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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: Matthew Frawley On: 5/29/2023 ID: 707
At OLA on 12/1/58? Born before or after 12/1/58? Where Lived on 12/1/58?
No After n/a
My mother's sister is Michele McBride. Michele wrote a book titled The Fire That Will Not Die. She was severely burned and suffered broken bones on that day. I was born about a year and a half after the fire. As a boy 5 or 6, I remember she would be in her bedroom whenever we visited. My mother would explain to me that she was embarrassed by her scars. But as I had never seen her before the fire, her looks were all I had ever known her by. I remember being confused. I just knew that I enjoyed being in her presence as she always made me feel special. Because isn’t that what good aunts do, make their nephews and nieces feel special?

As a side story, I was baptized by Fr Joe Ognibene. In the late 90s, I flew in to Chicago from Washington DC for luncheon in honor of certain patrons of the O'hare Airport chapel. Fr. Joe was seated between my youngest brother and my mother. When I stopped by the table to greet the good father and my mother, she insisted that my brother give up his seat for me, which he did. Fr. Joe, my mother and I, along with my dad, shared stories and good cheer. My brother found a table with some young women who were employees of the Airport. My brother eventually married one of those women. They have been married since about 2003.


Posted by: K On: 3/21/2023 ID: 706
At OLA on 12/1/58? Born before or after 12/1/58? Where Lived on 12/1/58?
No Before In Chicago the next Parish Our Lady Helo of Christians
I was attending a Girl Scout meeting in the basement of our school Our Lady of Helo of Christians which had the same order of Sisters the BVMs. Someone interrupted our meeting to tell us that a fire was at Our Lady of Angels a neighboring parish . We were told to go home. After a couple of weeks our school day was divided . We attended during the morning and O L A children during the afternoon. I volunteered in the office for a very short time . I heard and saw both kids and nuns crying .Sharing our day was a temporary solution arrangements were being made for their school to be moved to a local public school. My uncle was a young Chicago Policeman at the time he answered the call shortly afterwards he quit his job . Father Sam Ognibene the brother of Father Joseph who served at OLA and was a hero during the fire, was at our Parish. Eventually I went to Siena High School with many of the survivors of the fire. We never talked about it much as a student the sadness was overwhelming for the survivors. It’s a memory you never forget,


Posted by: Debi Kopis Rollinson On: 12/3/2022 ID: 705
At OLA on 12/1/58? Born before or after 12/1/58? Where Lived on 12/1/58?
No Before 932 N. Hamlin Ave.
We lived about 1/2 block from the school. On the day of the fire, I was 4 1/2 years old and was playing on our back porch when I saw the smoke. I told my mom and in a panic, she rushed with me down to the school to find my brother. It took awhile to find him because of the crowds and mass confusion. Fortunately, he was on the first floor and escaped without injury. Sadly, a friend and neighbor Mark Stachura, died in the fire.
Blessings to all the victims, families and friends of OLA.


Posted by: S W Trok On: 12/2/2022 ID: 704
Enrolled on 12/1/58? Present on 12/1/58? Injured? Age Grade Classroom Teacher
Yes Yes No 10 5 107 Don’t remember
I was very fortunate to survive the horrible fire unharmed. My thoughts and prayers are still with the friends and families that lost loved ones during this tragedy.


Posted by: Susan On: 12/1/2022 ID: 703
At OLA on 12/1/58? Born before or after 12/1/58? Where Lived on 12/1/58?
No After n/a
My Godparents lost their only daughter in that fire. They never really recovered from that devastation. Also, that fire was the reason my mom and dad decided to move to the suburbs where there were more modern built schools that would be safer for my sister and me. Praying for you today, Karen, certain that you are singing with the heavenly angels worshiping God.


Posted by: abby On: 1/11/2022 ID: 700
At OLA on 12/1/58? Born before or after 12/1/58? Where Lived on 12/1/58?
No After n/a
In school we learned about the fire


Posted by: Rosalie (Guzzo)O’Brien On: 1/2/2022 ID: 699
Enrolled on 12/1/58? Present on 12/1/58? Injured? Age Grade Classroom Teacher
Yes Yes No 13 8 209 Sr. Davids
Happy New Year to my fellow classmates. Hopefully if you saw the New Years Eve celebration in New York this year you saw Jonathan (Friga) Cain from Journey perform. He was a third grader at the time of the fire. You make us proud Jonathan. God bless you all.


Posted by: Thomas Kaufmann On: 12/1/2021 ID: 698
At OLA on 12/1/58? Born before or after 12/1/58? Where Lived on 12/1/58?
No After n/a
Today, on the 63rd anniversary of this terrible tragedy, let us remember all the brave Firemen, Parents, Rescuers, Doctors, Nurses and everyone who somehow touched the lives of those involved on this dark day.
May God continue to provide healing to the survivors and always shelter the victims in the palm of his hand. God bless.