A memorial plaque at the Gale Sisters' gravesite!

Please help fund a memorial plaque at the gravesite of The Gale Sisters!

Hi, I'm Gary, and I run The Famous Grave Co. on both Instagram and TikTok. My platform is about highlighting both well-known resting places and the graves of people with interesting stories. In my research, I came across The Gale Sisters, four young ballerinas from England who died tragically in a fire that swept through Philadelphia's Continental Theatre in September 1861.

Here is their story:

On the evening of September 14, 1861, a crowd of over 1,500 people gathered at The Continental Theatre at 807 Walnut Street. They eagerly awaited a performance of The Tempest organized by William Wheatley, a Philadelphia actor and manager. Wheatley had recently taken a lease on the theater and spared no expense in refurbishing it for this grand presentation of the Shakespearean masterpiece. Seeking perfection, he even enlisted the help of a renowned machinist from London to assist in creating the intricate and elaborate stage scenes.

The production featured a large ballet corps, which included the talented Gale Sisters: Ruth, Abeona (also known as Adeline), Hannah, and Cecilia (referred to as Zelia and Zela). Hailing from England, the sisters had already toured extensively across the country before arriving in Philadelphia. Despite their youth, all four sisters, aged under 23, possessed remarkable dancing skills and were admired for their beauty and talent.

While changing for the second act of The Tempest, the hem of Ruth Gale’s dress inadvertently brushed against a gas jet, setting her gauzy costume ablaze. Screaming in terror, Ruth ran against a plate glass mirror, shattering it and lacerating herself horribly. In the chaos that ensued, her sisters and fellow dancers attempted to extinguish the flames, but the fire quickly spread among them. The theatergoers were bewildered as they heard screams and witnessed flashes of light, accompanied by stagehands rushing about in panic. One of the dancers, engulfed in flames, desperately fled downstairs towards the stage.

Initially unaware of the gravity of the situation, Wheatley instructed the audience to remain seated, and the curtain was drawn to shield them from the backstage turmoil. However, upon realizing the severity of the incident, Wheatley reemerged on stage and calmly informed the audience that the play could not continue, requesting them to leave the theater quietly. Meanwhile, inside the burning building, a dozen or so girls remained trapped. In a desperate bid to escape, several of them, including Hannah Gale, resorted to jumping out of the dressing room windows, plunging to the street below.

The scene outside the theater, as described by Harper's Weekly, was one of great anguish and sorrow. Burned and injured individuals were carried to nearby hotels and taverns, while others were transported by carriage to Pennsylvania Hospital. Police officers, doctors, pharmacists, and compassionate citizens swiftly converged on the scene, offering aid to the wounded and dying in any way they could.

Tragically, at least nine of the dancers, including the Gale Sisters, perished in the horrific incident. A subsequent coroner's inquest absolved William Wheatley of any responsibility, concluding that he was not to blame for the fire. In an act of mourning and remembrance, Wheatley held funerals for the girls at his residence at 819 North Ninth Street. Many clamored to get into the house to see the young victims. Additionally, Wheatley erected a memorial in Mount Moriah Cemetery to honor the memory of the Gale Sisters.

The Gale Sisters' existing stone has fallen and is completely illegible. The Friends of Mount Moriah Cemetery, a 503(c)3 non-profit dedicated to restoring the cemetery to its former glory, has given us permission to place a kiosk-style plaque at the gravesite. This plaque will tell the harrowing story of The Gale Sisters and remind visitors to the cemetery of the history beneath them.

We were given a quote for the plaque's creation and installation. All funds raised will go directly to that. Every donor will be recognized in a video once the plaque has been installed!

Thank you for reading!