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Our Lady of the Angels (OLA) School Fire, December 1, 1958
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Ladders dot the wall of the school in the alley north of the school after the fire is finally out and all victims have been removed.
#493   		This is the small courtyard surrounded by the north wing, annex and south wing of the school. The stairs beyond the ladders leads to the annex exit. The canopy over this exit helped students escape from room 209 into the annex, via the window directly above the doorway, resulting in just two deaths in room 209. (Life Magazine Photo)
#506   		Although the fire is out, ladders still stand in the courtyard at the windows of rooms 209 and 211, mute testimony to the disaster that unfolded here just hours before. (Life Magazine Photo)
#507   		In the courtyard, ladders line the wall outside rooms 211 and 209 after the fire is out. Father Ognibene and parent Sam Tortorice pulled students out of Room 209 through the last window in the corner and into the annex window above the doorway.
#489  
This is the fire escape on the east side of the school, adjacent to the rectory. Students from room 207 escaped down this fire escape, thanks to Father Hund and janitor James Raymond, who unlocked the rear classroom door just in the nick of time. (Life Magazine Photo)
#510   		View of the north wing and alley north of the school as seen from the northwest. Note the destruction of the roof area above the far left windows (room 208).
#176   		Looking from the alley up to the windows of room 208, where the roof collapse is plainly visible through the windows. Although room 208 was closest to the source of the fire (the stairwell to the left), most of the children escaped from this room, thanks to assistant janitor Mario Camerini who placed the church's only extension ladder at one of these windows.
#70   		View from the alley north of the school. The doorway at left leads to the stairwell where the fire started. The second floor windows here are room 208, a seventh grade classroom. Numerous students were able to break their fall by dropping to the roof of the small enclosure below.
#403  
This view is looking east toward the church on the roof above the north wing. The gaping hole in the foreground is over room 209 and the center hallway. The roof collapsed at around 2:55, sending a blast of super-heated air throughout the second floor and a resounding crash throughout the neighborhood. (Photo courtesy of Greg Boyle)
#184   		Saddened onlookers watch the funeral procession on it's way to Our Lady of the Angels church for the memorial service held for the victims of the OLA fire.
#59   		A somber crowd looks at the fire-ravaged school from behind a baracade in the alley northeast of the school in the days after the fire. (Photo courtesy of The Catholic New World with photo research by Renee Jackson)
#321   		A week or so after the fire, the burned out shell of school stands silent, never again to echo with the happy voices of children.
#454  
Looking east across Avers Avenue, showing the school courtyard between the north and south wings.
#458   		Looking north from Iowa Street into the gangway between the school on the left and the rectory on the right. The school's only external fire escape, which allowed the occupants of room 207 to escape without loss of life, can be seen at center.
#460   		Looking east across Avers Avenue at the main entrance of the school after the fire.
#461   		Looking east across Avers Avenue after the fire. The courtyard between the north and south wing can be seen at right.
#462  
The demolition of the school is well underway in the photo taken in February 1959.
#456   		Looking east across Avers Avenue during demolition of the school in February 1959.
#459   		Looking east across Avers Avenue during the demolition in 1959. The building at left is Barbara Glowacki's candy store.
#457   		In February 1959, the school was razed to make way for the new school. Here, demolition of the north wing, as seen from the alley north of the school, is well under way.
#463  
Several men watch demolition of the school from the alley on the north side of the school.
#464   		This photo is looking south into the gangway between the rectory, on the left, and the school, on the right. Beyond the pile of debris is the school's only external fire escape, down which everyone from room 207 escaped during the fire. (Life Magazine Photo)
#518   		Assistant janitor Mario Camerini points to the window of room 208 where he placed a ladder during the fire. His ladder was the only one long enough to reach the second floor before the fire department arrived with their longer ladders.
#521   		Workmen begin demolishing the burned out school early in 1959, to make way for a modern new school with all the safety features the old school lacked.
#539  
The very heavily damaged old school is razed to make way for a modern new school, which opened in time for the 1960-61 school year.
#530   		On December 4, 1958, a funeral mass for the three nuns who died in the fire was held at the OLA church, mere yards from the place they perished attempting to save their students just three days before.
#519   		The Sisters of the Blessed Virgin Mary (BVM), the order responsible for teaching at Our Lady of the Angels, at the funeral mass for 27 children held at the North West Armory on December 5, 1958, five days after the fire.
#60   		Officials from the city, state, fire department and others joined the funeral procession as it moved to the Our Lady of the Angels church.
#58  
Thousands crowd the North West Armory during a mass funeral for 27 of the child victims.
#501   		In farewell prayer, BVM nuns, dressed in their characteristic square-top habits, lend a cathedral atmosphere to the funeral mass held at Our Lady of the Angels church for their three fellow nuns, four days after the tragedy.
#164   		Seven thousand mourners stand during a special funeral mass for 27 of the children killed at Our Lady of the Angels earlier in the week. The number of people wanting to attend was so great, the church has no facility capable of holding the crowd, so the armory was chosen.
#173   		The rows of small coffins lined up for the funeral mass was heartbreaking. 'Why would God allow such a tragedy?' everyone pondered privately. With no answer forthcoming, each individual was left to try to reconcile the tragedy with his or her own faith. (Photo courtesy of Witold “Vic” Szmyd)
#422  
Bishop Raymond Hillinger thanks the nation and the world for the outpouring of compassion shown in the wake of the tragedy. Recently appointed Chicago Archbishop Albert Gregory Meyer, right, later sang a requiem high mass. Cardinal Francis Spellman of New York looks on from the red-draped throne at left. (Photo courtesy of Witold “Vic” Szmyd)
#421   		The front rows nearest the coffins were reserved for the families of the 27 young victims whose coffins stretched before them. The Illinois National Guard Armory was chosen for the service because the church had no facilities large enough to accomodate the anticipated crowd. Nearly 7,000 mourners filled the building to capacity for the service. (Photo courtesy of Witold “Vic” Szmyd)
#420   		High church officials file out after the mass, followed shortly by a procession of coffins wheeled to awaiting hearses by members of the Illinois National Guard, accompanied by grieving family members. Interment services followed at Queen of Heaven cemetery. (Photo courtesy of Witold “Vic” Szmyd)
#423   		The mass funeral for 27 victims of the OLA fire, held at the Illinois National Guard Armory on Friday, December 5, 1958. An overflow crowd of parents, neighbors, friends and the curious public attended the emotional service.
#155  
Caskets are lined up as the funeral mass gets underway at the Illinois National Guard Armory on the Friday following the fire. The grief felt by parents and parishioners was overwhelming.
#61   		About a fourth of the fire victims' caskets were lined up for the funeral mass that was held later in the week for the victims of the Our Lady of the Angels fire.
#62   		A funeral Mass was offered for 27 of the young victims of the fire on the Friday following the fire. Twenty seven small coffins drive home the magnitude of the tragedy, and these represent only about a fourth of the victims.
#85   		Cardinal Spellman at the Armory on Friday, December 5, 1958, during a Memorial Mass for 27 of the child victims of the Our Lady of the Angels fire. Many high ranking church religious as well as thousands of citizens attend the service. (Photo courtesy of The Catholic New World with photo research by Renee Jackson)
#297  
Monsignor Cussen offers a blessing over the coffin of a victim after the Mass at the Northwest Armory. (Photo courtesy of The Catholic New World with photo research by Renee Jackson)
#305   		The crowd attending the funeral Mass for 27 children at the Armory swelled to thousands, as members of the general public turned out to mourn the unspeakable loss. (Photo courtesy of The Catholic New World with photo research by Renee Jackson)
#308   		Following the funeral Mass at Our Lady of the Angels Church for the three nuns who died in the fire, a procession of hearses transported the coffins to Mt. Carmel Cemetery. (Photo courtesy of The Catholic New World with photo research by Renee Jackson)
#309   		Workers digging graves at Queen of Heaven cemetery, where 25 child victims of the OLA fire are to soon to be buried, pause for a moment of silent prayer for the victims.
#511  
A large crowd gathered for the graveside interment service held in the Holy Innocents section of Queen of Heaven Cemetery, following the funeral at the National Guard Armory. (Photo courtesy of The Catholic New World with photo research by Renee Jackson)
#310   		Praying at the graves of some of the children who died in the tragic fire at Our Lady of the Angels is Archbishop Albert Gregory Meyer. With Archbishop is Msgr. Francis J. McElligott, archdiocesan director of cemeteries, at left. The photo was taken during Archbishop's visit to the Queen of Heaven cemetery in the Holy Innocents section. (Photo courtesy of The Catholic New World with photo research by Renee Jackson)
#295   		Queen of Heaven Cemetery, the peaceful final resting place of 25 of the child victims of the OLA fire. (Photo courtesy of Renee Jackson)
#267   		On either side of a statue of The Virgin Mary stand two granite monuments, overlooking the grave markers of 25 of the children who perished in the Our Lady of the Angels fire. (Photo courtesy of Renee Jackson)
#268  
The left hand monument engraved with the names of victims of the Our Lady of the Angels fire, beginning with the three BVM nuns, Sr. Mary Clare Therese Champagne, Sr. Mary Seraphica Kelley and Sr. Mary St. Canice Lyng. The names of all the victims, not just those buried at Queen of Heaven, are engraved on the two monuments. (Photo courtesy of Renee Jackson)
#271   		The memorial at Queen of Heaven cemetery, erected in 1960 by Monsignor Joseph Cussen. On either side of the statue of the Virgin Mary stand granite monuments engraved with the names of the three nuns and 92 children who died as a result of the Our Lady of the Angels fire. (Photo courtesy of Renee Jackson)
#269   		Our Lady of the Angels, the Virgin Mary, watches over the simple, flat grave markers of 25 of the students who died as a result of the school fire. The inscription at the base of the statue reads, “In devout memory of the victims of the fire, December 1, 1958, at Our Lady of the Angels school. Erected by the Parishioners, the Priests, the Sisters and their Pastor, the Rt. Rev. Msgr. Joseph E. Cussen.” (Photo courtesy of Renee Jackson)
#266   		The right hand monument engraved with the names of victims of the Our Lady of the Angels fire. The burial location of all 95 victims is shown on these markers -- 25 are buried at this location in Queen of Heaven cemetery. (Photo courtesy of Renee Jackson)
#270  
This is the Bishops/Cardinals resting place at the Mt. Carmel Cemetery, which is where the three nuns who perished in the OLA fire are buried. (Photo courtesy of Renee Jackson)
#292   		After the fire, OLA students were transferred to nearby “replacement” schools to finish the school year. This replacement school is Rezin Orr, a public school at 1040 N. Keeler Avenue. In 1973, the high school students at Orr were transferred to a new building at Chicago and Pulaski Avenues, which took the name of Rezin Orr with it to become Orr High School. The old Orr elementary school was renamed “Brian Piccolo”, after the Chicago Bears football player whose life was memorialized by the motion picture, “Brian's Song.” (Photo courtesy Archdiocese of Chicago’s Joseph Cardinal Bernardin Archives and Records Center, copyright Archdiocese of Chicago.)
#348   		After the fire, OLA students were transferred to nearby “replacement” schools to finish the school year. This replacement school is Daniel R. Cameron Elementary, a public school at 1234 N. Monticello Avenue. Originally constructed in 1897 and modified in 1905 and 1924, it was of similar construction to Our Lady of the Angels. (Photo courtesy Archdiocese of Chicago’s Joseph Cardinal Bernardin Archives and Records Center, copyright Archdiocese of Chicago.)
#349   		After the fire, OLA students were transferred to nearby “replacement” schools to finish the school year. This replacement school, built in 1921, is John Hay, a public school at 1018 N. Laramie Avenue. (Photo courtesy Archdiocese of Chicago’s Joseph Cardinal Bernardin Archives and Records Center, copyright Archdiocese of Chicago.)
#350  
After the fire, OLA students were transferred to nearby “replacement” schools to finish the school year. This replacement school is Our Lady of Grace, a Catholic school at 2446 N. Ridgeway Avenue. The school was constructed in the early 1900s and is still in operation today. (Photo courtesy Archdiocese of Chicago’s Joseph Cardinal Bernardin Archives and Records Center, copyright Archdiocese of Chicago.)
#351   		After the fire, OLA students were transferred to nearby “replacement” schools to finish the school year. This replacement school is Our Lady Help of Christians, a Catholic school at 847 N. Leamington. The school was originally built in 1906 and was staffed by the same order of nuns that taught at Our Lady of the Angels, namely the Sisters of Charity of the Blessed Virgin Mary (BVM). (Photo courtesy Archdiocese of Chicago’s Joseph Cardinal Bernardin Archives and Records Center, copyright Archdiocese of Chicago.)
#352   		This appears to be an OLA class in one of the substitute schools (perhaps Cameron) to which OLA students were sent after the fire and before the new OLA school was completed.
#299   		After the fire, OLA students were transferred to nearby “replacement” schools to finish the school year. This replacement school is St. Peter Canisius, a Catholic school at 5057 W. North Ave. The school was staffed by nuns of the order Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur. (Photo courtesy Archdiocese of Chicago’s Joseph Cardinal Bernardin Archives and Records Center, copyright Archdiocese of Chicago.)
#353  
The old school was torn down early in 1959 and construction was begun on a brand new school on the same location. This is a view of the new school under construction. It was completed in 1960 in time for fall classes. (Photo courtesy Archdiocese of Chicago’s Joseph Cardinal Bernardin Archives and Records Center, copyright Archdiocese of Chicago.)
#347   		The new school was completed in time for opening day of the 1960-61 school year. After the horrible tragedy made possible by the unsafe fire conditions in the old school, this new school was the very model of fire safety. Built almost entirely of concrete, steel and glass, it had virtually every fire safety device available: sprinklers, enclosed stairwells, fire safe doors on each stairwell, multiple alarm switches throughout that both rang a local alarm and signaled the fire department, fire detection devices, and more.
#494   		The new Our Lady of the Angels was completed in time for the 1960-61 school year. It featured just about every possible fire safety feature available - concrete, steel and glass construction, fireproof stairways, fire doors, sprinklers, heat and smoke detection with alarms ringing locally and linked to the fire department. This view of the front of the school is from September or October of 1960. (Photo courtesy of Johnnie Ann Fuller)
#208   		The fire at Our Lady of the Angels in 1958 and another blaze which hit a Baptist church just across the street in 1977 are remembered in a mural 28 feet high and 60 feet wide on the north side of Our Lady of the Angels gym. The Catholic parish let the Baptist congregation use its facilities after 1977 fire, and the togetherness which the two tragedies has brought to the community is portrayed in the painting. Approximately 17 teens, some employed through the summer jobs program of the Archdiocese of Chicago's CETA (Comprehensive Employment Training Act) project, labored to complete the mural before its dedication on September 11, 1977. Parishioners of both churches suggested items which the mural contains, and they reflect the multi-cultural nature of the community and both religious and secular activities. All are combined under a combination dove-phoenix which is rising out of flames, symbolic of both fires. (Photo courtesy of The Catholic New World with photo research by Renee Jackson)
#314  
Within days of the fire, Cook County Coroner Walter McCarron (far left) empanelled a blue ribbon jury to investigate the OLA fire. Here, the 14 jurors, respected authorities from insurance, architecture, construction, safety and other fields, are sworn by McCarron. Jurors are (front row from left): Roy Tuchbreiter (jury foreman), John Ainlay, Walter Ericksson, Edward Fenner, John McDonough, David Klafter, Lawrence Perkins and John Dolio. (Back row from left): L.S. Lowenberg, Dr. Richard Steinmetz, C.M Varde, Willard Bloch, Dale Auck and Edward Wolff.
#495  

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