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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: Paul M On: 2/6/2003 ID: 40
At OLA on 12/1/58? Born before or after 12/1/58? Where Lived on 12/1/58?
No Before 2211 E. 67th Street, Chicago 49, Illinois
I went to O'Keeffe School, in the South Shore neighborhood. Many of the students were Irish Catholic, and many were Jewish. The teachers were primarily Irish. I was in First Grade at the time, and I remember the stories of how the nuns told the kids to hold hands on the stairs (FALSE) and how only 3 nuns died with over 90 kids (MISLEADING). For the next few weeks, according to my Mom, I had nightmares about school fires, and kids caught in the fire.

The thought that a fire could happen in an old school caused fire drills almost weekly in CPS schools that year, I found out later. I just remember fire drills all the time, and going outside by the doors near the kindergarten room. O'Keeffe had the same old wooden stairwells, window frames and floors, covered with decades of "spar" varnish. Many of my friends went to St.Philip Neri on 72nd - they were told similar stories of horror, and memorial masses were said for all the victims. I read the excellent book by Mr. Cowan, and lent it to a friend, never to be seen again. I will watch and record the documentary tonight, and hit the library for the book this weekend. I also mention in my prayers the victims of the fire each year on the Sabbath closest to December 1.


Posted by: Dennis On: 2/6/2003 ID: 39
At OLA on 12/1/58? Born before or after 12/1/58? Where Lived on 12/1/58?
No Before Chicago 46th & South Damen
I was in the 2nd grade at Hedges school in the back-of-the-yards neighborhood when this happened. I remember that even though we were a public school, we were led in prayer by our teacher the next day. I remember the shocking (for a 7 yr. old) pictures in the papers with all the white sheeted bodies, burn victims, & finally, coffin lined church service. I also recall within a very short time, having fire walls, & other safety devices installed at our school. Even though I was not a part of this school, I always felt a kinship with the victims since I was attending Chicago grade school at the time. I can't imagine what the families of these victims have gone through all these years, but may God in his mercy bless them every day.


Posted by: Donna On: 2/6/2003 ID: 38
At OLA on 12/1/58? Born before or after 12/1/58? Where Lived on 12/1/58?
No Before Drake & Augusta, Chicago
OLA was my parish. I went to catechism there from 2nd to 10th grades. Although I was only 7 years old at the time of the fire, I can remember the old school, the smell of the varnish on the wood and a little bit of the stairwells. But I'll never forget that day when I came home from Cameron Elementary School and found my mom outside. There was a lot of commotion on our block (the 1000 block of Drake Ave) and mothers were running up and down the sidewalk. My mom said she had heard that there was a fire at OLA school. The only person I knew who went there was an older girl who lived on the corner. Later I heard that she got out okay. I don't remember much of the aftermath at the church, but I know after the fire our pastor, Monsignor Cussen, was never the same and blamed himself for the tragedy. After the fire, the third floor of Cameron became classrooms for some of the children and nuns of OLA until the new school was built. We were bused to a nearby Catholic school for catechism. Every December 1st our church had a memorial mass. I heard there was a mother of one of the children who perished who used to never leave her house every December because of the grief she suffered. Also, there was a boy who apparently had jumped from the school and incurred brain damage. I would see him walking around the neighborhood, but he suffered from palsy after that. Years later, my brother married a girl from the "old neighborhood" whose sister died in Room 212. Ironically, my sister-in-law also has a cousin who attended OLA, but wasn't at school that day because she was sick. Otherwise, she might have perished too. To this day, we try not to talk about the fire in the presence of my brother's mother-in-law. I mentioned the Channel 11 program to him, but I don't think his wife or her mother will be watching. It's just too painful. But her picture is displayed in the mother's house - I think it's of her in her communion or confirmation gown - taken just before the fire. While my family didn't suffer directly from this tragedy, we still grieve for the neighbors and friends who lost loved ones.


Posted by: Audrey On: 2/5/2003 ID: 37
At OLA on 12/1/58? Born before or after 12/1/58? Where Lived on 12/1/58?
No Before 842 N Central park
I had graduated from OLA in 1956 but had a younger brother and five cousins attending the school. I was riding home from St Mary High School when I noticed fire engines, ambulances and police cars racing up and down Chicago Ave as far west as Western Ave. I knew something horrific was happening just from the volume of emergency vehicles and slowness of traffic trying to move west. It seemed forever when the bus finally arrived at Central Park. My brother was sitting in the dark living room all alone when I asked him what was happening. He explained that there was a fire at the school and our Mother and neigbor, Betty Anglim, were out looking for her son, Bobby. I ran to the school to see if I could find Mom, but there were so many people and fire engines, hoses, smoke, ladders, children crying and firemen racing everywhere that I felt so overwhelmed and helpless and went back home. I remember it was so cold. Later that evening we were told Bobby Anglim had perished in the fire and my Mom and Betty were at the morgue. The rest of the days that followed were those of funerals and visiting grieving families. My cousin had to jump from the second floor and broke his arm which required being pinned together. I'll never forget that day.


Posted by: Len On: 2/5/2003 ID: 36
At OLA on 12/1/58? Born before or after 12/1/58? Where Lived on 12/1/58?
No Before Monticello & Ohio St.
I was 4 yrs old when the OLA fire occured. I would have attended Our Lady of the Angels the following year, however, the new building was still under construction. I attended Ryerson Public School instead. Later I attended religion classes at OLA every Wednesday. We'd walk from Ryerson to OLA in groups along with students from Cameron Public School.

I can still remember the helicopters flying over my house and the constant sounds of fire truck sirens. My parents owned a neighborhood grocery store at that time. My Father began receiving requests by our neighbors to drive them to the school where their children attended. My parents decided to close the store and help out all they can. I remember standing on a corner on Avers as I watch the firefighters fight the smoke and blaze. People all around me were crying and screaming and I remember the look in my parents eyes and the tears they both shed the day my father took in the grim task of driving some of the families to the Illinois Armory at North & Kedzie. After all he was not only a grocer but a neighbor and friend. He sent boxes of food to many of the families in the area.

My father and mother are still alive today. 83 and 76 yrs old respectively. When I told them about this web site, both of then just hesitated for a moment. It has been almost 45 years and they still remember that day and the weeks and months soon after. I brought back a dark memory in their lives when I told them about this web site. Although we did not lose a family member in this tragedy my parents still feel as though they have.

We wish to thank you for this website. The Our Lady of the Angels fire should never be forgotten. Our thoughts and prayers to the victim's and their families.

We lost some good neighbors and friends and gained so many Angels. God Bless them all.


Posted by: Jim D. On: 2/4/2003 ID: 35
At OLA on 12/1/58? Born before or after 12/1/58? Where Lived on 12/1/58?
No Before 90th and Cornell Ave, Chicago
I attended grade school in Chicago in the 1960s. We were always told about the OLA tragedy, especially when it came to fire drills. My school (Earhart, 93rd Street near Stoney Island Avenue) was built in 58' or perhaps 59' and was well-equipped for fire safety.

I have always felt a strong connection to this event, almost like I was there. I am fascinated by the 1950s in general (as I was not really around to enjoy much of it) but haunted by the fire.

I feel that a film of this event (with the exception of the WTTW documentary) should not be made (one shudders at the thought of Hollywood doing this story).

I echo the many people who have written their stories here by saying that many lives were saved as fire safety standards were improved after the OLA fire. I owe a large debt to the children who perished. They may well have saved my life.

I visit the Queen of Heaven memorial every now and then. It makes me sad to think of all the things these kids have missed: the good: The Beatles, the space race, the 60s, personal computers, videos, The 85' Bears, CDs, cell phones. The bad: Watergate, Vietnam, November 22nd 1963, September 11th 2001, cell phones.

To the survivors, God Bless you. Thank you for sharing your memories.

I will continue to remember, always, the little angels who now look after us all.

Would like to hear from anyone interested in sharing their thoughts.

Jim D.

jbd1957@aol.com


Posted by: Rosalie On: 2/2/2003 ID: 34
Enrolled on 12/1/58? Present on 12/1/58? Injured? Age Grade Classroom Teacher
Yes Yes No 10 5 206 Ms.Tristano
I remember sitting with my hands folded on top of my books waiting for the bell to ring. I also remember my teacher going in the hall....then the room.....then the hall......she went to the next classroom and spoke to that teacher. We were then asked to walk, not run down the stairs and stand across the street in front of the convent. It was cold. We then were walked to the church......it seemed like the whole school was in the church....I saw my older cousin with two streams of black smoke running from her nose to her lips....my Mom came to get my sister(who was in second grade) and myself and took us home.....We lived about three blocks from the school in a high third floor apartment.My My Grandfather was a hero to us.....He was one of the men on the ladders helping the firemen carry children down to the street. I remember all the calls that night to our house from relatives checking to see if my sister and I were OK. I also remember, like it was yesterday, my uncle, the father of the cousin with smoke down her nose, calling my Dad because his younger daughter was not found....My Dad went to the hospitals and finally to the morgue with his brother and they the found Peggy. Peggy and I were in the same room from K to 4th grade....In fifth grade we were split up....story is that Peggy was afraid to jump.......others did...........they found her ,and other childern, sitting on the floor behind the nun's desk..She had her arms around them..


Posted by: Patricia On: 2/1/2003 ID: 33
At OLA on 12/1/58? Born before or after 12/1/58? Where Lived on 12/1/58?
No Before 818 N. Central Park Ave.
I was in kindergarten in the Hamlin Avenue building. I don't have any recollection of the events at all; as far as I understand I was a morning kindergartener. I was at home when it all happened. My good friend later was Linda Moravec, whose brother James died in the fire. I've tried very hard to find what happened to Linda, having lost contact with her, and if anyone knows I would love to find out. Today the neighborhood is a mess, the school closed and the church closed (though the school is being rented by a charter school). My mother thinks that after that happened no one wanted to stay too close. I went to the new school and graduated from there. I was in class with Michael Wisz, who also lost a brother. Would like to hear from anyone who wants to write. Thanks.


Posted by: Michele On: 1/28/2003 ID: 32
At OLA on 12/1/58? Born before or after 12/1/58? Where Lived on 12/1/58?
No After n/a
I was born way after the fire,but my mom and aunt went to OLA on Wensday's for religious classes and lost so many friends,me and my sister attended the school,I went from 77-86.I remember every Dec 1st or after if it wasn't a school day going outside to pray and they never said why,I knew and my sister knew.That site is sacred and being there was unnerving for me,you could almost feel something,it was very sad.I don't want to say it was something paranormal,but it was definitely a very strong feeling,that's the only way I can put it.I do get kind of angry when people ask why they didn't do this or that to get out,we weren't there,we don't know what it was like and hopefully none of us will have to find out.I think it is so sad how the neighborhood changed so much after the fire as my mom told me.When I went there it was terrible.Like I said even though I was not even born yet when it happened it has left an imprint on my life and definitly my mom's and aunt's life.


Posted by: Kim (stmary1954@aol.com) On: 1/10/2003 ID: 31
At OLA on 12/1/58? Born before or after 12/1/58? Where Lived on 12/1/58?
No Before Meckling, South Dakota
Well I will never forget this tragic story - I was only 5 when it happened, but will never forget the horror I saw on TV on the coverage of the fire. I can still see mothers crying and looking for their children. Everytime I hear about Chicago, this fire comes to mind. This is probably one of the saddest stories I remember as a kid. And for those of you who survived and for those who didn't, my prayers go to each and every one of you and for the ones you lost.