Monday, December 07, 2020
Saturday, December 05, 2020
Monday, January 20, 2020
Winecoff Author Presents New Book
Today Winecoff Fire co-author, Sam Heys, announced the release of his newest book, Remember Henry Harris. Harris was the first African-American athlete to earn a major sports scholarship in the Deep South. Inspired by the words of Rev. Martin Luther King, “We must be the change we want to see in the world,” Harris walked the walk of Jackie Robinson but on the basketball court of Auburn University, where in 1968, a warm welcome was hardly assured. Sam Heys reveals the whole riveting story. Heys' eye for courage amid tragedy is unparalleled in literature today. Remember Henry Harris is also available on amazon.com.
Saturday, September 28, 2019
Winecoff Fire Facebook Discussion
Facebook user, Jim Wesberry, ignited quite a discussion when he asked if anyone remembers Atlanta's Winecoff Hotel fire. The Facebook thread is here.
Friday, August 10, 2018
Stories of the Winecoff Fire
Winecoff Fire co-authors Sam Heys and Allen B. Goodwin are pleased to commend to readers a new book by Chet Wallace: Stories of the Winecoff Fire.
First inspired by The Winecoff Fire: The Untold Story of America's Deadliest Hotel Fire, Wallace's book brings new width and depth to the saga. 119 people died, but who were they? Wallace's labor of love and respect for the fire's victims brings us the answers. Wallace examines the back stories of 119 ordinary people who's deaths inspired the fire safety standards the world now relies on. We see the first half of the 20th century through their eyes and learn how their paths converged at the Winecoff Hotel in Atlanta December 7, 1946.
“He reinvigorated our research and began turning up new witnesses and family members of the victims. He located many of the victims' photos now on Winecoff.org's Remembrance Page,” added Allen B. Goodwin.
Thanks to Wallace's reverent study, mostly forgotten victims of a tragic fire long ago emerge as a lovable collective still guarding the safely of millions the world over.
First inspired by The Winecoff Fire: The Untold Story of America's Deadliest Hotel Fire, Wallace's book brings new width and depth to the saga. 119 people died, but who were they? Wallace's labor of love and respect for the fire's victims brings us the answers. Wallace examines the back stories of 119 ordinary people who's deaths inspired the fire safety standards the world now relies on. We see the first half of the 20th century through their eyes and learn how their paths converged at the Winecoff Hotel in Atlanta December 7, 1946.
“Chet Wallace
first came to us in 2010,” said Winecoff fire co-author, Sam Heys. “It
was clear to us he was as interested in the story as we were.”
“He reinvigorated our research and began turning up new witnesses and family members of the victims. He located many of the victims' photos now on Winecoff.org's Remembrance Page,” added Allen B. Goodwin.
Thanks to Wallace's reverent study, mostly forgotten victims of a tragic fire long ago emerge as a lovable collective still guarding the safely of millions the world over.
Wednesday, May 02, 2018
And Then There Were None
Chief R. B. Sprayberry, Chet Wallace & Allen B. Goodwin in 2015 |
On December 7, 1946 Sprayberry was dispatched from Fire Station 12 on the second of four alarms. He was sent to work the back side of the hotel but eventually found himself on the Peachtree Street side and then into the building. Many were rescued.
In 2011 he was among four living Winecoff firefighters honored at a luncheon commemorating the fire's 65th anniversary. Now the last of the Winecoff fire heroes are gone.
He told an interviewer in 2011, "When you get my age (89) you remember some and you don't remember some but I'll remember the Winecoff. I was just a fireman at that time but I'll go to my grave knowing about it."
Friday, November 10, 2017
Celebrating Ten Years of Usefulness
The Ellis Hotel Opened In 2007 |
Labels: Redevelopment
Friday, February 24, 2017
Youth Assembly Ribbon Discovered
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YMCA Advisor's Ribbon |
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Carlos Hamil |
Winecoff fire survivor Richard Hamil recently discovered his father's YMCA advisor's ribbon. Carlos Hamil was the faculty advisor for the eight member 1946 YMCA Youth Assembly delegation from Rome, Ga.
Carlos Hamil kept the ribbon all his life, as he did a sense of guilt that four of his charges died on the tenth floor, even though there was nothing he could have possibly done to help them. The Hamils were trapped on the fifteenth floor until they were rescued by ladder across the alley on the hotel's west side.
Labels: Memorabilia, Rome, Survivors, Youth Assembly
Thursday, February 02, 2017
And Then There Was One
A hero has passed. The Atlanta Fire Rescue Department's retired Chief of Training Raymond McGill passed away today. A hero of the Winecoff fire and a mentor to hundreds of Atlanta firefighters, Raymond McGill was one hundred years old. More here. Retired Atlanta Fire Department Chief R.B. Sprayberry is now the last living Winecoff firefighter.
See Final Honor.
See Final Honor.
Tuesday, January 24, 2017
Winecoff Hotel Photo 1918
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Peachtree Street 1918 (click to enlarge) |
Labels: Photographs