Site of Susanna Cox’s house scene of blaze that killed several dogs

Photo courtesy of Jeremy Drey (Reading Eagle photogrpaher)

This was the site of a deadly fire in which several dogs perished this past Saturday in Oley, PA.

This house is notorious for being the home of Susanna Cox who killed her illegitimate son back in 1809. Susanna kept her pregnancy secret until the baby’s body was found on this property hidden in another building on the property on Oley Turnpike Road.

The house is currently owned by Charles and Susan Hetrick who were not home at the time of the fire. No humans were injured, luckily.

Cox was found guilty of murder and was famously and historically known as the last woman hanged publicly in Pennsylvania. Reenactments are held each year at the Kutztown Folk Festival. Books have been written about her.

Many people were sympathetic toward Susanna.

A movie was made in Reading on Penn Street where Cox was removed from her jail cell and taken to City Park with her coffin in tow where she was hanged.

I played an extra in the film which never made it to theaters due to a lack of money. I was part of the crowd scene where I was told to yell, “Free Susanna ” as she and others walked up Penn Street.

It was only several months ago when I finally found this house and snapped photos of it. Ironically, I had searched for this home for a long time. I’m a bit of a histroy buff.

(This house is close in approximity to another deadly fire in which three boys died. I just happened to be driving in the area when after it occurred. I saw the fire trucks and police officers as they prepared to reroute traffic. I remember seeing the house and was hoping no one lost their lives. Very sad.)

Because of Susannna Cox’s historical public hanging, it changed the legal system to include the appeals process.

Rest in Peace, sweet dogs.