(Boston Cocoanut Fire)

(Boston, Cocoanut Fire), City of Boston License to be a Common Victualler issued to New Cocoanut Grove Inc. , issued the first day of January, 1937, until December 31, 1937, listing Benjamin Welansky as President, with the address of "17 Piedmont Street and rear entrance from Shawmut Street, for stock only, first floor," numbered 934, one page, (with folds, edge chipping and light charring to edges), sold together with fragments of other licenses, including a "Permit to Sell, Expose for Sale or Deliver Ice Cream and/or Sherbet," numbered 1863, issued by the City of Boston Health Department on May 3, 1940, through April 30, 1941, and the fragment of another numbered 430, and issued on April 22, 1941, with two very small fragments, one from the Bureau of Milk Inspection, (all with smoke staining and edge chipping). Note: On November 28th, 1942, The Cocoanut Grove, one of Boston's most popular nightclubs, had somewhere close to 1000 people enjoying its exotic "Casablanca"-style decor, and live music, (although the facility's official capacity was half that). Formerly a city speak easy, the club had grown in size over the years, incorporating sections of real estate along Piedmont and Church streets, with dark corners, and a cozy back bar for secluded assignations. When fire broke out in that bar area, the fate of 492 souls was sealed within a matter of moments. Due to the nature of the building--including obscured or locked exits, lack of exit signage, low lighting, and Read more…