9th Grade American History Progressive Era Devastation & Legislation The Rhoads Opera House Fire & Triangle Shirtwaist Fire Mr. Sparks 9th Grade American History

Legislation Worksheet Student handout. Complete the assignment using your textbook and/or laptop.

Fire Safety What regulations (codes) do builders follow in order to prevent fires in both homes, apartments, and schools? Fire Alarms (Hardwire/Wireless/Battery Backup), Fireproof Materials (DryWall), Sprinkler Systems, Direct Wire to Fire/Police, Doors Open Out, Fire Extingushers.

Fire Safety What regulations (codes) do builders follow in order to prevent fires in both homes, apartments, and schools? Smoke Detectors/Fire Alarms -(Hardwire/Wireless/Battery Backup) Fireproof Materials (Drywall [garages]) Sprinkler Systems Direct Wire to Fire/Police Doors Open Out Fire Extinguishers Fire Drills/Practice Fire Alarms (Hardwire/Wireless/Battery Backup), Fireproof Materials (DryWall), Sprinkler Systems, Direct Wire to Fire/Police, Doors Open Out, Fire Extingushers.

Rhoads Opera House Fire Boyertown, PA January 13, 1908 171 people killed in less than an hour when a fire broke out b/c of a gas leak. 170 people died PLUS 1 firefighter. http://explorepahistory.com/hmarker.php?markerId=1-A-147 170 people died PLUS 1 firefighter One escape, narrow stairwell, two doors: one bolted shut the other opened inward. Near Rita’s & RR X-ing

http://explorepahistory.com/hmarker.php?markerId=1-A-147 It was Harry Fisher, an inexperienced projectionist, who had initially sparked the disaster when he turned the wrong knob on the projector, which emitted gas into the air. The hissing noise and the smell of gas soon alarmed the theatergoers, some of whom rushed towards the exit. When several of the actors peaked behind the stage curtain to see what was causing the commotion, someone knocked over a kerosene lamp on the piano, which spilled flaming oil onto the front of the stage. The fire soon reached the kerosene tank that fueled the footlights, then set the curtain ablaze, which spread the fire to the wooden ceiling and the wainscoting along the wall.

Gas Powered Lantern Projector

http://explorepahistory.com/hmarker.php?markerId=1-A-147 Located on the second floor of the Rhoads Building, the Boyertown Theatre had only a single entrance at the foot of a narrow staircase, with double doors–one of which was bolted shut–that opened inward. As panicked people reached the theater's lone exit the crush of bodies wedged those in front against the closed door, trapping them all inside. "It was a battle in which only the strong had a chance to escape," Frank Cullen would later recall, as people fought with each other in their struggle to escape. Others threw themselves from the second story windows, hoping they might survive. In less than an hour more than 170 were dead.

The Triangle Shirtwaist Factory Fire

The Triangle Shirtwaist Factory Fire New York City (Manhattan) March 25, 1911 146 people died, mostly young women. Why- the owners locked the doors to the stairwells and exits to stop pro-union attempts and unauthorized breaks. Fire breaks out from a match or cigarette. People trapped on the 8th, 9th, and 10th floors. Some escaped via the roof and jumping to the building next door (NYU). Others fell to their death on the fire escapes that collapsed. Many jumped from the windows and died on impact. Some were impaled on the fence/gate.

Triangle Shirtwaist Fire Continued Within 18 minutes, 146 people were dead. The public saw first hand the horrific results It took days for the people to be identified, some were burned so bad they were unrecognizable by family members. Many people searched for someone to blame. The Triangle Waist Company owners, Blanck and Harris, were tried for manslaughter, but were found not guilty. Tammany Hall’s Al Smith conducts interviews and examines the cause of the fire. He advocates for workers rights/safety and also helps to lead the way for change in other factories in NY and throughout the United States.

Al Smith Al Smith (right) & Babe Ruth. Coral Gables, Florida.

Frances Perkins Born Fannie Coralie Perkins US Secretary of Labor 1933-1945. First woman to be appointed a cabinet position by Franklin D. Roosevelt. Also served for Pres. Truman

Quiz Multiple Choice Matching Fill-ins