Aug. 4—To honor the brave first responders and nurses who risked their own lives to save those inside St. Anthony's Hospital in April of 1949 when a fire devastated the hospital, claiming more ...

Nov. 11—Linda Ruholl recently published a 485-page book titled "The St. Anthony's Hospital Fire of 1949: Assessment-Analysis-Consequences" and had a book signing on Saturday, Nov. 9 at the ...

The blaze that torched the original St. Anthony Hospital in Effingham on April 4, 1949, is one such memory. The inferno claimed 77 lives, including a dozen infants and their 22-year-old nurse ...

EFFINGHAM — Marylene Weishaar is here today to share firsthand memories of her family's connection to the April 4, 1949 fire that destroyed St. Anthony Hospital and claimed 77 lives.

The Effingham County coroner identified the child as Harper Finn. The coroner said the girl passed away at St. Louis Children's Hospital on Wednesday night.

Sisters from St. Mary’s Hospital, Decatur, were called to duty at the Effingham fire early on April 5, 1949. Food, clothing and medicants were taken to the scene.