Mildred Parsons of Easthampton, Mass., mother of Little Miss 1565, the 8-year-old girl who was the last unidentified victim of the 1944 Hartford circus fire, died Friday in Madrid, Iowa. She was 91.
For 46 years, Little Miss 1565 was a poignant reminder of the horrible fire that engulfed the Ringling Bros. Barnum & Bailey Circus when it visited Hartford. One hundred and sixty-eight people died. Each year the fire was revisited when two Hartford detectives ceremoniously brought flowers to Little Miss 1565's unmarked grave. It wasn't until 1991, after years of dogged reconstructive work, that Hartford Fire Lt. Rick Davey positively identified Little Miss 1565 as Eleanor Cook, Mrs. Parson's daughter.
Mrs. Parsons, who retired as a supervisor from Liberty Mutual Insurance in Hartford in 1970, went to the circus the day of the fire with her three children: Edward, 6; Eleanor, 8; and Donald, 9; Edward died, but was identified. Eleanor's body was not identified largely due to confusion after the fire; she is believed to have been trampled to death in the rush of fleeing spectators.
Mrs. Parsons was a member of the Congregational Church in Southampton, Mass., and was a member of the church's Ladies Aid, Missionary Society and Senior Editor for their paper. She is survived by her son, Donald Cook of Madrid, Iowa; two grandchildren and; two great-grandsons
[CLIPPED FROM Hartford Courant, Hartford, Connecticut, 23 Aug 1997, Sat • Page 34]
Contributor: LINDA CUNHA (50896274)
For 46 years, Little Miss 1565 was a poignant reminder of the horrible fire that engulfed the Ringling Bros. Barnum & Bailey Circus when it visited Hartford. One hundred and sixty-eight people died. Each year the fire was revisited when two Hartford detectives ceremoniously brought flowers to Little Miss 1565's unmarked grave. It wasn't until 1991, after years of dogged reconstructive work, that Hartford Fire Lt. Rick Davey positively identified Little Miss 1565 as Eleanor Cook, Mrs. Parson's daughter.
Mrs. Parsons, who retired as a supervisor from Liberty Mutual Insurance in Hartford in 1970, went to the circus the day of the fire with her three children: Edward, 6; Eleanor, 8; and Donald, 9; Edward died, but was identified. Eleanor's body was not identified largely due to confusion after the fire; she is believed to have been trampled to death in the rush of fleeing spectators.
Mrs. Parsons was a member of the Congregational Church in Southampton, Mass., and was a member of the church's Ladies Aid, Missionary Society and Senior Editor for their paper. She is survived by her son, Donald Cook of Madrid, Iowa; two grandchildren and; two great-grandsons
[CLIPPED FROM Hartford Courant, Hartford, Connecticut, 23 Aug 1997, Sat • Page 34]
Contributor: LINDA CUNHA (50896274)
Mildred Parsons of Easthampton, Mass., mother of Little Miss 1565, the 8-year-old girl who was the last unidentified victim of the 1944 Hartford circus fire, died Friday in Madrid, Iowa. She was 91.
For 46 years, Little Miss 1565 was a poignant reminder of the horrible fire that engulfed the Ringling Bros. Barnum & Bailey Circus when it visited Hartford. One hundred and sixty-eight people died. Each year the fire was revisited when two Hartford detectives ceremoniously brought flowers to Little Miss 1565's unmarked grave. It wasn't until 1991, after years of dogged reconstructive work, that Hartford Fire Lt. Rick Davey positively identified Little Miss 1565 as Eleanor Cook, Mrs. Parson's daughter.
Mrs. Parsons, who retired as a supervisor from Liberty Mutual Insurance in Hartford in 1970, went to the circus the day of the fire with her three children: Edward, 6; Eleanor, 8; and Donald, 9; Edward died, but was identified. Eleanor's body was not identified largely due to confusion after the fire; she is believed to have been trampled to death in the rush of fleeing spectators.
Mrs. Parsons was a member of the Congregational Church in Southampton, Mass., and was a member of the church's Ladies Aid, Missionary Society and Senior Editor for their paper. She is survived by her son, Donald Cook of Madrid, Iowa; two grandchildren and; two great-grandsons
[CLIPPED FROM Hartford Courant, Hartford, Connecticut, 23 Aug 1997, Sat • Page 34]
Contributor: LINDA CUNHA (50896274)
For 46 years, Little Miss 1565 was a poignant reminder of the horrible fire that engulfed the Ringling Bros. Barnum & Bailey Circus when it visited Hartford. One hundred and sixty-eight people died. Each year the fire was revisited when two Hartford detectives ceremoniously brought flowers to Little Miss 1565's unmarked grave. It wasn't until 1991, after years of dogged reconstructive work, that Hartford Fire Lt. Rick Davey positively identified Little Miss 1565 as Eleanor Cook, Mrs. Parson's daughter.
Mrs. Parsons, who retired as a supervisor from Liberty Mutual Insurance in Hartford in 1970, went to the circus the day of the fire with her three children: Edward, 6; Eleanor, 8; and Donald, 9; Edward died, but was identified. Eleanor's body was not identified largely due to confusion after the fire; she is believed to have been trampled to death in the rush of fleeing spectators.
Mrs. Parsons was a member of the Congregational Church in Southampton, Mass., and was a member of the church's Ladies Aid, Missionary Society and Senior Editor for their paper. She is survived by her son, Donald Cook of Madrid, Iowa; two grandchildren and; two great-grandsons
[CLIPPED FROM Hartford Courant, Hartford, Connecticut, 23 Aug 1997, Sat • Page 34]
Contributor: LINDA CUNHA (50896274)
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