Seven horse drawn hearses, each with a casket, proceeded down Day Street to the Presbyterian Church, then located at the corner of Day Street and Church Street, now the village parking lot. The photo was provided by courtesy of Maxwell Walters, curator of the Fredonia Barker Library Historical Museum.

The other photo is of the original Fredonia State Normal School (“Old Main”) in 1866-1868 by the village of Fredonia. It was the first Fredonia State College building and was deeded by the village to the state of New York in 1868 in order to establish the College in Fredonia. It was substantially destroyed by the Dec. 14, 1900, fire.

The six students and custodian who died in the fire are all buried in a common grave at Forest Hill Cemetery in the Village. The names of the students who perished in the fire were Maud Fizzell of Bradford, Pa.; Bessie G. Hathaway of Cannonsville, N.Y.; Inez Jones of Busti; Cora N. Storms of Eden; Ruth Thomas of Pike, N.Y., and Ada May Williams of Lake Como, N,Y. The name of the custodian who tried to save the students, but also perished in the fire, was Phineas J. Morris of Fredonia.

Following the funeral procession, funeral services for five of the students and Morris were held at the Presbyterian Church in Fredonia with a large crowd attending, many from far away. A solemn mass for Ms. Maud Fizzell’s funeral was held at the St. Joseph’s Church in Fredonia and the “Mass was said by Father Clark who delivered an eloquent eulogy.”

The Fredonia Normal School.

According to the Fredonia Censor, the words by Rev. J. L. Jamieson of the Baptist Church spoken at the Presbyterian Church service were especially meaningful to those attending the service. He quoted from the Bible, John 14:18, saying “I will not leave you comfortless, I will come unto you.”

According to the Fredonia Censor article, “Every heart, especially every parent’s heart, was filled with grief and longed to show sympathy to those so terribly bereaved. There was a long line of mourners at the Presbyterian Church and over 200 attended and many from far away. Many people were unable to get into the Church. It was indeed a heart rendering sight.”

After the funeral service, “A vast throng formed a long procession that walked behind the seven horse drawn hearses to Forest Hill Cemetery where the burial took place.”

The six young lady students and the custodian who tried to save them are all buried in a common grave at Forest Hill Cemetery and their names are engraved on their burial monument. The monument is located just off the north side of the main cemetery driveway.

God bless them and may they rest in peace.

The grave site.