Personal experiences with Our Lady of the Angels School Fire on December 1, 1958

nUserID=0

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.

Click here to add your OLA fire experience.

Story Index

Stories 159 to 150 Stories 139 to 130

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.

Posted by:

Nayele

On:

1/14/2004

ID:

143

At OLA on 12/1/58?	Born before or after 12/1/58?	Where Lived on 12/1/58?
No	After	n/a

when i heard about the story it was sad i thought about the people that died. i cant imagine how could someone lose their life by the fire. i think that that was unfair to all the children that died and the teachers i heard the story by my teacher. i found everything else by the net. i feel sorry for all the moms and dads kids that suffered a lot.i hope that that story never happens again.

Posted by:

DOLORES LABUDA

On:

1/11/2004

ID:

142

At OLA on 12/1/58?	Born before or after 12/1/58?	Where Lived on 12/1/58?
No	Before	CHICAGO

WELL I AM A SISTER OF CAROL ANN GAZZOLA WHO DIED IN THE SCHOOL FIRE.I ALSO WENT TO THAT SCHOOL,I GRADUATRED IN 1946. I WAS 14 YEARS OLDER THEN MY SISTER. I HELPED MY MOM RAISE HER, SHE WAS LIKE MY CHILD. THE DAY THIS HORRIBLE FIRE STARTED, I WAS ORDERING FOR A BOOK SOME CLOTHS FOR MY SISTER FOR CHRISTMAS. WHEN I GOT THIS PHONE CALL FROM MY BEST FRIEND, TELLING ME THE SCHOOL WAS ON FIRE. SO I SAID LET ME CALL HER TO SEE IF SHE WAS HOME, WELL THE PHONE WAS BUSY SO I THOUGHT SHE WAS HOME. TILL I GOT A PHONE CALL FROM MY MOM, IT SEEM THE FLOOR DROPED FROM UNDER MY FEET. I LIVED ON THE SOUTH SIDE ON THEY LIVED ON THE NORTH SIDE.AND BEING PREGANT 8MONTHS I COULN'T DO TO MUCH BESIDE I HAD TWO OTHER CHILDREN. BUT WE COULDN'T FINE MY SISTER FOR 47 HOURS. SHE WAS IN THE REAL BAD ROOM 211. BUT SHE IS MY LITTLE ANGEL. I DON'T KNOW WHY GOD TOOK OUR LITTLE ONES, BUT GOD HAS A REASON FOR EVERYTHING. I AN SORRY FOR ALL THE FAMLIES THAT HAD TO GO THOUGHT THIS ORDEAL. I THINK OF MY SISTER EVERY DAY AND LOVE HER VERY MUCH. GOD BLESS YOU ALL DOLORES LABUDA

Posted by:

mary

On:

1/1/2004

ID:

141

Enrolled on 12/1/58?	Present on 12/1/58?	Injured?	Age	Grade	Classroom	Teacher
Yes	No	No	7	3

I was in 3rd grade, I remember my classroom was in the lower level. I do not remember my teachers name. I was absent the day of the school fire. Even tho I did not witness the horrific events that took place that day, I remember it vididly. My father told me about that day when he was on his way home from work and heard about the fire on the radio. He did not know that I had been kept home because of all reasons, my baby sister had poked me in the eye. It was so painful I could not open my eye and remember I was in bed when my dad came home frantically telling my mom that the school was on fire. When he found out I was home he ran to the school. We lived on Pulaski Ave. and my grandpartens lived on Springfield. They were both there and told me heartbraking stories of what took place that fateful day. I do not know why God spared me from that day, I probably would have survived, my 3rd grade class survived. I did not see the horror of that day, but I will never forget that day.

Posted by:

Ralph Zaccariello

On:

12/24/2003

ID:

140

At OLA on 12/1/58?	Born before or after 12/1/58?	Where Lived on 12/1/58?
No	Before	Oak Park, IL

I vividly remember the day of the fire although I was in the second grade at St. Edmund School in Oak Park because one of my classmates, Rosemary Di Canio had just moved in from OLA and we all prayed with her.

As a junior in high school I researched the OLA fire for a term paper. I talked with survivors as well as some Chicago firefighters that were at the fire. One firefighter, Lt. Stanley Wojnicki of Engine 85 commanded the first arriving Chicago Fire Dept. unit at the scene. During his account of what he saw when he first arrived at the scene, Lt. Wojnicki bagan to cry. I will always remember that. As a result of the research that I had done and the contacts that I had made with the Chicago Fire Dept., Chief John Wall from headquarters would forward any inquiries about the OLA fire to me.

Many years later Greg Cowan wrote his book To Sleep With The Angels. I bought the book to read on a trip. I began reading it at ten in the morning on Saturday and finished it at eight in the morning on Monday. The book kept me in it for all that time. I COULD NOT PUT IT DOWN!!!!! Dave Cowan did a tremendous research job on this book and ALL the names and stories took on a stronger meaning to me.

I will never forget OLA and pray often for all those people whose lives this tragic event touched. God Speed, Father Joe.

Stories 159 to 150 Stories 139 to 130

Back

Top of Page

Home