie L. Parker were injured and treated at Irwin Dyer infirmary. Paul Smith driver of the truck and Sherman Smith, a truck passenger, were unharmed though Smith suffered a bruised jaw.
Carol Crutcher 16 and Bill White 21 of Athens High School were injured when the Piper Cub they rode in crashed on the Madison county line near the David Smith store while returning from a Christmas shopping trip to Huntsville. Crutcher suffered a broken nose. White, a veteran, a mild brain concussion.
A coal miner on vacation in Short Vacation Mobile Alabama reads in the paper that John L. Lewis has ordered miners back to work. He inquiries at the newspaper office to verify the return-to-work news from the Pittsburgh area mine.
Postmaster R T Sheppard said he had official notice the embargo on postal shipments is lifted though full details were not yet received. He expects completely normal postal service to be restored with post office openings Monday.
The nine justices debated whether to hear Lewis on a government request as officials end coal conservation measures. The sudden strike ending triggers removal of embargos on freight and passenger travel and a 21 state dimout. A partial coal stock freeze removal is planned. officials stress keeping supplies for critical consumers.
Zeke Tutts was ordered off after a dispute over seat covers while UNCLE BUD reports on the incident on page 2 written by Bill Baldwin.
We want people to find what they are looking for at NewspaperArchive. We are confident that we have the newspapers that will increase the value of your family history or other historical research. With our 7-day free trial, you can view the documents you find for free.
People find the most success using advanced search. Try plugging in keywords, names, dates, and locations, and get matched with results from the entire collection of newspapers at NewspaperArchive!
You can also successfully find newspapers by these browse options. Explore our archives on your own!
Browse by location and discover newspapers from all across the world.
Browse by date and find publications for a specific day or era.
Browse old newspaper publications to find specific newspapers.