Today in Wheeling History January 4--John H. Ebbert, former resident of Wheeling, died as a result as a result of injuries and exposure suffered in the 1903 Iroquois Theatre fire in Chicago (1904). His wife, Theresa Renner Ebbert, also originally from Wheeling, died in the same fire on December 30, 1903.
The Iroquois Theatre fire occurred on December 30, 1903 in Chicago, Illinois, resulting in 602 deaths and 250 injuries. The musical Mr. Blue Beard was playing when a spark from an arc light ignited a muslin curtain on stage. Former Wheeling, West Virginia residents John H. Ebbert and his wife Theresa Renner Ebbert were victims. John was seriously burned and Theresa went missing, later confirmed dead. John was treated at Cook County Hospital but died on January 4, 1904 from his injuries. Theresa was born Theresa Renner on March 5, 1857 in Virginia. She married John Ebbert on May 18, 1881 at St. Joseph Cathedral in Wheeling where John was born on September 20, 1856. He had worked as a nailer in Wheeling before moving to Chicago in 1881 to open a shoe store. After their deaths, their bodies were returned to Wheeling for burial at Mount Calvary Cemetery, leaving behind their 21-year-old son. The fire exposed many safety issues including locked exits, lack of emergency lighting, and ineffective asbestos curtain, leading to improved building codes and fire safety nationwide. The Iroquois Theatre reopened in 1904 but was demolished in 1925.
To Learn More: (http://tinyurl.com/yc5hzhcd) (http://tinyurl.com/y9xj558k) (http://tinyurl.com/y4646bfx) (http://tinyurl.com/ye362bb9) (http://tinyurl.com/yaa72fsu) (http://tinyurl.com/ycx7p7p8) (http://tinyurl.com/3kz5b9ae) (http://tinyurl.com/ye362bb9)
Photo Credits: Wheeling Daily Intelligencer, Find a Grave
The Iroquois Theatre fire occurred on December 30, 1903 in Chicago, Illinois, resulting in 602 deaths and 250 injuries. The musical Mr. Blue Beard was playing when a spark from an arc light ignited a muslin curtain on stage. Former Wheeling, West Virginia residents John H. Ebbert and his wife Theresa Renner Ebbert were victims. John was seriously burned and Theresa went missing, later confirmed dead. John was treated at Cook County Hospital but died on January 4, 1904 from his injuries. Theresa was born Theresa Renner on March 5, 1857 in Virginia. She married John Ebbert on May 18, 1881 at St. Joseph Cathedral in Wheeling where John was born on September 20, 1856. He had worked as a nailer in Wheeling before moving to Chicago in 1881 to open a shoe store. After their deaths, their bodies were returned to Wheeling for burial at Mount Calvary Cemetery, leaving behind their 21-year-old son. The fire exposed many safety issues including locked exits, lack of emergency lighting, and ineffective asbestos curtain, leading to improved building codes and fire safety nationwide. The Iroquois Theatre reopened in 1904 but was demolished in 1925.
To Learn More: (http://tinyurl.com/yc5hzhcd) (http://tinyurl.com/y9xj558k) (http://tinyurl.com/y4646bfx) (http://tinyurl.com/ye362bb9) (http://tinyurl.com/yaa72fsu) (http://tinyurl.com/ycx7p7p8) (http://tinyurl.com/3kz5b9ae) (http://tinyurl.com/ye362bb9)
Photo Credits: Wheeling Daily Intelligencer, Find a Grave
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