The Babbs Switch schoolhouse fire of 1924 is etched in the annals of American history as one of the most heartbreaking disasters to strike a rural community. On Christmas Eve, in Babbs Switch, Oklahoma, a joyous holiday gathering turned into a harrowing tale of loss and survival when flames consumed a one-room schoolhouse, taking the lives of 36 individuals—nearly half of them children. The fire, ignited by a lit candle from a Christmas tree during a festive program attended by approximately 200 people, quickly escalated as attendees struggled to escape through the building’s sole door, which tragically opened inward. The calamity became the sixth deadliest school fire in United States records.
The aftermath of the fire was devastating, both emotionally and physically, as the injured were transported to makeshift medical facilities and the community grieved. Despite the sorrow, the event spurred significant changes in fire safety regulations. Oklahoma passed the Fawks Bill, mandating outward-opening doors and removable window screens in schools, setting a precedent that would ripple through the nation.
The Babbs Switch fire is not only known for the harrowing events that transpired but also for a perplexing mystery that emerged from the embers—the case of Mary Edens, a three-year-old girl whose body was never found amidst the carnage. Her disappearance gave rise to hope that she might have miraculously survived, leading her parents on a desperate search that would span decades.
In 1957, the storyline took an unexpected turn when Grace Reynolds of Barstow, California, claimed to be the long-lost Mary. The Edens family eagerly embraced her as their own, culminating in a highly publicized reunion on Art Linkletter’s “House Party” television show. Reynolds even penned a book about her supposed experiences as Mary titled “Mary, Child of Tragedy: The Story of the Lost Child of the 1924 Babbs Switch Fire.”
However, a local editor had knowledge of the hoax but chose to withhold the truth at the behest of Mary’s father, who feared his wife could not bear the pain of losing their daughter once more. This deception remained a secret until 1999, casting a shadow over the Edens family’s brief joy.
The truth, as it later emerged, painted a less sentimental picture. Investigations by diligent reporters and a series of communications, including a telegram from the Stockton Record, hinted at Grace’s true identity, exposing her as the daughter of a Goldie Thomas, not the Edens. Even Grace’s own sisters discredited her story, revealing that she had been born Grace Leona Gaither in Arkansas in 1923—a year before the tragic fire.
Relevant articles:
– Babbs Switch fire
– Journalist honors pledge to family of missing girl,DEC 24,1999