Captain John Grady, East Cleveland Township Cemetery, East Cleveland, Ohio - Firefighter Memorials on Waymarking.com

The fire began on Sunday, November 15, 1891 at 8 PM in the four-story Short & Forman building which was a printing company facing Frankfort Street in Cleveland, Ohio. Within one hour every piece of fire fighting equipment in the city had been called to the scene; even the fireboat was pumping a two-inch stream up Superior Avenue from the river. The entire building was involved within ten minutes of the first alarm and soon other buildings in the same block caught fire. Capt. Grady and Cadet Ward rushed into Tim Haley's Saloon with a line of hose but were driven back by the smoke. The made a second attempt and had begun to work when the roof fell in, the entire four floors of the building fell on top of them, Ward was pinned under debris and rescued by a dozen men who quickly dug him out. Captain Grady had unfortunately penetrated deeper into the building than Ward and a large pile of debris stood between him and life. A desperate effort was made to tear the burning wreckage aside, but it was unsuccessful. Soon the entire structure collapsed in Frankfort Street, crushing hook and ladder truck number 2. For the next two days firemen, city workers, gas company workers and crews hired by Grady's brother-in-law participated in a massive search for Captain Grady's body. Captain Grady's body was found by his brother-in-law and now rests in the East Cleveland Township Cemetery.

The Cleveland Press summarized his service as a Cleveland Firemen:

Captain John Grady of engine company No.1, who met a terrible death in the Short & Forman fire Sunday night was one of the best fire fighters in the Cleveland Department. He had charge of a company stationed in the very heart of the city, and which has been considered on of the most important in the service. He entered the department in 1881, was promoted to lieutenant, October 24, 1884 and Captain January 31, 1889. Captain Grady was a popular fireman, his ability and genial good nature making him friends both personally and in his line of duty. He leaves a wife and three children at 31 Broker Avenue. He was about 35 years old.

Captain Grady was born in Ireland. He and his family left during the potato famine bound for the United States. He married Susannah Pickering and had four children at the time of his death.

Source for information:
To Dwell With Fellow Clay; by Nancy Fogel West pages 68 - 71.

Physical address: 1621 East 118th Street East Cleveland , Ohio USA 44106 Memorial Website: Not listed

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