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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: Rose Riker On: 11/1/2012 ID: 598
At OLA on 12/1/58? Born before or after 12/1/58? Where Lived on 12/1/58?
No Before Maywood, New Jersey
I was in second grade at Our Lady Queen of Peace school in Maywood, New Jersey at the time of this terrible tragedy. I remember seeing film of the burning school on the television news and seeing the pictures of the children and nuns who had died in the fire in the paper the next day. I remember going to school the and my teacher, Sister Ann Elizabeth talking about it and telling us that we should always make sure that we were in the state of grace because we never knew when God might call us home. I remember we had fire drills every week for about a month after this happened. OLQP was a newer school. It was probably 30 years old while I was attending it. I didn't recall this fire until years later when I read Andrew Greely's book, Angels of September which was based on the Queen of Angels fire. I have not read any of the books about the fire, but I have purchased the two books about it and plan to read them. I think everybody who survived, died, rescued children, or recovered the bodies of the children were very brave and deserve our full respect.


Posted by: G. Coates On: 10/23/2012 ID: 597
At OLA on 12/1/58? Born before or after 12/1/58? Where Lived on 12/1/58?
No Before Highspire Pa
At the time of the OLA fire I was a fourth grade student at St. Mary's Catholic elementary school in Middletown, Pa. I was nine years old and starting the countdown to Christmas. I will never forget the terrible feeling I experienced when learning of the fire on the evening news on our small TV set. We prayed at school that week for all the victims and families of the fire and then I saw the pictures in the next issue of Life magazine. I have thought about this tragedy many times over the years. I looked up information about the fire on the web two weeks ago because I have thought about this more lately for some reason and found this site. I think it is because of the fact that I now have grandchildren of the same age attending Catholic school. I will continue to pray for all the victims of this tragedy.


Posted by: Paul Alberti On: 10/17/2012 ID: 596
At OLA on 12/1/58? Born before or after 12/1/58? Where Lived on 12/1/58?
No Before 906 N Drake
I was a Chicago Police Officer off duty at the time I saw the black smoke from the back porch window of my home. I ran down the stairs and over to the school to see if I could be of any help. I knew many of the Nuns and kids because I was the their grammar school football coach. (in fact some of the 6th graders at the time of the fire I coached when they were in 8th grade and we won the grammar school c y O's city football championship Father Hunt was in charge). The only help I was able to give was at the request of the Nuns to keep people away from trying to get into the convent mostly reporters. The reporters were trying to get in the convent to talk to the nuns and I would stop them. one of the reporters went and got a police chief, he came over and after I explained to the chief that the nuns asked me to stay by the door because they did not want anybody to go inside the convent. he said OK and to stay there.


Posted by: Bob Wargaski On: 8/29/2012 ID: 595
At OLA on 12/1/58? Born before or after 12/1/58? Where Lived on 12/1/58?
No Before Niles, Illinois
I was born Oct 1, 1947 at St Anne's hospital in Chicago, the family physician was Dr. Frank Grill. Not only did Dr. Grill deliver me but my two younger siblings, two cousins and both of my sons. Dr. Grill was one of the attending physicians to the many burned children who were brought to St. Anne's.
I was attending 6th grade at St. John Brebeuf in Niles the year of the fire. When my dad arrived home that night from work, Monday Dec 1, 1958 and the family was eating at the kitchen table, we were talking about the fire at Our Lady of Angels, my father began to cry: it was the only time I can ever remember seeing him shed tears.
On Wednesday Dec. 24, Christmas Eve, I awoke that morning at home with the anticipation of Christmas; but I had awoken with a stomach ache, on my right side. I was taken to St. Anne's hospital (an hour drive) and was diagnosed with appendicitis and had surgery late morning, operating was Dr. Frank Grill. A wonderful man who always wore a bow-tie. He was compassionate, understanding and worked long hours, the perfect person for the situation of the children of the fire.
When I awoke later that afternoon after surgery, I remember asking the nurse why I was hearing screaming and crying, she responded, that those were the children from the OLA fire and that every 30 or 60 minutes they would turn them so that their skin would not stick to the sheets. Three weeks later after the fire and still the children of the fire were enduring such pain. I remember those screams as though it were yesterday.
The bright spot for me was Christmas day in the hospital. Due to the fire, all the business's came together and showered the children's ward with gifts. Not just nickel dime gifts but giving to those children who had endured so much pain. Because I was in that children's ward on Christmas day, I too was the recipient of there generosity. In particular I remember getting a microscope in a blue metal carrying box.
As I looked through the pictures on this site, all the memories came flooding back.
God bless.


Posted by: Michael Erwin On: 7/14/2012 ID: 594
At OLA on 12/1/58? Born before or after 12/1/58? Where Lived on 12/1/58?
No Before Chicago, Illinois
On that day I was in 8th grade at St. Dominic catholic school on the north side, a sister school in design of OLA. A close friend of mine, Geraldine K. and her brother and sister had recently withdrawn from St.Dominic and enrolled at OLA, the family had moved. My father was a police officer working out of Warren Ave. Police Station and was returning home on the CTA. Bus. He saw the fire from the bus and jumped off, running to the school to help any way he could. He said that the fire department hadn't arrived. When he came home that day his uniform was covered in soot and he smelled of smoke. We were watching the news reports of the fire on TV and he began sobbing, saying that he did all he could and may God have mercy. I began crying also as I was weeping for the loss of my friend and her siblings. The next Monday arrived and I went to school greatly surprised to find Gerry in Class. She explained that unpacking from the move prevented them from attending school that day!! God does work in mysterious ways.


Posted by: Susanne On: 6/16/2012 ID: 593
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 many years later and grew up in the suburbs but learned of the fire through my teacher

One chilly spring day when I was in 4th grade, the fire alarm went off when my teacher was out of the classroom. My whole class sat around with blank stares wondering what to do. I evacuated the building and stood with the 5th grade teacher at the front of the line with his class. When my teacher came racing up and asked where everyone else was, I no more than pointed up the fire escape stairs and my teacher was off and racing up them to find out where everyone else was; they were STILL sitting at their desks!!! o_O

When we were given the all-clear to return to our classroom, my teacher told us of the horrible fire at Our Lady of the Angels.

At the end of the day, I remember being sent out for end-of-day, go-home-from-there recess with the 5th grade and my classmates having to stay late to listen to more OLA and why it was a BAD choice to stay at their desks when the alarm went off when my teacher was out of the room. Seemed like a no-brainer to me to get up and walk out, I'll never understand why my classmates stayed at their desks. Especially considering that the ceiling of our classroom was an elegant wooden truss system that would've ignited so fast, they wouldn't have had a chance for escape had the room flashed over.

Hearing of the OLA fire was eye-opening. I was sad for all of the kids and instructors who had lost their lives that cold December day.

Since then, the elementary school I attended has removed the steel fire escapes and sealed off those doors as exits and made modifications to other parts of the school that, in the event of a fire, wouldn't serve as a viable egress, either. (The buildings aren't retrofitted with a sprinkler system, either) I PRAY that no fire ever occurs there; it would be a tragedy along the same magnitude and completely preventable.

What everyone at OLA went through and lost is unimaginable. I hope that everyone affected (survivors, family, etc.) can someday find peace. My husband grew up in the Humboldt Park area (he was born in 1954) but attended Von Humboldt School. Since he was only 4 at the time of the fire, he doesn't remember anything other than hearing of it on the news; he doesn't recall if his family knew anyone from OLA.


Posted by: anonymous On: 6/7/2012 ID: 592
At OLA on 12/1/58? Born before or after 12/1/58? Where Lived on 12/1/58?
No After n/a
I wrote the details of horrible tragedy that took place at my elementary school in the early 80s, but was hesitant to share it.

What is most important for me to say is that in a lot of ways I can empathize with what the OLA survivors have experienced. We didn't receive any counseling for our event either, and I would burst into tears at school all the time whenever a certain common sound would start up because it was a reminder. To this day I still will smell smoke for no apparent reason. It has taken me some time to learn not to panic when that happens.

I want to thank the webmaster for starting this site and all of the survivors who have been brave and kind enough to share your stories. You have given me hope and inspiration to know that even though you never forget these things, it is possible to go on and be well.

I am sorry for your pain and all of your losses. I am glad that this place is here now and able to give you the voice that was taken away from you at that time by not allowing you to speak about it.

You are all always in the hearts of others. God bless and keep you.


Posted by: DAVE ALBRICH On: 5/31/2012 ID: 591
At OLA on 12/1/58? Born before or after 12/1/58? Where Lived on 12/1/58?
No Before PORTLAND, OREGON
I WAS IN THE FIRST GRADE AT HOLY REDEEMER SCHOOL IN PORTLAND WHEN THE TRAGEDY OF THE OLA FIRE HIT THE MEDIA. I REALLY NEVER FORGOT THOSE HORRIFYING PHOTOS IN LIFE MAGAZINE. IT IS BEYOND COMPREHENSION WHAT TERROR THOSE CHILDREN AND FACULTY ENDURED. SEEING THE RESOLVE OF THOSE DEDICATED SISTERS AND KNOWING THE SUFFERING OF THOSE PARENTS THAT DAY, MADE ME ALWAYS REALIZE A DEEP APPRECIATION FOR LIFE. I NEVER FORGOT THE SORROW OF THAT DAY.


Posted by: Sissy On: 5/9/2012 ID: 590
At OLA on 12/1/58? Born before or after 12/1/58? Where Lived on 12/1/58?
No Before California
I remember hearing the news and watching the local news on television. We attended a Catholic School in San Anselmo, California and spent time in the church praying for the students and nuns, it seemed like a slow moving motion picture when the pictures of the fire fighters and the smoke and fire were shown on TV. I never enjoyed fire drills or dark center of the building type hallways after that. I always tried to remain on the main floor of a building too....never understanding why. Our school was single story and stucco with arcade type patios or walkways from the classrooms. Our auditorium was quite old, wood and dark with a wooden staircase and I believe only one way out. I did not enjoy entering or remaining in that building for long. Before I graduated from the school (8th grade) the school tore the auditorium down and put in a concrete auditorium that had many entrances and exits and was on the main floor with no second story. My family continued to pray for the families of the children for a long time. We heard that a new school was built at the site but I never wanted to see it or be around it. Our Lady of Angels was definitely named properly, those children and the nuns had a stairwell to heaven. Their families should find peace knowing they are all with GOD.


Posted by: George On: 4/30/2012 ID: 589
At OLA on 12/1/58? Born before or after 12/1/58? Where Lived on 12/1/58?
No Before Eastern Oregon
I now live in Vancouver, British Columbia Canada. I belong to a yacht club which owns a 4 story, 100 year old plus, all wooden lodge in a remote location with no fire or ambulance service. On the 3rd and 4th floors there are hotel type rooms for families and guests to stay. There is a fire alarm system but no automatic sprinkler system.

I recently made a submission to the appropriate club committee asking for a resolution to proceed with the installation of an automatic fire sprinkler system. Much of my presentation was comparing our lodge to the OLA school, showing the committee many photos from this site, and suggesting that our lodge with its remote location, 3 fireplaces, commercial kitchen and higher number of floors where families sleep, is more hazardous than OLA and is a potential disaster waiting to happen. I quoted passages from the book To Sleep With the Angles referencing how fast the fire spread and that no students or adults from any classroom on the second floor were able to access the 2nd floor hallway to get to the exit stairs. Also the fact that even with the first fire engines arriving within five minutes of the phone call, many lives were still lost.

The committee was persuaded and voted unanimously to proceed with the sprinkler system, even though the cost will not be insignificant. The pictures of firemen carrying deceased children our of OLA were very compelling.

My point is that all these years later there is still "good" coming out of the 1958 OLA tragedy and that this site continues to serve useful purposes. Thank you.