Thursday, Jan. 11, marked the 90th anniversary of the Woolworth Fire in downtown Aurora. The fire, which occurred January 11, 1934, is the deadliest in Aurora history. Captains John Peterson, 48, and Herbert L. Reiss, 37, along with 35-year-old firefighter Charles Hoffman, were killed when part of the Woolworth building, at 19-21 South Broadway, collapsed on them as they were working to extinguish the flames. To honor their lives, the fire department was host to its annual memorial ceremony at the site of the fire, laying a wreath and thanking the families of the brave firefighters who lost their lives on that fateful day.City of Aurora government photo
