Person:Alice Jackson (45)

The following contributed by Dr. Anthony Troha, Ph.D.: Alice Jackson married Frederick D. Backus, son of Ascan Backus, on Wednesday, November 10, 1875 [Ascan Backus, a German immigrant, was a wealthy farmer and landowner in Newtown, Queens, NY]. Although they had many happy years together and the couple was blessed with two children [a daughter, Wilhelmina, and a son, Ascan], Alice’s life ended tragically, dying from injuries sustained in a major fire. The family enjoyed vacations in the Catskill Mountains, especially in Twilight Park, a resort community [it is now a National Historic District, under the care of the National Park Service] in Haines Falls, Greene County, NY, as seen in the following blurb: The Newtown Register, Saturday, September 6, 1924, Page 4, Column 2: [In the “Forest Hills” column] “—Mrs. Frederick Backus, Miss Minnie [i.e. Wilhelmina] Backus and Mr. Ascan Backus have returned home from a vacation at Twilight Park, Catskills Mts.”

Sadly, a subsequent visit turned tragic. Early on the morning of Wednesday, July 14, 1926, a fire broke out in the Twilight Inn at Haines Falls, which proved to be the worst catastrophe Greene County has ever experienced, resulting in the death of twenty-two people; fourteen of the bodies were never identified and those souls were laid to rest in a mass grave located near the Methodist Episcopal Church. As sundry newspaper articles at the time attest, Mrs. Frederick D. Backus and her son, Ascan, were guests in the hotel that fateful night. They occupied a room on the second floor, and the only stairway was blocked by flames [unlike today, fire escapes were unfortunately not mandated by local codes at the time], which meant that the only egress from the blaze was through the windows, so numerous guests leapt from the upper floor, including Alice and her son. Both of them were burned and received cuts from going out the window, but Alice landed on a hard surface, resulting in a fractured elbow and a possibly fractured skull. She died two days later from complications at Red Cross Hospital in nearby Tannersville, NY. Ascan Backus apparently recovered from his injuries.

The Brooklyn Daily Eagle, Sunday, July 18, 1926, Page 16 A, Column 1: “BACKUS—Suddenly, at Tannersville, N. Y., on July 16, 1926, ALICE JACKSON BACKUS, beloved wife of Frederick D. and loving mother of Ascan and Wilhelmina Backus. Relatives and friends are respectfully invited to attend funeral services at the home, Queens blvd. and Kelvin st., Forest Hills, L. I., on Monday afternoon at 3 o’clock.”

The Newtown Register, Saturday, July 24, 1926, Page 5, Columns 3 and 4: Alice J. Backus Funeral services for Mrs. Alice J. Backus, wife of Frederick Backus, were held at the home on Queens boulevard and Kelvin street last Monday afternoon at 3 o’clock. Services were conducted by Dr. Clearwater, for many years pastor of The Dutch Reformed Church of Elmhurst of which the Backus family were all members. Lead Kindly Light, Beautiful Isle of Somewhere, and Thy Will be Done were sung during services. A large number of friends and relatives were present at the service. Burial was at Maple Grove Cemetery. Mrs. Backus died from results of injuries received in the Twilight Inn Fire, where she and her son were spending a vacation. Both Mrs. Backus and her son were awakened by smoke in their rooms and they jumped from their rooms on [the] second floor of [the] Hotel. Mrs. Backus fell backwards on [sic: upon] reaching [the] ground, and her head struck a stone walk. She was also badly burned on her body and received internal injuries. She was taken to Red Cross Hospital at Tannersville, N. Y., where later pneumonia developed. Mr. Ascan Backus, who was with his mother, received cuts and bruises and [a] hurt arm, but was able to come home. Mrs. Backus is survived by her husband, and one daughter and [a] son.”

1. ↑ United States. 1900 U.S. Census Population Schedule. (National Archives Microfilm Publication T623)
   Brooklyn, Queens, New York.
2.   Research of Anthony L. Troha, Ph.D..
3.   United States. 1860 U.S. Census Population Schedule. (National Archives Microfilm Publication M653)
   Newtown, Queens Co., New York.
4.   United States. 1870 U.S. Census Population Schedule. (National Archives Microfilm Publications M593 and T132)
   Newtown, Queens Co., New York.