Today on Back to Stonewall,  they ran a piece  about the 1977 fire at the Everard Baths.   38 years ago, nine patrons (ages 17 to 40) were killed in a fire: seven from smoke inhalation, one from respiratory burns, and one who had jumped from an upper floor.

A sprinkler system had been installed at the baths but was not hooked up to a water supply.  The bathhouse had been ordered to install the sprinkler system a year ago, but the deadline for its operation was not until the coming July 27.

Despite total destruction of the top two floors, the two floors were rebuilt and The Everard Baths baths would reopen and stay open for another nine years until April of 1986 when it was closed by New York City mayor Ed Koch during the city’s campaign to close gay sec venues during the AIDS epidemic.

Read more  (plus  VIDEO)   at Back to Stonewall.