John Irwin: Newly Acquired Photos

John Irwin was from Long Island, New York. He was on a business trip in Atlanta when he perished in the Winecoff Hotel fire. Irwin was only twenty-three years old but was a decorated World War II combat veteran and the father of a three month old baby girl. That daughter, now living in Florida, has joined with winecoff.org to share photos of her dad.

Click to see John Irwin as a child, in the South Pacific where he served in a photography unit and on the home front.

John Irwin is remembered for his service to others.

Click here to read a letter from his daughter and here for his Winecoff Fire Remembrance Page entry.

Sixty-Four Years Ago Today

Rome News-Tribune 64th anniversary article here

Last Known Photo Before The Fire

Christmas shopping was in full swing along Atlanta's Peachtree Street on December 3, 1946 - four days before the fire - when this photo was snapped. Over Santa's shoulder is the Winecoff Hotel. The father and son pictured here were later safely accounted for. Santa and the others in the photo remain unidentified.