Anna Connelly saves countless lives when she invents and patents the first modern fire escape in 1877. After the Civil War, Americans leave the land to work in cities. As buildings grow taller than ever before, so does the danger of death by smoke and fire.
Industrial revolutions in Europe spark discoveries in science, engineering and health. Steam powers factories and fast transport like trains. As overcrowded conditions increased the spread of disease, accident and fire hazards, building codes force higher standards.
In 1860, a bakery in New York catches fire, with lethal results for families living above. At this time fire escapes are limited. Early attempts at creating fire escapes include a machine designed to bring a person to street level, an escape chute and portable ladders.
In 1870 fire safety laws in America state "fireproof balconies must be connected by fireproof stairs". As building owners stagger at the cost, Anna Connelly sees the need for a better solution.
Anna thinks big. She wants to create a fire escape for the mass market to improve building safety and consistency in cities. In 1877 she received her first patent and continued making improvements to her fire escape.
It's a simple but detailed design of metal ladders and handrails, and becomes the basis for modern fire escapes. Today they're found more often on older buildings as use of sprinkler systems and other fire safety developments increase.
In the late nineteenth century, patents, science and business are almost exclusively the man's domain, whether he likes it or not. Anna Connelly is a pioneer and inspiration to many women who come to realize their own talents and skills.
Little is known about her early life. Born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Anna works as a reeler at a cotton mill. 1920 census lists her as a widow. She dies in Pennsylvania in 1969, at the age of 100.
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