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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: MICHALENE (MANCINI) POGGI On: 2/8/2004 ID: 153
Enrolled on 12/1/58? Present on 12/1/58? Injured? Age Grade Classroom Teacher
Yes Yes No 12 6 ? MISS ROSSI
I REMEMBER THE SCHOOL WAS OLD AND THE STAIRWAY WAS VERY NARROW BY THE SIDE I WAS IN. I ALSO REMEMBER THE CLOKE ROOM ALL FULL OF COATS AND HATS AND BOOTS. I REMEMBER WE WERE HAVING HISTORY AND A STUDENT IN THE BACK OF THE ROOM SAYING HE SMELLED SMOKE. MISS ROSSI OPENED THE DOOR AND THE HALL WAS FULL OF SMOKE AND SHE SAID FOR ALL OF US TO GET UP AND SLOWLY WALK INTO THE HALL AND WALK DOWN THE STEPS. I HEARD KIDS CALLING FOR THEIR MOMS AND DAD'S AND SOME WERE SAYING THE ACT OF CONTRITUTI0N. I REMEMBER SOMEONE SAYING TO OPEN THE WINDOW ABOVE THE STAIRS BUT IT WOULDN'T OPEN. SO A BOY AT THE TIME TOOK HIS SHOE OFF AND SMASHED THE WINDOW.I DIDN'T KNOW IT BUT 11 YEARS LATER THAT BOY WOULD BE MY HUSBAND.I REMEMBER THAT DIANE GAZZOLA'S BRACE CAME OFF AND FATHER OGNEBENE AND SISTER MARY AUDREE ANN WOULD CARRY HER DOWN THE STAIRS. I REMEMBER WHEN I GOT TO THE FIRST FLOOR HOW CLEAR IT WAS AND THEIR WAS NO SMOKE THERE.I WAS GETTING READY TO GO ACROSS THE STREET TO THE NUN'S CONVENT AND A FIRE ENGENE CAME DRIVING DOWN THE STREET. I REMEMBER ALL THE KIDS JUST STANDING THERE, AND THEN WE ALL WENT TO THE CHURCH.I GOT MARRIED 11 YEARS LATER IN THE CHURCH TO BILL POGGI.HE WAS A PILOT IN THE AIR FORCE THEN HE RETIRED AND WAS A PILOT FOR FEDERAL EXPRESS WE HAVE A SON WHO IS 31 AND A DAUGHTER WHO IS 28, BILL HAD A VERY GOOD LIFE.HE WAS A OUTSTANDING PILOT AND LOVED TO FLY. HE PASSED AWAY ON SEPT.9TH. HE HAD JUST TURNED 54 IN AUGUST,HE HAD A MASSIVE HEART ATTACT. WE BOTH HAD A LOT IN COMOM SINCE WE ONLY LIVED ONE BLOCK AWAY FROM EACH OTHER IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD. YOU COULD SAY WE GREW UP TOGETHER SINCE BILL WAS 16 AND I WAS 17 WHEN WE STARTED DATING. WE GOT MARRIED ON NOVEMBER 22,1969.


Posted by: ROSE WILLIAMS On: 2/5/2004 ID: 152
At OLA on 12/1/58? Born before or after 12/1/58? Where Lived on 12/1/58?
No After n/a
(Entry removed - please confine messages and discussions to the Message Board)


Posted by: Patti On: 2/5/2004 ID: 151
At OLA on 12/1/58? Born before or after 12/1/58? Where Lived on 12/1/58?
No Before 844 N. Ridgeway
(Entry removed - please confine messages and discussions to the Message Board)


Posted by: Rose Williams On: 2/4/2004 ID: 150
At OLA on 12/1/58? Born before or after 12/1/58? Where Lived on 12/1/58?
No After n/a
I HAD RECENTLY PUT A PERSONAL STORY ON THE MESSAGE BOARD BACK IN NOVEMBER 2003, DO YOU KNOW EVERYDAY I AM ON THIS WEBSITE MY LIFE HAS TRULY BEEN TOUCHED BY WHAT HAPPEN TO THOSE NUNS AND THOSE CHILDREN I HAVE BEEN DEEPLY SADDEN AND FOR SOME REASONS I CAN'T QUITE EXPLAIN IT STAYS ON MY MIND ALL THE TIME, JUST THE OTHER DAY ME AND MY FIANCE WERE LOOKING OUT OF THE BACK WINDOW I LIVE ON THE SECOND FLOOR OF A TWO FLAT BUILDING MY DAD OWNS AND I HAVE ALWAYS BEEN AFRAID OF HEIGHT, I AM LOOKING DOWN AND I TOLD MY FIANCE, I WONDER IF THE SCHOOL WAS TALLER THAN A TWO FLAT BUILDING, IT REALLY PUZZLES ME I SOMETIMES WONDER IF THAT WERE ME IN THAT SCHOOL AT SOME OF THOSE YOUNGER THAN THE 13 YEAR OLD ONES IF I WOULD HAVE JUMPED OR IF I WOULD HAVE BEEN AFRAID TO JUMP BECAUSE I AM AND HAS ALWAYS BEEN AFRAID OF HEIGHT, IT IS REALLY SOMETHING TO THINK ABOUT, IT REALLY MAKES ME WONDER. I WAS ALSO SADDEN THAT THEY WERE TOLD NOT TO TALK ABOUT THE FIRE THAT REALLY BOTHERS ME TO THINK OF HOW LIFE IS NOW AND HOW IT WAS BACK THEN ITS A WONDER A LOT OF PEOPLE DIDN'T GO CRAZY, LIVING WITH ALL THAT PAIN AND NOT BEING ABLE TO TALK ABOUT IT. I LIVE ON THE WEST SIDE OF CHICAGO AND I GET IN MY CAR OFTEN AND DRIVE OVER TO THE SITE OF THE SCHOOL, JUST TO SEE THE SITE I CAN'T BELEIVE THE PEOPLE IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD HAVE NOT EVEN HEARD OR SOME OF THEM DON'T EVEN KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT THE FIRE THAT HAPPEN AT THE SCHOOL. I HAVE A QUESTION IF SOMEONE COULD ANSWER THIS ONE FOR ME HOW TALL WAS THE SCHOOL WAS IT AS TALL AS A TWO FLAT BUILDING OR NO? I HAVE BEEN ON THE SITE WHERE THEY HAVE ALL THE PICTURES TO PUT WITH THE NAMES OF THE CHILDREN WHO DIED AND IT IS VERY NICE. I AM NOT AN OLA SURVIVOR NOR WAS I EVEN BORN YET, BUT AS I SAID IN THE BEGINNING MY LIFE HAS TRULY BEEN TOUCHED BY THIS WEB SITE AND KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK I READ THE MESSAGES EVERYDAY FAITHFULLY MAY GOD BLESS AND KEEP YOU ALL IN HIS CARE FOREVER.


Posted by: RMontgomery On: 1/25/2004 ID: 149
At OLA on 12/1/58? Born before or after 12/1/58? Where Lived on 12/1/58?
No Before Teaneck, New Jersey
I was in the fifth grade at Saint Anastasia School in Teaneck, New Jersey at the time of the fire. I remember reading about the fire in the newspapers and seeing the pictures of those killed on the the front pages. This was the first time that I realized that children and adults could be killed in a fire. The story of the fire was probably the first time I actually paid attention to current events. As a family, we knelt and prayed at night for those that died and for those that were injured and their families. It seemed like a dark Christmas, since you could not forget this tragic event and what had to be happening to the families involved. You also felt helplessness since you could not do anything to help other then pray. At the time of the fire my father was the Town's Fire Inspector and I remember his efforts in re-inspecting the schools, holding timed evacuation drills and my brother recently told me of his fight with the autominous Board of Education to improve school safety. Although stored in one's memory, I never forgot this fire and the tragedy surrounding it. On December 1, 2003, my daughter Erin called me at my part-time employment (always calls to tease about working when she is off duty (she is a nurse), "Oh, you're working buddy, sorry to hear that", etc) and asked me what day it was, I stated that I had no clue. She then reminded me of "the fire in Chicago", and I let my guard down (as we only do with family) and told her the story again and how it always had impacted me. I told her if I ever had a chance to go to Chicago, I wanted to go to the OLA Site, pay my respects and just leave having no one know I was there. Typical of fathers, when Christmas was approaching, I didn't want or need anything. When Christmas Day came, she told me that her and her sister (Tracy Schoenberg)were giving me "a gift" of a trip to Chicago and a chance to pay my respects. I can't tell you how much this meant to me and how thoughtful a gift this was.On January 10, 2004, we flew to Chicago, took an afternoon walking tour of the city and then was picked up at the hotel by John Raymond and his wonderful wife Kathy. That night, the night of the fund raiser, we got to meet the wonderful members of "Friends of OLA". This took me back to a great time when working class families lived in the neighborhood of the church and Catholic education was the best. Everybody at the dinner made you feel welcome and I got to share in the joy of the moment, witnessing reunions and friendships that go back years. OLA and the memories are important to all survivors and the memories of those lost are not to be forgotton. The evening was upbeat with the purpose of Friends of OLA organization a positive presence. The next day we visited the OLA site, Friends of OLA's memorial monument, a local firehouse and the surrounding neighborhood and flew back home.I sincerely want to thank John and Kathy Raymond and their dear friend Dan Consolazio for making this trip such a memorable experience. I was able to pay my long overdue respects in person and share something important to me, from my childhood with my daughters. Having been in the fire service for almost 33 years and having seeing plenty of tragedies over the years I never became case hardened where it didn't impact me. What happened in those split seconds years ago was tragic but like all things tragic and out of our control those impacted must try and do something good. Friends of OLA is just that, something positive coming from something so tragic.To all the members of Friends of OLA, keep up the good work and a sincere thank you for making my daughter, Erin, and I feel so welcome.


Posted by: Brooke On: 1/23/2004 ID: 148
At OLA on 12/1/58? Born before or after 12/1/58? Where Lived on 12/1/58?
No After n/a
My 8th grade class is doing a team research paper on the Our Lady of the Angels fire. I am in Courtney's class, and her story is in here also. It all started in September when we had a fire drill. We then questioned why we had them, which led us in great depth to this reasearch paper. We have had survivors of the fire come in to speak to us about that day. What Courtney said is true, our whole class has a different topic. There are power points, 3d models, information on PTSD, virtual reality tours, and so much more. We have gained more knowledge from the fire from watching the documentary "Angels Too Soon". Our class is also reading books entitled, "The Fire That Will Not Die" and "To Sleep With The Angels". I was shocked when I saw and read the horrible results of what happened at OLA. When my class veiwed the images on the documentary, I think reality finally set in that it wasn't made up or fake.These were real people with their lives in danger. I was astounded by the graphic images of the children my own age, realizing that not one school will burn and that's it. Even though I don't go to a Catholic school, I think it's safe to say that every child can relate to that fear, panic, and sadness. But we didn't experience it the way that those children did. It just goes to show you that it takes something dangerous and sad like a fire (and the grandfathering clause)to show people that they need to change things. But unfortunately in this case, it had to happen to children like my class, which is probably why it touched us the most. Thank you for taking the time to read this, and I encourage all of you to read Courtney's story as well.


Posted by: Courtney On: 1/21/2004 ID: 147
At OLA on 12/1/58? Born before or after 12/1/58? Where Lived on 12/1/58?
No After n/a
my 8th grade class is doing a team research paper on an event that changed fire codes in schools. we have been researching since september when a fire alarm went off at school. This really changed our class once we saw the channel 11 movie, and reading the books to sleep with the angels and the fire that will not die. people in our class are doing 3-D models, virtual reality tours, and so on. Our class has learned many things that we take for granted. Hopefully the tradgeic event will never happen again.


Posted by: Elvis ramirez On: 1/21/2004 ID: 146
At OLA on 12/1/58? Born before or after 12/1/58? Where Lived on 12/1/58?
No After n/a
I READ ABOUT THIS IN MR.BROGANS CLASS, I THINK ITS VERY SAD. I KNOW UNDERSTAND WHY WE HAVE FIRE DRILLS N STUFF. I GO TO DE LA SALLE INSTITUTE AND GRADUATED FROM OUR LADY OF TEPEYAC.


Posted by: Johnny Mitchell On: 1/21/2004 ID: 145
At OLA on 12/1/58? Born before or after 12/1/58? Where Lived on 12/1/58?
No After n/a
It was very shocking when I heard of this story. My grammar school never had any fire equipment. If I knew in my school days I would have really strived for better safety. God I hope it never happens again. God Bless those Families. I attend De La Salle(Chicago). My History of Chicago class has been studing this disaster.


Posted by: Linda On: 1/17/2004 ID: 144
At OLA on 12/1/58? Born before or after 12/1/58? Where Lived on 12/1/58?
No Before Chicao, Illinois
I was a month short of 4 years old when the fire took my aunt (Carol Gazzola), 9 years my senior, away from us. I don't remember a lot of specifics about her, except that she played with my younger sister and me often and left us with a warm feeling. I do remember a phone call on the day of the fire and my mother's frantic cries. I remember many such calls and a feeling of panic in the house. I also recall trying to watch the news on TV. With my 4 year old mind, I knew that there was a fire, but did not totally comprehend what happened that dreadful day. But, I knew my aunt was gone forever. I did not realize the impact of this event on my life as a young child until my son was 4 years old. That year, my aunt, as her 13 year old self in a beautiful white dress arose from a glass casket in my dream and told me "I'm okay, Linda, everthing is all right." I felt a deep feeling of peace and realized the impact she had on my life. I have always had at least one friend in my life that was 8-10 years older than I, but did not realize that possible connection until I was in my 40's. I have always felt for my grandmother and mother, but never comprehended the impact the fire could have on a young child removed from the actual events, until much later in life. The biggest hurdle I had to overcome was turning 14 and realizing that I had not died as my aunt did at such an early age. If I could experience this, considering my circumstances, I can only imagine the trauma others in closer connection to that day must have suffered. You all are survivors and I hope your faith has guided you through your healing as mine has. I think we will all remember the angels that the fire created that day and pray for them and the survivors often.