City officials and residents recently honored the five victims of the Gnecco & Grilk Tannery fire at its 60th anniversary at the East End Veterans Memorial Park. On May 14, 1964 an explosion occurred at the tannery at 27 Howley St., resulting in the deaths of five men: Guisseppi Cavalho, Paul A. Caron, Anthony Silva, John Vierra, and B. Robert Conway. Six were seriously injured.
According to the Peabody Historical Society, fire departments from 10 local communities responded to the fire, which burned for hours and resulted in $500,000 in physical damage.
