By Ray Lenarcic

Every year, when October rolls around, I can’t help but be reminded of one of the great tragedies that occurred in my hometown of Little Falls. On Sunday morning, December 22nd, 1991, the six McCleod children perished in a fire at their home despite the heroic efforts of the firemen who risked their lives to get them out. As was later determined, the inferno resulted when papers piled near a space heater ignited. When one considers the attenuating circumstances, it’s easy to understand how the tragedy affected so many residents so deeply for so long.

To say that the day-to-day existence was difficult for Sheila McCleod would be an understatement. A single mother, she depended on the government and an odd job or two to provide the barest minimums for her family. Things were so rough that she couldn’t afford a phone. But what she lacked in material possessions, she made up for in character. Those kids knew the inside of a church (St. Mary’s), went to school clean and with their homework done, and while their mom couldn’t give them the toys and bikes that other kids enjoyed, she did give them something that money couldn’t buy-values.

My youngest daughter, Jennifer, knew the McCleod children. She was one of their lifeguards at the Monroe St. pool. I recently asked her what she remembered about them-“nice as nice can be.” She also recalled the day that Douglas, Jr. brought the lifeguards a pizza. He had mowed a few lawns for some money, and instead of buying something for himself, he wanted to thank the lifeguards for being nice to him. Values! I still don’t know how she did it, but at the funerals, Jen sang “Amazing Grace.”

Another one of those attenuating circumstances involved the whereabouts of Sheila at the time of the fire. As is the wont of small minds in small towns, rumors circulated that she’d been out partying. In truth, she had a dear friend who often helped out her and the children. That friend and her husband wanted to attend a Christmas party but couldn’t because she had a commitment to care for an elderly couple. As a way of repaying her friend for her kindness, Sheila offered to fill in. She almost never went out, and when she did, it was to do a favor. Fate can be cruel beyond comprehension. (The babysitter escaped and ran home next door to call in the fire).

The tragedy also had an impact on my students at HCCC. The former coordinated our Adopt-A-Child Christmas Program (presently Gram Lorraine), which provided clothing and gifts to deserving area kids. While the children couldn’t escape the flames, in a perverse irony, their presents in the cellar, compliments of six generous sponsors, went untouched.

Often in the aftermath of tragedies of this magnitude, communities rally to do something good, to try to turn a negative into something positive. I’d like to share with you some of the positives we (students, organizations, friends) have been involved with over the years –efforts to try to ensure that the calamity of 12/22 will never happen again.

-HCCC students canvassed the five valley communities over a 5 semester period distributing fire safety information, asking residents to check their smoke detectors, and in Little Falls and Herkimer, passing out smoke detectors to residences without them.

-In 2003, the Herkimer County Hunger Coalition had a Six Angels of Christmas ornament made. Five hundred were sold, generating enough money to purchase Sparky the Fire Robot-one of the most effective means of educating youngsters about fire safety. Since then, Sparky has made numerous visits to area schools.

-In 2004, the HCHC funded coloring-activity books for K-4 pupils in the County’s schools.

-In 2006, the HCHC and local Red Cross collaborated in creating a Roscoe the Red Cross fire safety coloring-activity book for grades 1-3 throughout the County.

-In 2009, the same organizations marketed the Roscoe and Herbie Half and Halfs Coloring- Activity book. The same book was distributed to second graders throughout the County this October. Included in the latter was a half-and-half (e.g., birdie-half bird-half turtle) contest for the kids. Next year, we’ll do something else.

October is Fire Prevention Month, and we need to give a loud shout-out to all the volunteers and regular firemen who took the time to visit our schools to help educate our children about fire safety. In that spirit, I’d like readers to X out December 22 on their calendars and write in that space, “Check smoke and carbon monoxide detectors.” In that way, you will do your part to help avoid another McCleod tragedy while at the same time honoring the memories of the Six Angels of Christmas: Douglas, Jr.-Jonathan-Christopher-Shannon-Kelly, and Daniel.

Note: This year, the Coalition had planned, in the McCleod children’s honor, Pumpkin Man (4th graders) and Half and Half (5th graders) contests but because the fire chief didn’t want us to distribute fire safety information, we are unable to do so.