OLAFire Logo
Our Lady of the Angels (OLA) School Fire, December 1, 1958
nUserID=0

Personal Experiences with Our Lady of the Angels School Fire

If you have a personal experience, recollection or opinion about the December 1, 1958 Our Lady of the Angels school fire, whether you were present at the fire or not, you can relate it here. Any story or information is welcome as long as it relates to Our Lady of the Angels school fire.
Click here to add your OLA fire experience.        

Posted by: Darlene On: 12/11/2003 ID: 135
At OLA on 12/1/58? Born before or after 12/1/58? Where Lived on 12/1/58?
No After n/a
(Entry removed - please confine messages and discussions to the Message Board)


Posted by: Vanguard friend On: 12/1/2003 ID: 134
At OLA on 12/1/58? Born before or after 12/1/58? Where Lived on 12/1/58?
No Before Lakeview neighborhood (near Belmont/Damen)
I was only four years old when the fire struck and have no personal recollection of the tragic event. However, both of my parents know exactly what they were doing when the story of the fire broke. Within a year of the fire, my family moved to Des Plaines. About eight years later, my brother and I joined the Des Plaines Vanguard Drum and Bugle Corps. It was there that we became acquainted with a beautiful young lady in the corps who my mom told me was a survivor of the fire. I think I remember that she had a scar on one of her arms. I still didn't know the depth of the tragedy until a couple of months ago when I came home from a night class I am taking and found the program about the fire on Channel 11. I was stunned by the depth of the tragedy and have kept you all in my prayers since then. I have been visiting this website frequently. Yesterday in my church bulletin, (St. Matthew in Glendale Heights) was an invitation to your mass tonight. So the word is getting out about the tragedy. As you reflect on the events of 45 years ago, I pray that you find peace. God bless you all.


Posted by: Nancy H. On: 11/29/2003 ID: 133
Enrolled on 12/1/58? Present on 12/1/58? Injured? Age Grade Classroom Teacher
Yes Yes No 6 1 hamlin ave Sr. Serena
Our first grade classroom was housed in the annex on Hamlin. Although not directly in the fire, it still affected me. My family were Italian immigrants and my mother spoke barely any English. That cold wintery day, she was coming to school to pick me up and do some grocery shopping on Chicago Ave. But as she approached the school, she noticed the black smoke and the fire equipment that was beginning to arrive at the main school. She ran up the stairs to my second floor classroom screaming "Sister, Sister, the school is on fire". The nun tried to convince my mother that all was well, not knowing what was happening outside. She let my mother take me and I remember the sky covered with black smoke. We ran home to Avers only to find out what was happening. My heart will always go out to those fellow students who were killed, hurt and emotionally scarred.
I remember not talking about it and being out of school for a while...No counseling or acknowledgment of what we little survivors were going through...going to Help of Christians and having a half day of school with a free lunch...then going to John Hay Public School until we moved to the new school in third grade.


Posted by: Mary On: 11/24/2003 ID: 132
At OLA on 12/1/58? Born before or after 12/1/58? Where Lived on 12/1/58?
No Before Chicago (Roseland neighborhood)
I was just a preschooler when tragedy struck OLA, so I don't have personal memories of the day.

When I grew up, I became a teacher, and one of my fellow teachers was an OLA survivor. We would use his experience as a reason why our kids had to be quiet, pay attention, and know how to escape in case of fire in their school.

Like the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory, it took a horrible event to tighten up safety standards. We can never fully eliminate the possibility of fire in homes, schools, stores, or workplaces, but perhaps now we collectively have a better chance of escaping death than the poor OLA kids did.

My prayers are with the survivors and anyone who lost a loved one.


Posted by: Rick DiPompeo On: 11/14/2003 ID: 131
Enrolled on 12/1/58? Present on 12/1/58? Injured? Age Grade Classroom Teacher
Yes Yes No 5 K Mary Hall Sister Mary St. Denise(?)
I was in kindergarten in Mary Hall down the block on Hamlin Ave. I was also in the morning class, so I was home for awhile when the fire broke out. My sister, Lois, was in 3rd grade and was in the fire. She survived. The 8th grader that used to walk her to school, didn't make it out, though. We lived on Christiana just south of Chicago Ave. I remember hearing and seeing the fire trucks, with their sirens whaling, going west on Chicago Ave. I thought I had seen alot of fire equipment at my young age but I remember seeing fire trucks that I never, ever saw before. I thought, "There must be a big fire somewhere!" It wasn't until my sister came home, without her coat on, that I learned that "The big fire" was at OLA. I don't remeber much after that. What I do remember is that my mom & dad had saved all of the newspaper articles and pictures about it. It seemed that about once a year, for a awhile, we would pull them out and look at them.My dad has since passed away and every time I go to the cemetery, I am reminded of the fire because he is buried at Queen of Heaven and they have a special section for kids who died in the fire there, right across from where he is buried. I truely do believe that God got 98 angels that sorrowful day, 01 December 1958.

Currently, I am a police officer with the Oakbrook Terrace Police Dept. I hold the rank of Det. Sergeant. Since I became a police officer in November of 1974, I always responded at a quicker pace to fire alarms at schools.


Posted by: JG On: 11/14/2003 ID: 130
At OLA on 12/1/58? Born before or after 12/1/58? Where Lived on 12/1/58?
No After n/a
About six months ago, I was taking an Elem. Edu class and we had to do a teach a 30 minute lesson. This class is for beginning students whom are going to be our future teachers. Now with a clasroom of future teachers I thought this would be a great time to teach some history and point out some of these safety features that all their classrooms should have in place. I started the lesson out with everyone getting up out of their chair,pushing it under their desk, and quickly getting into line adn had them follow me a few steps to safety. I immediatley got them seated and started the lesson with the tragic fire and alot of students stated to get teary eyed. I then went on by explaining all these nifty safety precuations we have in place and how they were not around back then. I finished up by answering questions and explained to them to teach their students about these fire drills. Teach the students about history, safety and how they all relate to each other. I asked when the get out in the world to teach, that they take the time to know the FIRE EXITS and how they were going to respond in an emergency.
I know I gave them alot of information that was whizzing by them, but in my mind I know I passed on some knowledge to at least 25+ future teachers of our children. Let's keep our children safe.


Posted by: Rose L. On: 11/6/2003 ID: 129
At OLA on 12/1/58? Born before or after 12/1/58? Where Lived on 12/1/58?
No Before Chicago Ridge, IL
My father was an officer on the Chicago Fire Dept. and one of the first to respond to the fire alarm. I remember his anger and grief about how hard it was to rescue the children. His company could only raise ladders on the alley side of the school because there was no access to the side where the children were. On the side where his company was located there wasn't much they could do. Many of the children were already dead or the rooms were so completely involved in flame rescue was impossible. He would rant about how unprepared the nuns were in dealing with a fire. He raved that they, the nuns, didn't do enough to save themselves and the children. He was haunted for many years with what he saw that day. His wife said that he had nightmares for a long time. This was a man that had been on the fire department for almost 20 years and had also been in battle in Europe during WW2. He had a lot of experience but this fire was the worst of all his years on the fire department.
At the time I was a young mother and I just sat and cried while watching the TV. My husband who was with the Fire Insurance Patrol at the time but not working that day, sat there and just kept saying "Oh no, oh no".
For many years you could not talk to my father about this fire without him getting angry all over again at the Catholic school system, the church and the nuns who decided to pray rather than get their children out of danger.
In our house we always had an emergency system worked out in case our house caught on fire. When I had children we also talked to them about what to do if there is a fire. All parents need to teach their children how to save their own lives when they are in danger. We can't always assume that there will be a responsible adult in charge of their safety.
My opinion of the nuns lack of taking charge was because of their religious training that teaches them strict disipline and not to act on their own without instructions from a leader, such as the mother superior. I hope that nuns, and all teachers in every school are better trained these days and nothing like that will ever happen again.


Posted by: Linda On: 11/6/2003 ID: 128
At OLA on 12/1/58? Born before or after 12/1/58? Where Lived on 12/1/58?
No Before Chicago
My father was a Chicago Policeman at the time of this horrible incident. He was the first Policeman on the scene prior to even the Fire Department arriving. We have photographs of him at the fire with the Cardinal, who I believe was Cardinal Stritch.

At that time, I remember the TV reporting this on the news and my father should have been home from work, but of course was not. He was a 3-wheel motorcycle traffic policeman in that area and had a very good friend who was a policeman that lived on the block of the school that had children in that school. The stories he told us were devastating about that day and night. I remember him telling us how he was catching children jumping out of windows.

He arrived home very late that night and his clothes and boots were still actually frozen. It was such a cold night and with the water being used to control the fire everything was frozen.

On Anniversaries of this tragic event, when the TV channels show old films, my Dad is shown in uniform with his white hat very briefly. It was the most devastating experience he had in the 25 years he served on the Chicago Police Department.

My heart goes out to all the families that lost their loved ones. I will never forget that night.


Posted by: Johnna Uting Mass Bovenzo On: 11/6/2003 ID: 127
Enrolled on 12/1/58? Present on 12/1/58? Injured? Age Grade Classroom Teacher
Yes Yes Yes 10 5 212 Sister Mary Clare Therese Champagne
I was a surivior of OLA school, in room 212 at the time of the fire. With the rest of my classmates, I also jumped out of the window, I don't remember how exactly I got to the window as I was in the second row, third to the last seat. I only remember almost getting ready to close our books, and we started to smell the smoke and I saw some smoke coming from the front transome glass above the door in front of the classroom. I thought the firemen were trying to get us nervous and see what we would do. Right after that I wished it were only a test!

I do remember getting more nervous and everyone starting for the windows, as I saw sister in front of the classroom she was at the front door, I think I called to her and I remember her telling me to get to the window and get out, but I don't remember how I did get towards the window only that by that time black smoke (very hot) was floating just above our heads. It was hard trying to breathe, I was having a hard time as there were alot of the kids there already. I unfortunately remember having pulled a boy's head back and I put my head out just to get a breathe of some air and it was so hot, the next thing I remember as I was trying to get out and some of us were so tight it was difficult to do anything.

The next thing I remember is that I was hanging on the outside of the window sill with my hands barely hanging on. My hands hurt and it was hard to hang on. The smoke and flames then started to come from the first floor below me, and I could feel the brick being so warm, I thought I was going to start on fire or the whole side of the building was going to collaspe with me holding on, I could see the firemen coming but they could not reach us and so I just let go, the next thing was I looked up and down fast and then I was laying on the ground. A girl Rosemary I suppose had just fallen next to me and her face was all red, with blood. I tried to get up but my leg was hurting, when I took off my shoe I tried to get up again, I couldn't. Then I looked back at the building and saw Charlene up at the window standing there, all of a sudden her grandma was there and she was calling to her. Then she came falling down. As Charlene said her grandma went quickly and picked her up. I called to her and she said that she'd come back for me. Someone then carried me off into the candy store, and set me up in a chair.

I saw all of us kids crying and calling out to each other. Someone put a blanket around me, and then they packed us in a paddy wagon (black) then they took us to Franklin Blvd. Hospital. I was put on a chair and I kept on seeing kids being brought in with broken limbs and it looked to me like skin flaking off them, as with most of our bodies all blacken by the smoke. At that time, I realized later that it was burned flesh hanging from them. We spent a lot of time there then we were taken to rooms if available. Later we were all put on one floor.

I was released just a few days before Christmas, and I had to go back now and then for checkups, as I had broken my right ankle they said with five broken bones. I had to have other cast put on later as the setting was not working, being that the first one had been done when my leg was so swollen, the bones were not being kept in place. I would like to keep in touch with all of you, sorry to say I do get a little emotional at times, mainly when I get close to my birthday Dec 14. I do not look forward to them as it reminds me too much of the sad time in 1958. I had my 11th birthday in the hosiptal. We have a memory during the time of our lives when all of that time should have been only good memories. But who said life is always good.

I call myself a survivor victim, as I'm sure alot of you agree. I would love to hear from my former classmates or who is interested and please keep my informed on upcoming get togethers. I now live in Woodridge IL, and I have a loving husband (Domenico)of 35 years together and counting, I'm blessed with two wonderful sons Dominic and John and one married with a great daughter-in-law. The best thing is we have a beautiful granddaughter names Marissa Rose Bovenzo. 5 1/2 years old, and we charish every moment with her and our family. God did bless me with a great family to care for, and that is what my life is, in doing what I can for them. I also work for a Senior Center in Downers Grove, IL and I am the manager of the office. I help those who are in need, and being there for going on eight years now, my life is full of helping those for whatever I can help with. Maybe that is why God choose not to take me that cold day in December, to be here to help others, this is my life and I'm glad to be alive.


Posted by: Rose Williams On: 11/5/2003 ID: 126
At OLA on 12/1/58? Born before or after 12/1/58? Where Lived on 12/1/58?
No After n/a
WELL TO BEGAN WITH I WAS BORN ON JULY 13TH 1959 EXACTLY 7 MONTHS AFTER THE FIRE, I GREW UP ON CLYBOURN STREET AT 1756, 1769,1758 RIGHT ACROSS THE STREET FROM THE CLYBOURN PLAYLOT, I ATTENDED MULLIGAN SCHOOL FROM 1964 UPUNTIL 1972, I MOVED OFF OF CLYBOURN STREET TO THE WESTSIDE OF CHICAGO, I ATTENDED NASH SCHOOL FOR EIGHT GRADE ONLY, I THEN ATTENDED AUSTIN HIGH SCHOOL LOCATED AT 231 N. PINE ON THE WESTSIDE, I COULD NOT BELEIVE THAT OUT OF ALL THOSE YEARS OF SCHOOL I NEVER EVEN HEARD ABOUT OUR LADY OF THE ANGELS UNTIL 1986 WHEN I STARTED WORKING FOR STATEFARM INSURANCE A YOUNG LADY BY THE NAME OF GERI SMITTY ASKED BE ONE DAY IF I WAS FAMILUR WITH IOWA AND AVERS AND I TOLD HER YES SHE SAID THERE WAS A FIRE THERE 12/1/58 WHERE A BUNCH OF CHILDREN AND NUNS WERE KILLED AND I COULDN'T BELEIVE IT, THIS WEB SITE HAS REALLY BEEN A BLESSING TO ME I AM ON IT ALL THE TIME, I WAS REALLY SADDEN TO HEAR SUCH A THING HAPPENED AT A SCHOOL, MY GRAMMER SCHOOL AT 1855 N. SHEFFIELD WAS DESIGNED THE SAME WAY WE HAD WOODEN FLOORS, DESK THAT WERE WOODEN AND WERE MOUNTED TO THE FLOOR, THE COAT ROOM WHERE YOU HUNG YOUR COATS AND HATS. THE ROOM NUMBER WERE THE SAME 1 2 3 FLOORS, I WAS SO AFFECTED BY THIS WEB SITE THAT I GOT IN MY CAR AND DROVE OVER TO IOWA AND AVERS JUST TO SEE WHERE THE SITE WAS, I EVEN WENT OVER TO MY OLD SCHOOL AND GOT OUT AND PEEKED INTHE BASEMENT WINDOW THE LUNCHROOM WAS STILL THE SAME HAS NOT CHANGED AT ALL, IT IS AMAZEING HOW GOOD GOD IS HE IS GOOD ALL THE TIME, THAT COULD HAVE HAPPEND ANYWHERE, I CAN REMEMBER MULLIGAN HAVING FIRE ESCAPES BUT AS A KID WHO WOULD THINK OF A FIRE BREAKING OUT AT A SCHOOL AND WOULD HAVE KNOW WHAT TO DO, WE USE TO HAVE FIRE DRILLS QUITE A BIT AND THE KIDS WOULD PULL THE ALARM ONLY TO GET OUT OF CLASS, ESPECIALLY IN HIGH SCHOOL, GOD BLESS AND KEEP YOU ALL, I WATCHED CHANNEL 11 ON TUESDAY NIGHT AT 9:00 P.M. FROM NOW UNTIL I LEAVE THIS WORLD I WILL KEEP UP WITH OLA. THANKS FOR LISTENING TO ME RAT ON.