Frank Barnes
Frank Barnes, a 15-year-old Black boy, was one of 21 boys who died on March 5, 1959, in a dormitory fire at the Arkansas Negro Boys Industrial School in Wrightsville, Pulaski County. He was held at the school, a state juvenile facility. The Encyclopedia of Arkansas reports that the dormitory doors were locked from the outside when the fire started. Barnes is buried at Haven of Rest Cemetery in Little Rock, where he is listed among the victims. In 2019 the Arkansas Department of Correction dedicated a memorial bearing the names of all 21 boys.
Cause of death, as reported: Cause not yet determined (neglect alleged). The sources report that the dormitory doors were reportedly locked from the outside when the fire started, though no official ruling on the cause is given.
Reported by: news reports.