Group Plans To Start Fundraising For Nightclub Fire Memorial

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP) -- A group that wants to build a memorial at the site of The Station nightclub fire plans to start raising money for the effort, despite legal obstacles that are stalling construction of a permanent place of remembrance for the 100 killed in the blaze.

The Station Nightclub Fire Memorial Foundation has scheduled a fund-raiser for next month. It'll be the first of many efforts to collect enough money to buy the parcel of land in West Warwick where the nightclub once stood, and erect a memorial.

Currently, the two-thirds-acre lot on Cowesett Avenue is a makeshift memorial, filled with wooden crosses, where family members and friends gather to remember their loved ones.

But weathered photographs, beer bottles, dried up flowers and deflated balloons also decorate the site, and some residents have complained it looks ``messy.''

``They want it cleaned up,'' said Jeanne-Marie DiMasi, town council president. ``It's just a very busy site.''

Within a few days of the Feb. 20, 2003 fire, public leaders, residents, fire survivors and family members of the dead expressed hope that the site would be turned into a permanent memorial.

Property owner Triton Realty Inc. has said it is willing to donate the site to the town.

But legal issues complicate that.

If Triton, which has been named in several lawsuits filed by fire survivors and victims' relatives, is held partly responsible for the fire, the property could be part of any damages awarded.

``We're just not sure what we can do,'' DiMasi said.

Kimberly Jalette, president of the memorial foundation, said the site is a very delicate subject, but most people agree that a permanent memorial would settle some of the frustration.

``We want to raise enough money to buy the land and have a peaceful place for people to go,'' Jalette said.

Once the foundation raises enough money, it will start accepting design proposals. Jalette said each person who died will be recognized by name, and those who survived will be recognized, but not identified, in the memorial.

Next month's fund-raiser, a walk-a-thon in Goddard Park in Warwick, will be followed by other efforts, including the sale of a cookbook compiled of recipes from survivors.

The Station fire was sparked by a band's pyrotechnic display. It quickly consumed the one-story, wooden building and trapped concertgoers as they tried to flee.

Related:

• http://www.stationfirememorialfoundation.org