I have the family Bible in which Morris' Mother, Nora Etta Leatherman, wrote his birth as 10 May 1909. This Bible was a gift from Nora to my grandparents, Morris Dolan and Sylvia Trone.
Morris William Dolan - Seven decades after death, Cripple Creek chief honored: Newspaper Obituary and Death Notice
Pikes Peak Courier View (CO) - Wednesday, March 7, 2012
Deceased Name: Morris William Dolan - Seven decades after death, Cripple Creek chief honored
Sometimes it takes a while for a hero to be acknowledged.
One of Cripple Creek's heroes — Police and Fire Chief Morris William Dolan, who died in an arson fire on Aug. 23, 1940 — waited more than 71 years.
In honor of his sacrifice, Dolan's name will be added to the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial during National Police Week at the 25th Annual Candlelight Vigil in Washington, D.C., on May 13.
A story in the Aug. 23, 1940, Cripple Creek Times-Record, the newspaper that is a direct ancestor to the Pikes Peak Courier View, reported on Dolan's death. Dolan, described as "one of the most popular peace officers in the West Pikes Peak Region," died at 2 a.m. of smoke and heat in a fire at the Louis Weiner building, 230 E. Bennett Ave.
When the fire was discovered, Dolan was told that a child might still be in the building. He entered wearing a gas mask.
When Victor Fire Chief Armour Olson and Victor firefighter Henry "June" Hack arrived on the scene, Dolan hadn't exited the building. They put on gas masks and went in after him. They found him unconscious in an upstairs room, dragged him out and took him to a hospital, where he died soon after.
The fire was considered at the time to be one of the worst in Cripple Creek's history. At first it was thought to be caused by an improperly discarded cigarette butt, but later it was determined that the arsonist was actually former Cripple Creek Fire Department employee William Hailey, who was suspected of setting several fires in the city during the months leading up to Dolan's death.
At first, Hailey denied setting the fires but later confessed, admitting that he'd "had an uncontrollable desire to set fires since he was seven years old."
Justice was swift in 1940 Cripple Creek. Just five days after the fire and one day after Dolan was buried at the Mount Pisgah Cemetery, Hailey was sentenced to 60 years to life in the state penitentiary at Cañon City. He served 10 years before receiving parole.
Dolan was 30 years old at his death and a father of four.
It was because of Hack's memories of that day in 1940 that in 2010 Dolan's name was added to the Colorado Law Enforcement Memorial in Golden. Hack, who died last year, told retired Colorado State Patrol officer Keith Dameron about Dolan while both attended a memorial service in 1999.
With the rudiments of the story, Dameron was able to find a cousin of Dolan's daughter, who was only 2 years old when her father died. With a date in hand, Dameron found the newspaper articles documenting Dolan's death.
The National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund was founded in 1984. The memorial it funded was dedicated in 1991 to honor federal, state and local law enforcement officers who have died in the line of duty.
Cripple Creek Police and Fire Chief Morris Dolan died in an arson fire in 1940. In May, his name will be added to the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial in Washington.
Morris William Dolan - Seven decades after death, Cripple Creek chief honored: Newspaper Obituary and Death Notice
Pikes Peak Courier View (CO) - Wednesday, March 7, 2012
Deceased Name: Morris William Dolan - Seven decades after death, Cripple Creek chief honored
Sometimes it takes a while for a hero to be acknowledged.
One of Cripple Creek's heroes — Police and Fire Chief Morris William Dolan, who died in an arson fire on Aug. 23, 1940 — waited more than 71 years.
In honor of his sacrifice, Dolan's name will be added to the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial during National Police Week at the 25th Annual Candlelight Vigil in Washington, D.C., on May 13.
A story in the Aug. 23, 1940, Cripple Creek Times-Record, the newspaper that is a direct ancestor to the Pikes Peak Courier View, reported on Dolan's death. Dolan, described as "one of the most popular peace officers in the West Pikes Peak Region," died at 2 a.m. of smoke and heat in a fire at the Louis Weiner building, 230 E. Bennett Ave.
When the fire was discovered, Dolan was told that a child might still be in the building. He entered wearing a gas mask.
When Victor Fire Chief Armour Olson and Victor firefighter Henry "June" Hack arrived on the scene, Dolan hadn't exited the building. They put on gas masks and went in after him. They found him unconscious in an upstairs room, dragged him out and took him to a hospital, where he died soon after.
The fire was considered at the time to be one of the worst in Cripple Creek's history. At first it was thought to be caused by an improperly discarded cigarette butt, but later it was determined that the arsonist was actually former Cripple Creek Fire Department employee William Hailey, who was suspected of setting several fires in the city during the months leading up to Dolan's death.
At first, Hailey denied setting the fires but later confessed, admitting that he'd "had an uncontrollable desire to set fires since he was seven years old."
Justice was swift in 1940 Cripple Creek. Just five days after the fire and one day after Dolan was buried at the Mount Pisgah Cemetery, Hailey was sentenced to 60 years to life in the state penitentiary at Cañon City. He served 10 years before receiving parole.
Dolan was 30 years old at his death and a father of four.
It was because of Hack's memories of that day in 1940 that in 2010 Dolan's name was added to the Colorado Law Enforcement Memorial in Golden. Hack, who died last year, told retired Colorado State Patrol officer Keith Dameron about Dolan while both attended a memorial service in 1999.
With the rudiments of the story, Dameron was able to find a cousin of Dolan's daughter, who was only 2 years old when her father died. With a date in hand, Dameron found the newspaper articles documenting Dolan's death.
The National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund was founded in 1984. The memorial it funded was dedicated in 1991 to honor federal, state and local law enforcement officers who have died in the line of duty.
Cripple Creek Police and Fire Chief Morris Dolan died in an arson fire in 1940. In May, his name will be added to the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial in Washington.
I have the family Bible in which Morris' Mother, Nora Etta Leatherman, wrote his birth as 10 May 1909. This Bible was a gift from Nora to my grandparents, Morris Dolan and Sylvia Trone.
Morris William Dolan - Seven decades after death, Cripple Creek chief honored: Newspaper Obituary and Death Notice
Pikes Peak Courier View (CO) - Wednesday, March 7, 2012
Deceased Name: Morris William Dolan - Seven decades after death, Cripple Creek chief honored
Sometimes it takes a while for a hero to be acknowledged.
One of Cripple Creek's heroes — Police and Fire Chief Morris William Dolan, who died in an arson fire on Aug. 23, 1940 — waited more than 71 years.
In honor of his sacrifice, Dolan's name will be added to the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial during National Police Week at the 25th Annual Candlelight Vigil in Washington, D.C., on May 13.
A story in the Aug. 23, 1940, Cripple Creek Times-Record, the newspaper that is a direct ancestor to the Pikes Peak Courier View, reported on Dolan's death. Dolan, described as "one of the most popular peace officers in the West Pikes Peak Region," died at 2 a.m. of smoke and heat in a fire at the Louis Weiner building, 230 E. Bennett Ave.
When the fire was discovered, Dolan was told that a child might still be in the building. He entered wearing a gas mask.
When Victor Fire Chief Armour Olson and Victor firefighter Henry "June" Hack arrived on the scene, Dolan hadn't exited the building. They put on gas masks and went in after him. They found him unconscious in an upstairs room, dragged him out and took him to a hospital, where he died soon after.
The fire was considered at the time to be one of the worst in Cripple Creek's history. At first it was thought to be caused by an improperly discarded cigarette butt, but later it was determined that the arsonist was actually former Cripple Creek Fire Department employee William Hailey, who was suspected of setting several fires in the city during the months leading up to Dolan's death.
At first, Hailey denied setting the fires but later confessed, admitting that he'd "had an uncontrollable desire to set fires since he was seven years old."
Justice was swift in 1940 Cripple Creek. Just five days after the fire and one day after Dolan was buried at the Mount Pisgah Cemetery, Hailey was sentenced to 60 years to life in the state penitentiary at Cañon City. He served 10 years before receiving parole.
Dolan was 30 years old at his death and a father of four.
It was because of Hack's memories of that day in 1940 that in 2010 Dolan's name was added to the Colorado Law Enforcement Memorial in Golden. Hack, who died last year, told retired Colorado State Patrol officer Keith Dameron about Dolan while both attended a memorial service in 1999.
With the rudiments of the story, Dameron was able to find a cousin of Dolan's daughter, who was only 2 years old when her father died. With a date in hand, Dameron found the newspaper articles documenting Dolan's death.
The National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund was founded in 1984. The memorial it funded was dedicated in 1991 to honor federal, state and local law enforcement officers who have died in the line of duty.
Cripple Creek Police and Fire Chief Morris Dolan died in an arson fire in 1940. In May, his name will be added to the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial in Washington.
Morris William Dolan - Seven decades after death, Cripple Creek chief honored: Newspaper Obituary and Death Notice
Pikes Peak Courier View (CO) - Wednesday, March 7, 2012
Deceased Name: Morris William Dolan - Seven decades after death, Cripple Creek chief honored
Sometimes it takes a while for a hero to be acknowledged.
One of Cripple Creek's heroes — Police and Fire Chief Morris William Dolan, who died in an arson fire on Aug. 23, 1940 — waited more than 71 years.
In honor of his sacrifice, Dolan's name will be added to the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial during National Police Week at the 25th Annual Candlelight Vigil in Washington, D.C., on May 13.
A story in the Aug. 23, 1940, Cripple Creek Times-Record, the newspaper that is a direct ancestor to the Pikes Peak Courier View, reported on Dolan's death. Dolan, described as "one of the most popular peace officers in the West Pikes Peak Region," died at 2 a.m. of smoke and heat in a fire at the Louis Weiner building, 230 E. Bennett Ave.
When the fire was discovered, Dolan was told that a child might still be in the building. He entered wearing a gas mask.
When Victor Fire Chief Armour Olson and Victor firefighter Henry "June" Hack arrived on the scene, Dolan hadn't exited the building. They put on gas masks and went in after him. They found him unconscious in an upstairs room, dragged him out and took him to a hospital, where he died soon after.
The fire was considered at the time to be one of the worst in Cripple Creek's history. At first it was thought to be caused by an improperly discarded cigarette butt, but later it was determined that the arsonist was actually former Cripple Creek Fire Department employee William Hailey, who was suspected of setting several fires in the city during the months leading up to Dolan's death.
At first, Hailey denied setting the fires but later confessed, admitting that he'd "had an uncontrollable desire to set fires since he was seven years old."
Justice was swift in 1940 Cripple Creek. Just five days after the fire and one day after Dolan was buried at the Mount Pisgah Cemetery, Hailey was sentenced to 60 years to life in the state penitentiary at Cañon City. He served 10 years before receiving parole.
Dolan was 30 years old at his death and a father of four.
It was because of Hack's memories of that day in 1940 that in 2010 Dolan's name was added to the Colorado Law Enforcement Memorial in Golden. Hack, who died last year, told retired Colorado State Patrol officer Keith Dameron about Dolan while both attended a memorial service in 1999.
With the rudiments of the story, Dameron was able to find a cousin of Dolan's daughter, who was only 2 years old when her father died. With a date in hand, Dameron found the newspaper articles documenting Dolan's death.
The National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund was founded in 1984. The memorial it funded was dedicated in 1991 to honor federal, state and local law enforcement officers who have died in the line of duty.
Cripple Creek Police and Fire Chief Morris Dolan died in an arson fire in 1940. In May, his name will be added to the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial in Washington.
