THE LEAD BELT NEWS, Flat River, Missouri. Friday, November 7, 1952. 3 COUNTY RESIDENTS PERISH IN NURSING HOME FIRE FRIDAY. Eighteen aged persons perished in a fire that raged through the Cedar Grove Nursing home at Hillsboro last Friday evening, October 31, three of whom were St. Francois County residents: Mrs. Amanda Fields of Esther and Phillip Jarette and Mrs. Jane Phillips of Bonne Terre. Most of the dead were found on the third floor of the three-story concrete block main building, but a number were found on the first and second floors, which were reserved for invalids. The main building, which was a total loss, housed about 55 persons. About 30 of those rescued by nurses, firemen, and volunteers, were brought to St. Louis County Hospital and later removed to the Shamrock Rest Home, 3709 Manola Ave., Pine Lawn. Approximately 85 men and women resided at the home, which has been operated for six years by Mr. and Mrs. James Lewis. About 30 women residents were safely evacuated from a wing of the building that was left untouched by the flames. Mr. and Mrs. Lewis were enroute to Hillsboro from St. Louis when the fire was discovered around 5:45 p.m. The alarm was turned in by a nurse who said she saw sparks and fire coming out of a ceiling on the first floor between the main building and a frame annex. Hillsboro firemen were joined by firemen and equipment from DeSoto, Festus, Crystal City and Goldman. Six engines pumped water on the blaze for more than two hours before it was brought under control. Firemen were hampered by 'safety screens" on the windows of the building, which they had difficulty in breaking out to get streams of water to the interior of the building. The Hillsboro water department stepped up its pumping to full capacity of 2400 gallons per hour while firemen were fighting the blaze. In addition to the fire fighting equipment, surrounding communities sent a number of inhalators and all available ambulances to the scene. The rest home, located on four acres of ground on Highway 21 in Hillsboro, about 35 miles southeast of St. Louis, had three stairways in addition to a fire escape from each floor. The main building, originally a residence, was built in 1914 but was modernized and two wings added in recent years. Lewis theorized that many of the residents who died became confused and perished by suffocation. Note: See obituary I posted this date for Mora Jetta Rhodes. She also died as a result of this fire.