Behind the Scenes - The Triangle Murders

Statue of Liberty waves her torch in front of Ellis Island

Statue of Liberty waves her torch on Ellis Island

Brooklyn Bridge

Brooklyn Bridge

Manhattan Skyline

Manhattan Skyline

Corner Bleecker and Macdougal Streets, Greenwich Village

Corner Bleecker and Macdougal Streets, Greenwich Village

Brown Building at NYU, formerly Asch Building, where Triangle fire occurred

Brown Building at NYU, formerly Asch Building, where Triangle fire occurred

Northern Dispensary, founded 1827, Greenwich Village

Northern Dispensary, founded 1827,
Greenwich Village

 

 

CO Bigelow Pharmacy, dates to 1838, Greenwich Village

CO Bigelow Pharmacy, dates to 1838, Greenwich Village

When I began researching the Triangle Factory fire, I traveled to Greenwich Village in Manhattan, not far from where I grew up in Brooklyn.  The building in question looks quite innocuous today and, in fact, is currently used by New York University.  It’s ten stories tall and the fire was located on the eighth and ninth stories.  Think about the 146 people trapped there with no way out . . . but down.

My historic character, Cormac Mead, an immigrant from Ireland and a policeman at the NYPD, used to walk his beat by the CO Bigelow Pharmacy and the Northern Dispensary.

He and his wife-to-be, Fiona, met at Ellis Island.  I was inspired to write that scene by the many stories told at Ellis Island, the Island of Hope, when I visited.  It’s a marvelous museum and repository of American history.