March 4, 1908, seemed an ordinary morning at Lakeview Elementary School in Collinwood, Ohio, when fifth grader Emma Neibert noticed wisps of smoke. Her discovery soon led to a panicked stampede inside the school—the chaos of nine teachers trying to control and then save pupils in overcrowded classrooms. Outside, Collinwood’s inadequate volunteer fire department—joined by members of the Cleveland fire department—fought a losing battle with the rapidly spreading blaze.

While some inside jumped from the building to safety, most were trapped. Ultimately, 172 children, two teachers, and one rescue worker were killed, and the Collinwood community was irrevocably changed.

The fire’s staggering death toll shocked the country and resulted in impassioned official inquiries about the fire’s cause, the building’s structure, and overall safety considerations. Regionally, and eventually nationwide, changes were implemented in school structures and construction materials.

James Jessen Badal’s extensive research reveals how the citizens of Collinwood were desperate to find someone to blame. Rumor and suspicion splintered the grieving community. And yet they also rose to the challenge of healing: officials reached out to immigrant families unsure of their rights; city charities, churches, and relief agencies responded with medical help, comfort for the bereaved, and financial support; and fundraising efforts to assist families totaled over $50,000—more than $1 million today.