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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: Mickey Sanders On: 6/30/2003 ID: 97
At OLA on 12/1/58? Born before or after 12/1/58? Where Lived on 12/1/58?
No Before Sherman, Kentucky
I was in 3rd grade at the time of the fire. I attended a very small rural school in Kentucky, a complete contrast to OLA. I remember my mother talking to me about the fire and how more girls than boys had died because they were afraid to jump. We talked about what I should do if there ever was a fire at my school or any other public place. We talked about knowing two ways out of any building and never be afraid to jump. A broken leg or arm could be fixed. She said don't let modesty kill you because you are afraid your dress will fly up. She emphasize to never go back into the building for my coat, books, or anything else. Once out, stay as far away as possible. She told how the nuns rolled the children down the steps to get them out of the builidng and explained that staying low is an essential maneuver in escaping a fire. This sad event provided my mother with a teaching moment and those lessons have stayed with me all these years. Whenever I am in a new place, I always look for two ways out.

The TV and newspaper images of the day stuck with me. I've never forgotten the fire and found the information on the Web a few months ago. I have read To Sleep with the Angels and appreciated the human face this book puts on the tragedy. As a parent now, I shudder to think of the agony of the OLA families.

Sometime later that year (3rd grade) we had a problem with the furnace at school. The fire bell rang and I could tell by my teacher's reaction, this was not a drill. I remember how my legs were shaking and my mother's words came back to me and as I fought to stay calm. It was a small malfunction, and there was no danger.

My parents were always cautious about fire. In our little town, when I was an infant, a mother went next door for a few minutes while her three young children were napping in an upstairs bedroom. There was a smoky fire in her house. There was no organized fire department, just neighbors running to help. There was no running water either, just a bucket brigade. The men saved the house, but the children suffocated from the smoke. My Dad, a young father, had the grim task of carrying out the bodies of these children. It haunted him so that he never had a house where his children had to sleep upstairs.

My heart goes out to the children, families, firemen, policemen, and neighbors who were touched by the OLA fire. The safety features in schools implemented as the result of this tragedy, the teaching opportunities it gave parents and children, and the outpouring of compassion generated are among the legacies.

I'm glad my mother talked to me about what happened and prepared me to take care of myself and others if I needed to in a fire.


Posted by: Valerie Johnston On: 6/29/2003 ID: 96
At OLA on 12/1/58? Born before or after 12/1/58? Where Lived on 12/1/58?
No Before Chicago, ILL ( 847 N. Christiana Ave)
It was a very cold day on the first of December, 1958. Besides my wedding day 11 yrs later, this date has the most rememberance for me. My little brother, Robert Charles was 6 & in first grade, l was a second grader(age7).As l know now, l was one of about a hundred kids home that day with the flu going around. My brother always depended on me to get us to school (we lived a mile away)as on time as possible & safely, of course. My room was just to the left, on the first floor, as you went into the school(103).Bobby's room was in the back of the school, on the right, & every morning l walked him back there to make sure he didn't stop someplace along the way. There were lots of mornings we were both home, as it goes, we would be both sick @ the same time. Not this morning.The day went as usual on a sick day, l had 3 younger brothers @ home, with Mom. She was expecting #6. About the time we usually got home from school, l remember my Mother making the comment that Bobby was late. She was in the kitchen fixing our supper. It was a passing comment because when Bobby had to go alone, he would dawdle--window shop, stop @ the neighborhood bakery, whatever. Some time went by after the comment--we had heard many sirens, more than usual & Mom said she wondered where the fire was. About that time, the phone rang--our neighbor was hysterical& Mom barely got what she was telling her. "the school's on fire, the school's on fire !", l heard Mom say.She shut the stove off & said to watch the kids, she grabbed her coat & one of her best friends met her as she went out the door. l had no idea how life would change for everyone. A lot of the details of that day are lost to me, so some of the next few lines are recollections of my Mother. She called Dad to tell him about the fire--I can't say if he had heard of it yet. But, he was a Chicago Police Officer & worked in the district we lived in. He got home before Mom did. Mom & her friend RAN all the way to the school & when she got there, the firefighters were pouring water into the area where my brother's room was. She passed out & does not know how she got home.I remember panic in their voices as they tried to find out where Bobby was. No one knew, the phone lines were jammed, they called everywhere, the hospitals, the morgue --- found out nothing, even with my Dad's CPD connections. He was suppose to go on patrol in the evening, but he had talked to his Commander, & was told to "stay home until you find your boy". I remember a lot of praying went on, & friends stopped by, we had neighbors waiting to hear where their children were too. We lived @ the outer edge of the Parish. The few hours we had to wait until we knew Bobby was OK ; was nothing compared to what some parents went through. But it happened to us. By the time the strange car pulled up in front of our house, my Grandparents had arrived (they lived north of the school & couldn't get through--they had a car).It was about 6:30 pm, Mom says, Bobby got out of the car. He had his coat, hat,mittens & lunchpail. The adults ran out to him, l watched @ the window. Everyone cried--the tears that day were mixed--much pain & much joy. When Bobby came in, he started telling the horrible story of what he had witnessed. The Nun for his class originally thought it was a drill--when there was a "drill" @ the end of the day, we were all instructed to get our winter things & would be dismissed from outside. That's what she had thought, until she opened the door to go out. Bobby said heavy black smoke came into the room, she realized it was not a drill. He said she was stern & gave specific directions--which they knew to follow.They were led away from the school & "deposited" into homes near by, 4-8 @ a time. In the house he was in, the children magnetically graduated to the window. They saw all the people, the firemen, the trucks, kids coming out of the doors, out of the windows, some jumping, some of those with clothing & hair on fire. He "spilled" it all--& we never talked about it again. And Mom could never get the smoke smell out of his coat & things. As for me, OLA/58 has been a mission in my life. One of guilt, pain & some other emotions l have yet to identify.I was not there that dreadful day, but l wish l had been. My little brother wouldn't have gone through all of it alone & maybe ghosts of the fire wouldn't have haunted me all this time. l am now 52 & like my brother, l didn't talk about it. Were told as children, by the school authorities---teachers, priests, Monsignor etc, not to talk about it. Were also told very often, that the kids & nuns that died, died because they were the "good ones".l know for a fact that some kids were living in abusive homes already. So, that only pushed our self esteem down deeper. The only person there that l remember being so kind was Father Joe. He didn't laugh as much as he use to, but he still had time for us kids. As it happened, when arrangements were made for the students to go to Our Lady Help of Christians for half days of school, l refused. We were to catch buses in front of our school & l was afraid that l would see all that my brother had told me he saw & since the building was still there, we would have to look @ it twice a day & on Sundays.(l refused to go to Mass for the same reason) l was told by Mother Superior that l had to confess the number of Masses l missed because l would go to hell if l didn't. When l could finally go, maybe 6 wks or so later, the ghosts were there. l could see them, smell them & the windows were all out, soot & smoke above them. The picture l had in my head was worse, but the picture in front of me wasn't easy to live with. The WORST part of it all is no one was allowed to talk about it. After all, the" good ones" were gone & we couldn't stain their memory. The following school year, 2 of my brothers & l went to Cameron public school. l was in the 4th grade by the time the new school was built. It made the headlines of the Chigo Sun Times on Sept 14, 1960. The reason l know the exact date is, my class was in the paper--Miss Frances Leach was my teacher. When as an adult l started telling my friends, most of them never heard of it. Once in awhile, l would find someone who had heard of it, & not much else. My family moved to Indiana by the time l was 12 (& back to Chgo in 1971, after l was married), so l didn't hear any more about anything. But the ghosts still haunted--l had forgotten many, many things, which is typical of PTSD.(l even began to tremble when l found this website--l couldn't believe it) Then l began to think other people had forgotten & it made me angry that the children & Nuns died, other children's lives had been ruined & some of us just couldn't bear it when the anniversary came around. l felt as if we had ALL been forsaken by our Church & people. l have written to Oprah 3 or 4 times to ask her to do a program, when Geraldo was on daytime, l called him too. But no one responded. l just wanted to know how everyone else was doing. l always thought of the other survivors & prayed for them---especially on the first of December. Then l got a home computer & began to get on the EWTN website. l had asked online if anyone remembered. l asked one of the experts if the children & Nuns would be considered Martyres. NO, he said ---& gave the Catholic reason. l got one response from a lady whose Mother was a substitute teacher--in school that day. Her sincerity was very much appreciated. A few days later, someone mentioned the book " To Sleep With the Angels". l got busy & looked for it---l called several numbers in the Catholic Chicago Diocese---no one could help me find the book. l thought that if l could just see it all in print, l could chase my ghosts away. Finally, a very nice lady in one of the offices told me the "Church" didn't approve the account of the authors, but told me where to find the now out of print book. l was able to get 2---l sent one to my mother & l kept one. They arrived Nov 30, 2001. My brother chose military life, enlisted @ age 17. He served his country with honor & is now retired. He also went to school & is a CNA & has some of his classes done for his LPN. He didn't talk about the fire again until he was in college---he chose to write an essay in literature class. Since then, he & l have briefly talked about it. l asked him once if l could get Oprah's attention for a program, would he go with me. He said, he figures it is all behind us.The morning of 9-11, as l watched the towers burn, firefighters everywhere, medical people waiting for survivors(l am a nurse myself)& seeing the people jumping from almost 100 stories up---l immediately went back to age 7, December l, 1958. l thought of my brother, who was newly retired & called him. We talked for awhile & l didn't mention how l was feeling about OLA--but he brought it up. He said that he was just a kid again & remembering the kids jumping, now seeing it on TV with another horrific event--he said, he didn't see the adults & the WTC, he saw OLA/58 & lots & lots of hurting children. l trembled for days & days. When l finally got my mother's copy of "To Sleep..."to her,(she now lives in WI), we made lot of calls back & forth, talked, cried etc. l began to write notes in my copy & now my best friend has it. l "stopped" being Catholic about age 13 & made an attempt @ returning to the Church 2 yrs ago. For totally unrelated reasons, l did not "get back". l thought it would be a reconcilliation,however, that was not to be.l don't believe that anyone who survives the OLA fire--be it students,parents or the next generations of the families---will ever be free of the ghosts, the heart break & all that goes with it. We had no counselling, & little comfort from our "Church". But, we all still love each other even if we don't know each other, because we have a heart connection like no other. God bless us & keep us in the Right Hand of His Power, forever. AMEN. Valerie Jean (Johnston) Pitts, INDIANA


Posted by: Cheryl Derks On: 6/29/2003 ID: 95
At OLA on 12/1/58? Born before or after 12/1/58? Where Lived on 12/1/58?
No Before Council Bluffs Ia
I was only 6 years old at the time of the fire, but I have a vivid memory of that day. My mother was sitting on a hassock in front of our television, looking very sad and crying. At age 6 to see your mom crying gets your attention very quickly. I had asked what was wrong. She told me of the fire and she was so sad for all the mommies and daddies that had children that wouldn't be coming home that evening. She then hugged me close to her for a long time. I remember feeling so sad for all the children and the nuns. I also went to Catholic school from kindergarten thru college and had a wonderful experience throughout. My prayers continue to be with everyone affected by this tragedy and I would like to thank the survivors who have shared their stories.


Posted by: Kevin Roberts On: 6/28/2003 ID: 94
At OLA on 12/1/58? Born before or after 12/1/58? Where Lived on 12/1/58?
No After n/a
The Our Lady of the Angels School Fire is the most tragic and heart wrenching tragedy that I have ever heard of. I first learned about this terrible tragedy about 15 years ago on the Charlie Rose Show. I was so deeply moved at the time that I could not stop weeping. I was born in 1961 and so I was not even born at the time of fire, but am now only a few years younger than the OLA Survivors. Stories like this are difficult to even think about. Early this morning there was a television program with OLA Survivors on it. Again, a rush of emotions and I found myself openly weeping once again. That is the effect that

this terrible event has on me, and I was not directly affected by the fire. I can only imagine the magnitude of grief the families of the victims, the survivors, and those directly impacted have had to endure. One can only imagine the terror and despair that went on in those classrooms on that terrible day. I think of the Nun's who bravely and desperately tried to protect their student's and lost their lives, and I am deeply deeply moved. When thinking about terrible events like the OLA fire I find myself feeling - wishing - there were some way to go back to prevent the terrible event. Then I think of things such as "if only there had been doors at the second floor hallway to stop the rapidly spreading fire", "if only the fire alarm had been sounded earlier", "if only the fire had occured half an hour later". I think of the innocent children who perished in the OLA fire as Angels. I hope that the Survivors and their families, as well as those who lost children and loved ones can find peace and comfort. I will never forget the "Our Lady of Angels" tragedy. No one who has heard this incredibly sad story could forget it. I will pray for those who died that terrible day, and I will pray for those who survived. God Bless the innocent who perished. God Bless You All., Kevin Roberts, Topeka, Kansas.


Posted by: Jay On: 6/26/2003 ID: 93
At OLA on 12/1/58? Born before or after 12/1/58? Where Lived on 12/1/58?
No Before Queens , NY
I live about 50 miles north of NYC now. I really didn't remember much about the fire since i was 7 in Dec 1958 and living in NYC until i saw a story on WGN which i get on Directv. They talked to some of people who survived the fire and how the Church in Chicago refuses to help them get counseling because they had to hold in almost 45 years of horror inside. I think that is horrible. No one should have to keep something like that inside themselves. I just would like to let all of the folks who need help dealing with this that i support you and wish you find peace one day. I am almost 52 and i know most of you are at least my age or older and i really feel for you.


Posted by: Lillian Montemayor On: 6/26/2003 ID: 92
At OLA on 12/1/58? Born before or after 12/1/58? Where Lived on 12/1/58?
No Before 1709 S. Racine chicago
My name is Lillian at the time i was 8yrs.old and my last name was Baumgardner.I was young but i remember my grandmother and my parents took me to visit some very nice family that were their friends.I was so shocked and hurt to find out their son Aurelius Chiappetta died in the fire i still rememberd going to the funeral and seeing all the pain his parents were in .It was a closed coffin i knew this boy and i can still hear the crying and the sadness and i can still see that beautiful smile he gave me when i met him.MY fathers name was james and my grandmothers name Lillian Baumgardner their both deceased now.My mother is still with us she is 80yrs.old now and i promised her i would try to see ifI wi Adaline i hope i spelled the name right.I just want to express we still remember them in our prayers and to all the loved ones who are in heaven now. I will continue to pray for all the survivers God bless them all.Before i sign off my mothers name is Carmen Baumgardner.Sincerely Lillian Montemayor Email Lillypp@msn.com Thank you.


Posted by: Carol Lloyd Neill On: 6/26/2003 ID: 91
At OLA on 12/1/58? Born before or after 12/1/58? Where Lived on 12/1/58?
No Before 1036 N. Lawndale
I learned of this web site last night. My cousin, Dennis Jackowski, who would have been in 7th grade at OLA in 1958, sent me the link. Dennis and his younger sister, Joann, who was 7 at the time of the fire, had moved to New York because their dad was on a year long assignment for Western Electric.

I was in the first class that went all the way through the new school. I started kindergarten at the brand new school in 1960, graduated in 1969, and have class pictures and the dedication book for the new school. I will scan and share them.

I lived at 1036 N Lawndale. I was three at the time of the fire and have extraordinarily vivid memories of the day. I was playing on the living room floor when my mom looked out the window and said, "Look at those crazy kids running down the street without coats - in December!" Then we heard the sirens. Lots of sirens, coming from every direction. The sirens kept coming and coming. I still get chills when I recall the look of absolute horror on my mother's face as she realized what was happening. She clutched her throat and said, "Oh, my God, it's the school." She put a coat on and ran out the front door. She ran as far as Augusta and Hamlin, then stoppped. She was already choking on smoke. Parents and grandparents were screaming and sobbing as they ran toward the school. She turned around and walked back home.

Of course, no block in the neighborhood was untouched. While no one ever talked about it, the reminders were there every day of my childhood. There was a girl who lived on the corner of Augusta and Lawndale who was extensively scarred and only had limited mobility. Mayor Daley had a taxi cab pick her up and take her to and from school every day. I remember being deeply moved when two fire-scarred young adults in the parish were married. Our beloved Monsignor Cussen never fully recovered from the heartbreak and was an empty shell of a man for his remaining years.

I also remember every December 1st of my grade school career. As the end of the school day approached, we were warned by the teachers not to speak to - or even look at - the reporters and TV cameras that were outside the school. It was a classic 1950's way of dealing with grief... ignore it. At that time, our community truly believed it was cruel to run a news story on the anniversary of the fire. I'm not sure if we realized the families who lost children didn't need a news story to remind them of the void in their lives.

After I grew up, and moved out of Chicago, people would complain about being treated poorly at Catholic schools, but I can honestly say that at OLA we were treated with great love and tenderness... perhaps because our teachers knew better than most how fragile life was and how precious little children are.


Posted by: Marie Borelli Woodruff On: 6/26/2003 ID: 90
At OLA on 12/1/58? Born before or after 12/1/58? Where Lived on 12/1/58?
No Before 5715 N. Campbell Chicago
I was attending St. Hilary's Grammar School. I remember coming home that day and my mother told me about the fire. The reason for my family's interest in the fire, was that a girl that I had grown up with, she is a day older than me, was a student at OLA. I remember that we had been working on Christmas pictures at school and I had the picture clutched in my hands and was crying because I really didn't understand what was happening. My mother tried to get in touch with the girl's family but either there was no answer or the line was busy. I don't think it was till the next day that we were able to get in touch with the family. It was then that I found out that Janice Paganucci was safe. I can't remember if she was in school that day or not, all I know is that she was safe.

Last night while watching TV, I saw a person who I worked with at Teletype talking about the fire. I never knew that Mike Consiglio had any connection to the OLA fire. I saw the web site and felt that I needed to see the site and find out what other people were saying.

I hope that the survivors and their children and families will find peace from this trauma someday. I still recall things about that fire even though I only had a remote connection to the event, I cannot even begin to understand the depth of feelings for those who survived, and the dispair felt by the families who lost their children in what can only be described as a horrific day.


Posted by: Harold Carr On: 6/8/2003 ID: 89
At OLA on 12/1/58? Born before or after 12/1/58? Where Lived on 12/1/58?
No Before 943 N. Harding
My name is Harold Carr and my daughter Kathleen Mary Carr was killed in the OLA fire in Room 210. Diane Karwachi lived next door to us. She was also buried next to where Kathleen was buried. The Malankoski boys are also buried close to the girls.

On the Sunday night before the fire, when I told Kathy and her sister it was time for bed, Kathy said she was scared, and asked me to lay with her. After awhile, she said she was okay now and instead of saying "good night daddy", she said, "good bye daddy"!

When she came home for lunch the day of the fire, she asked her mother if she could stay home. Her mother told her she needed to go back to school, and to remember when you are in school the nun is like your mother and you need to do what ever she tells you to do. She died in the arms of Sister Mary Seraphica Kelley. Because her mother sent her back to school where she died, her mother carried that guilt the rest of her life. Her mother passed away in 1991.

We never had any counseling and we were told to bury your kid and go back to work on Monday as though nothing happened. I wish we would have had counseling like they did after the Columbine tragedy.

To the Catalano girl that lived acrossed the street and remembers Kathy, God Bless you. I would love to hear from you, or anyone else who remembers her.

Harold CArr

8865 E. Baseline Road

Mesa, AZ 85208-5300

480-357-9638

Gammer812@aol.com


Posted by: Josephine Bastianoni On: 5/23/2003 ID: 88
At OLA on 12/1/58? Born before or after 12/1/58? Where Lived on 12/1/58?
No Before River Forest, IL
I was a freshman at a Catholic girls high school and I remember coming home on that December 1st and my mother had the radio on. She had been listening to the news and was very anxious about the fire. I had a younger sister and brother and I am sure that she wished that they would get home. I think her mother's instincts contributed to her concern even though we were all quite far from Our Lady of the Angels school. I also remember listening intently to the radio reports and the t.v. coverage that nights. I remember how the city was in shock and how intense the subsequent days of mourning were covered in the news. The first time I became aware of how people's lives continued to be affected was when my husband and I built a new house in Schaumburg in the early 1970's. As we planned the house we wanted to add a fireplace. In talking with neighbors, they told us that they would never put a fireplace in their home, as one of them had been a survivor of the fire. I had naively never thought about this kind of fear. My husband also worked with a man who had made the same choice for the same reasons.
I became and teacher and I have never forgotten what happened. Last night when I listened to Steve and Johnny interview Charlene, the memories and feelings began to surface in me. I also realize why I am so strict as I move my students out of our building. When I got onto this website, I toured the site and saw the layout of the building. It is very much like the school I teach in. I listened last night as one women (also a teacher) spoke about how her school used the video to show the children how important it is to take the drills seriously. I have copied down the phone number so that I can purchase "Angels Too Soon." I will never let my students take a drill lightly. I want to thank Charlene and all of the others for their courage as they have embraced life in spite of their early experiences. I was particulary interested in Charlene's husband's explanation of why such a trauma is particularly difficult to work through for the survivors.
I would also like to add that it was unfortunate that there were no such things as "crisis counselors" in those days to help all who went through those experiences of intense grief back then. I would also like to thank those who have set up this website. . .there are many of us who may not have realized that we have not fully grieved the images and stories we saw. God bless everyone who has offered the rest of us to share our concern and compassion to them.Hi JAB,AGB