(NECN: Katelyn Tivnan, Boston) - Coming back to the site of the former Cocoanut Grove nightclub in Boston brings back a lot of memories for John Rizzo.
In 1942, Rizzo was working as a waiter there the night it burned down.
"Looked around the corner, and the flames were coming up over the people," said Rizzo. "When they tried to come by the revolving door, they were stuck and they started running here and there."
The fire killed 492 people and sent close to 200 to area hospitals. It remains one of the most devastating fires in New England history.
For years, the location of the former club was not well known. But that's about to change.
Saturday, the street sign on Shawmut Street Extension is being replaced with a new one: Cocoanut Grove Lane.
Rizzo is happy to see that.
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"I don't think it's gotten enough with just the plaque on the ground," he said.
"There are lots of people who have no idea, they think it's in the South End, or in the Back Bay," said Mike Hanlon of the memorial committee. "No idea that it's right here."
Members of that committee worked for the last year to get the street renamed. They say it pays tribute to the lives lost and provides a reminder of how the tragedy changed the city.
"Just the fire codes alone, city, state, national and international codes, and then medical advancements that came out of the fire were incredible," said member Paul Miller.
It's a street Rizzo will never forget, and now it will not be forgotten by others.
"It's tough, I feel, for the people here today," said Rizzo. "I'm here, but a lot of people didn't make it."
