Titles @ Twilight Explores America's Deadliest Hotel Fire

SANDY SPRINGS, GA -- The series exploring historic events in and around Sandy Springs from a variety of perspectives will return on Tuesday when two authors and historian discuss the Winecoff Hotel Fire.

Titles @ Twilight will be held at 6:30 p.m. Dec. 6, and feature authors Allen Goodwin, Sam Hayes, and Winecoff Hotel Historian Chet Wallace, who will speak about the deadliest hotel fire in America.

This December marks the 70th anniversary of the Winecoff Hotel fire. Built in 1913, the Winecoff Hotel was billed as “fireproof” and therefore did not have fire escapes, sprinklers, or an alarm system.

However, during the predawn hours of Dec. 7, 1946, Atlanta residents awoke suddenly to the hotel already burning wildly out of control.

William Winecoff and his wife Grace lived in suites 1011-1012 for over 30 years at the time of the fire. In the recovery, Winecoff was found dead in his 10th floor suite. More than 115 people perished, making it the deadliest hotel fire in America’s history. The Winecoff Hotel was restored 10 years ago into a boutique luxury hotel called the Ellis Hotel.

Tuesday's event will be held in the Community Room at Heritage Sandy Springs, which is located at 6110 Blue Stone Road.

You can visit the Heritage Sandy Springs website to learn more about authors presenting in the upcoming months.

For more information, email mswindell@heritagesandysprings.org or call 404-851-9111 ext. 2.

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