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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: Rick Bocek On: 4/6/2008 ID: 364
At OLA on 12/1/58? Born before or after 12/1/58? Where Lived on 12/1/58?
No Before Cicero, Illinois
I was 5 years old at the time of the fire. I became a firefighter in June of 1974, for the Cicero Fire Department. I have many recollections of the fire at OLA. When I started grammar school I attended Mary Queen of Heaven School in Cicero, Illinois. I vividly recall the interior layout, but mostly the exterior which mirrors almost to the letter the exterior of OLA. As a firefighter in Cicero I had the occasion to reenter MQH school and you could swear you were in OLA just from the pictures I've seen. It sent chills down my spine. From what I have found out apparently the Chicago Archdiocese built several of the same school buildings. MQH is located in the 5300 block of west 25th street in Cicero. It has been closed for several years now but if you go see it you will be shocked at the resemblence in the two schools. I have read all the books on the fire and took on a real interest. My cousin died in the fire. Her name was Nancy Smid. I remember my father taking my sister and I to the wake. I will never forget all the young faces I saw.
Thruout my life I have met several firefighters from other departments that attended OLA. I have heard their stories and captured their sorrow. At least once a year I visit the resting place of these children at MQH cemetery. You cannot help but cry. I truely have deep feelings for those that were lost in the fire. For those who remain I wish you all the best. Wounds heal but there is always a scar to remind you.


Posted by: Jennifer Harris On: 4/6/2008 ID: 363
At OLA on 12/1/58? Born before or after 12/1/58? Where Lived on 12/1/58?
No After n/a
I lived in The Detroit area when I was born, then I moved to Grand Blanc.I found out when I watched To Sleep With The Angels on PBS,and I would love to read the book,To Sleep with the Angels. I found this website,it's very useful. God Bless those 3 nuns and 92 children who died it would've been 50 years this December 1,which happens to be my brother's birthday,he was born in 78, the fire was 1958. I was born 1973. Those poor kids will never hear the school bell ring,grow up,graduate or get married and have families of their own,due to an arsonist. I don't know what the arsonist died of.


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.