On this date in 1954, a Fargo mother and her six children narrowly escaped a morning fire that destroyed their rented home and all their belongings, prompting a Red Cross appeal for clothing and furniture donations.

Here is the complete story as it appeared in the paper that day:

A Fargo family of eight lost almost all of their possessions Friday when a morning fire virtually destroyed the three-room home they rented at 2730 7th Ave. N.

Laurence Londo had just left for work about 7:40 a.m. when his wife noticed flames bursting out in two of the rooms. She fled with her three boys and three girls, ages one to nine years, narrowly escaping the flames.

Larry, 6, had to be awakened from sleep and he and Cary, 1, were taken to neighbors wearing only their night clothes.

Mrs. Londo could no

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