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: Linda B On: 2/5/2008 ID: 362
At OLA on 12/1/58? Born before or after 12/1/58? Where Lived on 12/1/58?
No Before Cleveland, Ohio
I went to St. Stanislaus School, our school was 3 stories and was built in the early 1900's, since my grandmother went to the school. I remember hearing about the fire and was upset, knowing about those poor children dying. Things were not discussed as they are now, I remember the nuns touching on the subject and we prayed, I was only 8yrs old.
When I reached the 5th grade, we had kind of an excentric little nun, the thing I rememberd most about her, is that she told us how she had the janitor come in and install a chain ladder, anchored in the floor. so that we could escape incase of fire and not end up like the children from OLA school. I also made it a priority, when entering any new place, like a theatre, resturant, ect, to locate the fire exits, just in case, I think this tragedy was always in the back of my mind.


Posted by: Judi Duncan On: 1/28/2008 ID: 361
At OLA on 12/1/58? Born before or after 12/1/58? Where Lived on 12/1/58?
No Before Cicero, IL
I am writing here in hopes of someone answering a question. My family and I attended the wake for Nancy Smid. I remember only that my dad was the cousin of someone in the Smid family, maybe her father. My dad's name was Milton Bocek and I am wondering if any of the Smid family reads this, if you can help me establish the relationship between the Bocek family and the Smid family. I am doing some genealogy research. I was touched by the horror of the fire and the whole story of it remains with me to this day. I remember hearing about it on the radio as my mother drove us home from school that day, and all the fire drills that followed in school, and reading all the newpaper accounts. I have seen the Channel 11 telecast and read the book. It will stay with me forever and my deepest sympathies remain with the families and the survivors. I am posting my email address here. Thank you very much.Judi Duncan
email address: JudiDuncan@SBCGlobal.net


Posted by: Jim Swieca On: 1/25/2008 ID: 360
At OLA on 12/1/58? Born before or after 12/1/58? Where Lived on 12/1/58?
No Before Northwest side of Chicago
Even though I was only in the first grade at St. Robert Bellarmine School on the Northwest Side, my first grade nun told us about a fire at Our Lady of Angels school and to pray for all children and sisters. I can remember coming home from school, running down the gangway and stopping at my grandparents flat first. This particular day, my grandma didn't have her usual home-baked pie, cookies, or bread ready for me (I have to admit, I was the apple of their eye!), instead, she had WBBM radio on giving an account of the tragedy. All she did was hold me on her lap and held my hands, crying as we both stared at the radio atop the radiator cabinet in the kitchen. One thing that really chills me to this day was a comment that "a girl was jumping out a window with her hair on fire". Even though I didn't attend Our Lady of the Angels School, I indeed remember that day; an infamous day for Chicago!


Posted by: snakes3425 On: 1/21/2008 ID: 359
At OLA on 12/1/58? Born before or after 12/1/58? Where Lived on 12/1/58?
No After n/a
I never knew any of the victims or any of their families, and I don't know any survivors nor am I a member of the OLA Community. I'm simply a 23 year old history major who knows the story of the Our Lady of the Angels Fire. This is by far the most heartbreaking event I've ever researched.
It would be nice to hear from anyone who was involved in, lost someone, or survived the OLA Fire.


Posted by: Larry Martin On: 1/16/2008 ID: 358
At OLA on 12/1/58? Born before or after 12/1/58? Where Lived on 12/1/58?
No Before Brooklyn, New York
I remember being in kindergarten in 1958 and one of my teachers brought in a copy of Life magazine. I was unable to read the text, but the cover horrified me; fireman and victim. For some reason, I was able to review the magazine, and the images have always remained with me.
I was not even close to this disaster and felt very scared. I can't imagine the horror for those who were there.
As a teacher, and later, principal, I always spoke of the importance of fire safety and appropriate conduct during drills from both faculty and student body. However after some research, I now realize, those who lost their lives or were injured in the OLA fire were in helpless positions.
I know this opened my eyes and will remain with me the rest of my life.


Posted by: read52 On: 1/12/2008 ID: 357
At OLA on 12/1/58? Born before or after 12/1/58? Where Lived on 12/1/58?
No Before Milwaukee, Wisconsin
I have found this site almost 50 years after it happened. I was in first grade when the fire happened at St. Adalbert School in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. I don't remember the fire but I do remember the nuns at our school talking about it. Our nuns were of the same order as the nuns at OLA. They so impressed upon me the importance of fire drills that now as a teacher I am always aware. If I let my students sit on the floor, they can not block the doorway. We have a fire zone that no one can block in the classroom. Around the school, I make sure noone has put things in front of doors, etc. There is no fooling around during drills. In the world today teachers have to think beyond fires. I work in Maryland near the DC border. I was a teacher during 911 and had to make sure each child was united with their parents. The next year we had three weeks of the sniper around our school. This tragedy has helped me as a teacher to practice each drill and know the importance of keeping each child in my care safe.


Posted by: Kathy On: 1/7/2008 ID: 356
At OLA on 12/1/58? Born before or after 12/1/58? Where Lived on 12/1/58?
No After n/a
I remember my mom telling me of this horrendous tragedy. She also attended Austin high school and graduated in 1960. I was born in 1962. After listening that day to my Mother telling me about this fire, I never complained when we had fire drills throughout grammar school and then onto Morton East h.s.At first it angered me that the nuns wanted the students to pray for help instead of trying to do something to save themselves. But as I got older, I fully understand that the nuns must have thought that the firemen would get to the school and rescue them and who can really know how quickly a fire can spread unless you've been in one?What i really find sad is that the surviving students and families never spoke of the tragedy, nor of their struggles to get over their fears!From this website, I have learned that to speak of this tragedy was struck down by parents, and other people. How could these young survivors/children AND their families/loved ones ever heal? I pray for the students and the nuns who lost their lives, and for the survivors and their families. God Bless You!


Posted by: Bill Dee On: 1/2/2008 ID: 355
At OLA on 12/1/58? Born before or after 12/1/58? Where Lived on 12/1/58?
No Before Chicago, IL
I have stark memories of that day that have remained with me through the years. In my mind's eye, they are still crystal clear:

Though I am only in the second grade, I am shocked and dismayed hearing the news from our teacher, and am seated in a classroom much like those at OLA. I can imagine how frightened those children must be at that moment. Though four miles from the scene, as I peer to the south out the classroom window on that bright, brittle afternoon, I can hear the sirens in the distance, can see and smell smoke and drifting ashes from the fire.

At that moment, I know this day is one I will never forget, and that December 1, 1958 is a date that will always remind me of OLA and the tragic events that took place there.


Posted by: Sal Caeti On: 12/29/2007 ID: 354
At OLA on 12/1/58? Born before or after 12/1/58? Where Lived on 12/1/58?
No Before 921 N. Avers
I lived next to the candy store on Avers Avenue when the fire happened. I remember the day like it was yesterday. I had graduated from OLA in 1956 and was at Austin High School in 1958. I got out of school early on that day and instead of going to work in my dad's store all the way in downtown Chicago, I decided to go home fist.I stopped at the bowling alley on Chicago Avenue to see if any of my friends were there but they were not. When I walked out I saw smoke far away and kept walking towards Avers. As I got closer, I thought it was my house that was on fire. When I got closer I saw my mother in the alley putting wet sheets and blankets on children that were jumping from the building. I will never forget that day. I saw my neighbor trying to get his son to jump from the window but he would not becuse he was afraid. His dad ran about 100 yards to his garage to get a ladder but when he got back his son was gone. The OLA neighborhood was made up of a lot of families with more than one child; so many of my freinds lost sisters or brothers or some family member. There were so many things that went wrong that day that contributed to the devastation. It was a great place to grow up; it was one of the best places in the city of Chicago. I still see all of my friends today even though I don't live in Illinois any longer. I still come back for our golf outing every year just to see all the friends I grew up with. That day changed the whole neighborhood; it became a place that had too many bad memories. People started to move out to somehow help the pain. God bless all those who lived and went to OLA.


Posted by: Gabrielle On: 12/21/2007 ID: 353
At OLA on 12/1/58? Born before or after 12/1/58? Where Lived on 12/1/58?
No After n/a
Thanks to all involved who helped to make this website as interesting and informative as it is. I agree with all who said that the children and nuns who died gave their lives for others - surely it would have been years before fire laws would have otherwise been updated and changed. I went to St. Monica's school and although I'm not old enough to remember OLA fire, I remember a nun chastising a boy who complained bitterly one day during a school fire drill. When we returned to the classroom, she told the story of the OLA fire - she certainly got our attention and there were no complaints during future drills.
Those who are interested in this site should also go to youtube.com
When you get to the homepage, type in the search box (upper right corner) our lady of the angels fire
A teen has put together a short video/slideshow presentation for an American History class that they posted online. There are a couple of typos, but on the whole, it is a good and interesting effort. Make sure you have your speakers on so you can hear the accompanying music. I will continue to pray for OLA victims and survivors-you are not forgotten, I promise. I also hope that the 50th anniverary will be observed or noted around the country, not just in the Chicago area, in an effort to promote and bring awareness of this story and fire safety in general, especially as it relates to public and private schools.