PEABODY — People gathered at the Peabody Leatherworkers Museum Saturday afternoon to honor the lives of the five men who died in the Gnecco & Grilk tannery fire on May 14, 1964. Those men were Paul A. Caron, Jose Carvalho, B. Robert Conway, Antonio Silva, and João Vieira.
Museum Director Dick St. Pierre explained that this was the second year the city would be remembering the five men, and that it was Joe Silva, the son of a survivor, who organized the day. Special thanks were also given to Friends of the Peabody Leatherworkers Museum, the Mayor’s Office, Jolie Catering, Peabody Portuguese American Organizations (PPAO), and Maria’s Flowers 7 Gifts.
“Until he (my father) passed, he always remembered them. And after he passed, it was coming up on the 60th (anniversary), and I brought it to the attention of the city. We did something last year, interest was high, and this year Dick invited us to come here, which is a pretty appropriate place to have it, and we try to expand every year,” Silva said.
Silva said when he talks about the five men, he doesn’t talk about how they died, but how they lived.
“Joe approached me a few weeks ago and I thought it would be a good way to make people aware of the leather museum and the mission it. This is a great way to honor the people,” St. Pierre said.
However, it means more than that to St. Pierre than just bringing people to the museum. He served the funeral mass during the triple funeral of Carvalho, Antonio Silva, and Vieira.
Silva explained that his father was the most severely injured during the fire.
“He was in the hospital for two months and even in his eulogy, I talked about how he lived to be almost 91, but he had many lives… And if you ever wondered why his arms were so severely scarred, now you know,” he said.
Silva continued that his father never spoke about survivor’s guilt, but he was sure he had it.
“I’m sure it’s what made him the giving person he was,” he said.
Silva also talked about how he tracked down family members of the fire victims, inviting them to the event.
When the speeches began, St. Pierre was the first to start, welcoming everyone to the museum and explaining his connection to the event.
“I have a very vivid memory of a 13-year-old boy being very scared and very nervous, and that memory will always stick with me,” he said.
Mayor Ted Bettencourt then spoke, thanking City Councilor Stephanie Peach, who helped Silva put the event together.
“I’m just very grateful in so many ways to our historical society, our historical commission, the Leatherworkers Museum, and those who are continuing our important history and traditions in our city,” Bettencourt said.
He then spoke about his own family members who worked in the tannery after coming to the U.S. from Portugal.
“A lot of the leather work that was done in the city was done by hardworking families from immigrants who came over, and it really built up families and built up a strong sense of community, which is so valuable and continues to this day,” Bettencourt said.
Silva then began his presentation on the five men.
“May 14 was the date, and from May 14, 1965, until May 14, 2022, my dad would remember. Dad passed in August of 2022. By next May 14, 2023, I was determined to remember, and found the graves of four of the five victims. Around the same time, while catering an event at the Peabody Children’s Museum, I ran into Rep. Tom Walsh… and brought the milestone anniversary to his attention. He introduced me to Stephanie Peach and together they made last year’s 60th anniversary commemoration happen,” Silva said.
Silva continued to tell the stories of the five men.
“Paul Caron was 22 years young, Jose Carvalho 30, B. Robert Conway 30, Antonio Silva 56, João Vieira 51. All five were husbands, all five were dads. Five women became widows. Sandra, Sussena, Rita, Lucienda, Bemvinda. Ten children lost their dads,” he said.
Silva then said that the three Gnecco & Grilk employees, Carvalho, Antonio Silva, and Vieira, were all Portuguese immigrants who had been in the country for less than four years. The two Larrabee & Hingston employees had something in common as well, both were days away from celebrating their birthdays.
He also explained how Saturday, May 16, just two days after the fire, was meant to be “a happy day in the Portuguese community,” as it was the day before Pentecost and the procession to Saint Thomas the Apostle Church.
“Instead of just one joyous procession the following day, an additional somber one took place as over 300 mourners walked from the Portuguese-American War Veterans Post to Saint Thomas Church. They followed behind three hearses that drove side by side by side, the three flower cars that drove side by side by side, and three family limousines that drove side by side by side,” he said.
Silva then showed a photo of the three altar boys who led the procession, which included St. Pierre and his brother.
“Your family, friends, and colleagues always knew your story. 61 years later, you will forever be remembered,” he said.
A moment of silence was then held for the five men.
