Cocoanut Grove memorial honors nightclub fire victims

BOSTON (MyFoxBoston.com) -- Cocoanut Grove Lane was established Saturday to honor victims of the nightclub fire.

The Cocoanut Grove was a popular Boston nightclub during the 1930's and 40's until the tragic night of Nov. 28, 1942, when the Piedmont Street club went up in flames. The club is now known as the scene of the deadliest nightclub fire in history; 492 people lost their lives.

Saturday, 71 years later, the street near the nightclub's location was renamed to Cocoanut Grove Lane in memorial of that devastating night.

Hundreds of people gathered on Cocoanut Grove Lane Saturday morning to honor the victims, even survivors who had not been back to the club since that night.

Survivor Marshall Cole said, "I was very lucky, a lot of people didn't make it. God rest their souls."

Because of that fateful day, nationwide changes were made to fire department procedures, fire and building codes and building occupancy rules as well as major changes in the treatment and rehabilitation of burn victims.

Now there is a permanent memorial, the new street sign.