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Our Lady of the Angels (OLA) School Fire, December 1, 1958
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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.
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Posted by: Ivanna On: 3/14/2006 ID: 259
At OLA on 12/1/58? Born before or after 12/1/58? Where Lived on 12/1/58?
No After n/a
hi! i am working on a history fair project and need help if you have any info please e-mail me at puppflow1_sue@yahoo.com


Posted by: juanita On: 3/7/2006 ID: 258
At OLA on 12/1/58? Born before or after 12/1/58? Where Lived on 12/1/58?
No After n/a
this year is my first time doing the history fair project and the subject i pick was Our Lady of Angels Fire i have learn may things while doing my project now i know how important it is to have fire drills in school because it is for our own safety i wish if there is any people that are still alive and can help me with my project because i won the project in my school now i have to go against people in the city on March 11 2006 from 2-6 pm if you can contact me before friday that will be nice thank you can email me @ mex_nina@yahoo.com


Posted by: Linda On: 3/3/2006 ID: 257
At OLA on 12/1/58? Born before or after 12/1/58? Where Lived on 12/1/58?
No Before Austin neighborhood of Chicago, Il
Today I received a book that I had ordered online. It is called Neighborhoods within Neighborhoods, and tells the story of Rogers Park and it's history. When I saw pictures of Guardian Angel Orphanage, it brought back memories of that awful fire at Our Lady of Angels. At first I couldn't remember the name of the school, so headed over my computer to look it up. I found this website and have been riveted to it for hours.

I will never forget that day. Word traveled fast and I remember that night how very scared I was and how horrible the fire must have been. All those children who perished...it was like a nightmare.

I remember going to bed that night and many nights afterwards and praying that my family and friends would not be hurt in a fire. I am now 56 and can remember those prayers like it was yesterday.

Thanks for letting me share my story.

Linda (Bernstein) Sienkiewicz


Posted by: Patti C On: 2/22/2006 ID: 256
At OLA on 12/1/58? Born before or after 12/1/58? Where Lived on 12/1/58?
No Before Chicago
I was ten years old and in the 5th grade at Our Lady of Mt. Carmel on Belmont between Broadway and Halsted. My parents were divorced and mom worked. She had arranged for me to wait at the corner dry cleaners till she picked me up. I had a nasty habit of biting my nails and that day I went a little too far and got a terrible infection. That night (between my mom fending calls inquiring if it was my school), she had me soak my finger in some salts and very hot water. I was crying because it was so hot. All my mother said was "if you think you're hot, just think of those poor children that burned to death today". I never cried again when I got an infection nor will I ever forget that horrible day for those children. For years I prayed for them and now that I've found this site, I'm praying for their souls and the families left behind to suffer.


Posted by: Rigoberto Corcoles On: 2/15/2006 ID: 255
At OLA on 12/1/58? Born before or after 12/1/58? Where Lived on 12/1/58?
No After n/a
Well when i found out of this I was about 11 years old. At the time i was still young but once i read this story it really touched me. It was really sad to hear that many kids in acts of desperateness would jump out of windows. I am very sorry to hear that. Even though i was not born or around in the year of 1958 the story still got to me as if it was just yesterday. I got to know about this story when my cousin, Jose, sent me the story through email and at first i was like aww screw this but then i started reading and i just couldnt stop, the thoughts of these kids just running and screaming for help is unbelieveable. This story will never ever be forgotten may the ones that ceased in that fire rest in peace. This story will live on for generations to come and lets all hope that nothing like this ever happens again. Peace in Da Middle East Yo!!!


Posted by: Deborah On: 2/12/2006 ID: 254
At OLA on 12/1/58? Born before or after 12/1/58? Where Lived on 12/1/58?
No After n/a
To: Irene Modarski Andreoli

My middle child, (a 23 yr.old named Rosemarie)called me excitedly to tell me to hurry and turn on the television.

When I asked whether or not she was on television she replied,
"No mom, but if you don't hurry, you're going to miss Irene".

"Irene?", I said.
"Mom, she replied, stop talking and turn on the T.V".

I did turn on the television, to see Irene Modarski talking about the OLA school fire. I had never before seen this woman, or Charlene who also played quite a significant role in my own childhood and adolescence.

I was not yet even born on December 1, 1958.
As I sat watching the documentary. I wondered if and how I would have the chance to tell anyone that the angels are all of you, not just those who perished. Charlene and Irene have been mine.
God uses everything as a blessing.

While looking on the internet to find the book that was mentioned in the documentary, I found this site.

I have a very mild cerebral palsy which is, as far we know, a post birth trauma due to the fact that I was born prematurely and had a twin whose lungs collapsed. He died, and I was apparently given too much oxygen, causing this form of mild paralysis. I believe that there were problems during the birth and delivery. I can't say for sure, because I am blessed twice, once with biological parents and second with those loving parents who adopted me at only 5 months old and raised me as their own.

I wore braces on both legs as a child. During the summer between fourth and fifth grade, I had extensive orthopedic surgery for "cosmetic purposes" which greatly improved my posture and gait.

I spent the entire summer wearing plaster casts, sitting a wheel chair with both legs sticking straight out. Bathing was a series of sponge baths, washing hair was a nightmare. The surgery was painful.
Bones were fused, and my hamstrings were lengthened.

Before I went into the hospital, my great Aunt Ang sent my mother an article with a picture of Charlene in her hospital bed. She noted that Charlene at that time was exactly my school grade. She also sent another article of with a photo of "healed Charlene". To me, the fact that she was a burn victim wasn't what stuck in my mind. To me, Charlene was another 4th grade girl who obeyed the doctor, and as my mother explained, was a teenager out having fun, as I one day would be.

My Aunt Ang and Uncle Fred lived on Avers Avenue for many years.
Uncle Freddie had a twin brother. He and his twin owned a tavern. He later drove a taxi. They belonged to OLA. They were very kind to me.

My aunt had saved many of the articles because OLA her own parish family. She took the time to look through them years later for the sake of giving several of them to me.

I went into the hospital believing that I was going to feel "some pain", but that all of this would leave me walking just like rest of the girls in my grammar school class by the time the cast would be removed. WRONG! The summer of 1969 was a long one! I spent about one month at
Michael Reese Hospital in the children's ward, while my little sister spent every day at my grandma's house. My mother slept in a chair at my bedside every night for 2 weeks, leaving only to change clothes. My dad went from our house,to work to the hospital,and back again.

Of course I presumed that since Charlene got cards, I would too.
The neighbors and my relatives, our friends and my father's co-workers sent sent tons of mail.

During the latter part of July 1969, I was released and went home.
The days passed. I knit,and needlepointed while I waited for the big day when one cast would be removed and the other replaced by a half cast. When finally that day did arrive, every person in the cast room heard me scream in terror. I couldn't bend my knees. My muscles were stiff. When I finally I did, I couldn't straighten them. It was agony.

We went home. I was supposed to try to walk. It was a nightmare. Every one of our neighbors could hear me cry. It was summer, the doors and windows were opened. Central Air conditioning? We were happy to have a fan!

I never thought I would walk again. We knew that one foot would now be shorter than the other--that was part of the drawbacks. Buying shoes would be a nightmare, but the way things were going, I didn't think I would walk. I was both terrified and heartbroken. I had told my classmates that I was having these legs of mine fixed, and that I was going to be standing and walking straight. I envisioned myself returning to school that fall ready to show both classes of 5th graders that I was a new and improved Deborah. I couldn't even bend and straighten my knees, much less stand and try to walk!

Aunt Ang and Uncle Freddie drove out to the suburbs to see me.
They'd spoken to my mother on the phone and knew that I didn't think I would ever be able to bend my knees or stand up. My poor parents were worried. I had always been a very brave girl. This was not like me. They wondered if perhaps there was another problem.

My dear soft-spoken Aunt Ang sat in our family room and visited with me. She'd brought a gift, but she had something else with her. She showed me an article and a photograph of Irene. This was not a fourth grader like me. God apparently put the notion into my aunts head to bring me both of these girls as an example because I used to cry and worry even before the surgery.

I knew that I was one of the smartest girls in school, and that sitting down, I could be pretty enough, but I was really very self conscious. After all, prior to the surgery, I walked like a horse and had the posture of the number "7" if you looked at me standing sideways.

In my heart of hearts my special intention and prayer was to grow up and go out on dates, meet someone nice, go to college, get married and have children. Not need braces. Not walk like a clydesdale horse dragging along my leg as I walked.

My Aunt Ang talked to me about courage. She left me the article about Irene. I looked at that picture. Here was a girl, a role model for me who had to learn to walk again. A "big girl" who looked like a Barbie Doll, someone who obviously knew what it meant to actually babysit, probably a patrol girl, I thought. Somehow the word "bride" came into the discussion. No bride's picture, but my Auntie Ang and Uncle Fred said, so there was no doubt in my mind.

Irene was brave. She learned to walk. My parents used to promise that I would make grandparents of them, because the neurologist had said so! This was proof that someone did--a real person.

Space would not permit me to tell you the nonsensical questions that I asked my great-aunt, or those that I asked my parents, who explained the fire. They were driving home from work, not yet parents themselves, when they saw smoke. We talked about the brave children, like Charlene, who obeyed the doctor's orders and did her therapy. My braces had been on my legs--Charlene's on her back. This to me was more of an example and left more of an impression than I can ever express.

I found the courage within myself to succeed through their examples,and with the love of others. Always with prayers.

My words are so inadequate. I apologize. Your challenges were part of my blessings. God does use all things for good. I did walk before the end of the summer.

As a public elementary school student in the 1960's I was often teased. My "challenge" didn't require a special school or classes with handicapped children. We didn't have logos and ramps and legislature like The Americans With Disabilities Act.

I went on to become class president of my freshman class at
Trinity High School. I held class office or student council office three out of four years. I went to proms and dances. My classmates were like my sisters.

Those public school children who used to tease me have since grown up to be wonderful people who are so kind and of whom I am so proud.

I found the beauty within myself to pursue a social life.
I was blessed with the chance to be married for 12 years. I have three beautiful children. Two daughters ages 24 and 23 and a son who just turned 20. I am also a grandparent. Though my marriage ended in divorce, I have many happy memories, and am now studying at Harvard.The daughter who called to advise me of the documentary is named for my late mother, Rosemarie.

God did not call his young cherubs on December 1, 1958. He accepted them into his kingdom to have charge over you, and your families after having fulfilled their purpose on this imperfect earth.

Many people have stories of angels who appear at times of crisis never to be found again. Mine are your classmates. Irene and Charlene.

I am sure that my mother was among the first to welcome Charlene into heaven, telling her that she has bene a mythological hero on earth, along with Irene, without ever knowing.

You are all in my prayers.Thank you for being my example Irene. You are an angel on this earth.
I will always pray for you. I have to find that article!

Lovingly,
Debi


Posted by: real On: 2/8/2006 ID: 253
At OLA on 12/1/58? Born before or after 12/1/58? Where Lived on 12/1/58?
No After n/a
When I was in 7th grade in 1982 one of the nun's at our school told us about a fire at a Catholic school in Chicago and how a number of students and teachers died in that fire. She noted it was at the end of the school day and not everyone took it seriously.

We had just came in from our own fire drill and as usual, not everyone took the drill seriously. Sister laced into us with the story. We figured she made it up trying to scare us.

When I went to college I was doing research on fires at my own college. In an article there was a mention of the OLA fire. It was real.

Being pre-internet, I wasn't able to come up with much, but it always stuck in my mind. Learned more about it years later.

I was doing some research today for work on another subject and in "googling" my topic I stumbled upon this site. I spent most of the morning just reading about the survivors and not doing my paid work and cried.

This is something I will bookmark and when my daughter gets into school she will certaily see this site and learn to take fire drills seriously.


Posted by: Jane On: 1/31/2006 ID: 252
At OLA on 12/1/58? Born before or after 12/1/58? Where Lived on 12/1/58?
No Before New Orleans, LA
I can't tell you how moved I am to find this site and discover that there are so many others, like me, for whom the OLA fire was an indelible milestone in growing up. It doesn't seem to matter how many miles separated us from the events. If you were a kid, and especially a kid in Catholic school, the OLA fire was your experience, your most unspoken nightmare. I don't think there was a Catholic student in the country whose faith in the adults in their lives and the mysteries of the church went unscathed.

I will be 60 years old this year, and the horror remains as fresh as yesterday. At the time, I was 12 years old, and so riveted by the story and its relationship to my personal and spiritual safety that I did not think about its relationship to physical events in my own life. That has come forward over the years, as I think about my parents and the lives they lived. My mother was an unquestioning follower of the Faith but very much a human being and one with many sad moments and horrors in her own life. In my early years she was stretched beyond her capabilities, trying to manage two kids while my father was away. One day she was interrupted at the endless task of ironing a stack of washed, starched, and dampened clothes, by a knock on the door. She went to the front of the house,leaving me, at age 4, playing in the kitchen. I decided to go after one of my dolls, which was beyond the ironing board. I retrieved it carefully, but on the way back, I raised my head a moment too soon and knocked the iron over and off the board. Irons today, which are used primarily on permanent press fabrics, are nothing like the heavy, red-hot irons of the 40s and 50s, which had to flatten the creases in heavy cotton fabrics. The iron paused on my shoulder and slid all the way down my arm, stopping at the elbow to cause a 3rd degree burn and then continued down the forearm.

I can remember my screams, I can remember the awful jolt of adrenaline, shock, and fear that preceded the screams, but my mind recoils at what it felt like to have that hot iron gliding down my arm. I had second and third degree burns that were treated and put in a cast for weeks. As the skin began to heal, the burning returned, with itching that was maddening. I remember jumping and jumping on my mother's bed, hoping that I could get high enough to escape that itching and pain. I cried for hours, begging her to scratch the cast, which she did with a distant look on her face--retreating, I'm sure, from the guilt she must have felt.

Knowing this, I can't think about those children at OLA without outrage at the pain so many went through. I am sickened by the silence and lack of unaccountability in the Clergy's corner, all these years.

Incredibly, just 10 years ago, believing I was the only one who felt these things, I attended a poetry reading by a colleague and was stunned to hear a searing poem about a little girl in a school fire who walked out, saving herself, and how she felt about it. Since this colleague is my age, I know in my heart where she drew that painful image.

I hope what all this means,in the end, is that the children who died have been kept alive in the minds of so many. I hope that it brings some comfort to their parents and families, and to the people who tried to save them. I am so grateful for the book that retold the story and for this site.


Posted by: Shane Flynn On: 1/25/2006 ID: 251
At OLA on 12/1/58? Born before or after 12/1/58? Where Lived on 12/1/58?
No After n/a
I am doing a History Fair project on the Our Lady of The Angels School Fire. I would love to hear from some of the students who were lucky enough to survive that day. Any remembrances, feelings, etc... that you would care to share would be greatly appreciated! I need information/feedback by 1/29/06. Thank You!

Shane Flynn
Chicago, IL


Posted by: BarbaraElizabeth On: 1/16/2006 ID: 250
At OLA on 12/1/58? Born before or after 12/1/58? Where Lived on 12/1/58?
No Before Park Ridge, Illinois

I was a third-grader at Mary, Seat of Wisdom in Park Ridge. In those days -- at least for an 8-year-old -- it felt like the Catholic church was a huge, strict, enfolding home, a place where life was structured, clear and very safe. I could picture my future: from Mary, Seat of Wisdom, on to Marywood high school, to Loyola or some other Catholic college and so to Catholic marriage and the raising of my own Catholic family: secure, decent, surrounded by the church hierarchy.
But the fire at Our Lady of Angels was one of the first events to shake my tidy view of the good Catholic life. My teacher, her voice raised, told us story after story from the fire. The children who tumbled, flaming, to the ground. The ones suffocated at their desks. The nuns who futilely tried to shield them and who perished with their charges. I can still see, in my mind's eye, the pictures I formed: of burnt children my age, of children falling, hair on fire.
We prayed for weeks, into spring, and heard stories and stories.
It's so typical of the times, of the 50's and early 60's, that the bereaved families didn't sue, didn't organize to pressure the city to uncover the cause or arrest the arsonist. Instead, they fell apart, for a time or for the rest of their lives, perhaps after being told by priestly counselors to accept God's will.
I'm glad that, after all these decades, there is a book and a documentary and this website. That fire and the subsequent shushing up have left many of us, even far on the periphery, haunted.