Age 34. 25 Chesbrough Road, West Roxbury (Boston), MA. Born 8/19/1908, Roxbury (Boston), MA. Died of burns (death certificate). Was pronounced dead upon arrival at Mass General Hospital. Accountant for Alberthaw Co. (construction), Boston. Was celebrating his 11th wedding anniversary (same day) with his wife Josephine, age 33, dead. Couple was attached to a group of 15 known as the "Allston-Brighton Sewing Circle" party, all but one member perished (source of the party name is unknown but it first appeared in next-day news coverage). Large gathering was seated in the main dining room to the right of the rolling wooden dance floor. Lone party survivor Frederick Harrington, age 52 (Born 9/21/1890. Died 4/21/1972, age 81. Last residence Dorchester, MA), of Brighton (Boston), MA, escaped through a narrow backstage Shawmut Street service door then returned inside with firemen (his wife Catherine "Vernie," age 51, did not attend). Mr. Harrington at the spring 1943 Grove manslaughter trials (quote): "...I stumbled over the bodies of Mr. and Mrs. Donovan..." (The Boston Post, 3/30/1943). Added: "It was just a private little gathering to pay tribute to the pairs celebrating their wedding anniversaries. And there were 15 of us - men and women - in all." Graduate of English High School and Bentley School of Accounting and Finance, both of Boston. Married on 11/28/1931, in Boston. Employed at the federal Works Progress Administration (W.P.A.), Boston branch, as of his October '40 WWII draft registration. Was stocky (WWII draft registration: 5' 8," 185 lbs.). Couple had no children. The above Mr. Harrington was included among pallbearers at next Thursday double funeral services with his victim wife. Parents Mr. John F. and the late Mrs. Agnes D. (Petrie) Donovan. Burial with wife at St. Joseph's Cemetery, West Roxbury. Middle name Alexander.

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