Personal experiences with Our Lady of the Angels School Fire on 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.

Click here to add your OLA fire experience.

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Stories 169 to 160 Stories 149 to 140

Posted by:

Rosemary Cibelli

On:

2/28/2004

ID:

159

Enrolled on 12/1/58?	Present on 12/1/58?	Injured?	Age	Grade	Classroom	Teacher
Yes	Yes	Yes	10	4		Miss Tristano

I remember that day so vividly. I can still see myself walking down Augusta Blvd that morning with my new coat on that I got from making my confirmation just a few weeks before.
About 2:40 pm one of the boys in our room told Miss Tristano there was smoke coming in from the window at the top of the door. Miss Tristano told our class to wait in our seats while she went down the stairs to ring the fire bell. Miss Tristano closed the door behind her and ran down and rang the bell. She then came back up and saw to it that our class escaped alive. This was a very courageous act on her part, she easily could have just left the building when she got to the bottom of the stairs.
I don't believe Miss Tristano was ever recognized for her courage, I'm sure she is responsible for saving hundreds of lives by ringing that bell when she did. Time was certainly of the essence. I have waited many years to thank her for saving my life and hundreds of others.
So Miss Tristano, God Bless You and thank you for your courage. Because of you I am alive and a very proud grandmother of 5. I'm sure God has a very special place for you.

Posted by:

DOLORES LABUDA

On:

2/18/2004

ID:

158

At OLA on 12/1/58?	Born before or after 12/1/58?	Where Lived on 12/1/58?
No	Before	ON THE SOUTH SIDE OF CHICAGO

(Entry removed - please confine messages and discussions to the Message Board)

Posted by:

MICHALENE MANCINI POGGI

On:

2/18/2004

ID:

157

Enrolled on 12/1/58?	Present on 12/1/58?	Injured?	Age	Grade	Classroom	Teacher
Yes	Yes	No				MISS ROSSI

(Entry removed - please confine messages and discussions to the Message Board)

Posted by:

On:

2/10/2004

ID:

156

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

I just want to add some information that Bill (Entry 155) might find clarifying. The Adrian Dominican Sisters whom you had at St. Mary, Royal Oak, Michigan, did indeed run many, many Chicago parish schools and one of those schools was named Queen of Angels, which was also on the North Side (Sunnyside Street). (By the way, there was yet another Northside parish school called St. Mary of the Angels.) On Decmber 1, 1958, the confusion caused by these three similar names for Northside Catholic schools was tremendous. It was a very reasonable misunderstanding to think that the Adrian Dominicans were involved at OLA. Wherever the Adrian Dominicans taught they were really loved by their students. My memories come from St. Ambrose in Grosse Pointe, Michigan, and earlier from Saint Rita on the southside of Chicago.

Posted by:

Bill

On:

2/9/2004

ID:

155

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

I was in the second grade at St. Mary in Royal Oak Michigan. For some reason I thought our nuns were teaching at OLA (Adrian Dominicans) during the time of the fire. They made it sound like they were there. I learned different when I found your site. I had the wonderful opportunity of E-mailing Charlene before her death. What a fantastic person!!!!! I remember being told the students had to stay in there desks and pray tell the firemen came. Your site has answers to my questions about the fire ,nuns, and students. I always wonder thoughout my life how it started and what happend. I hope to get a hold of the two books about the fire. I would like to hear from the former students if possible. GOD BLESS YOU ALL Bill

Posted by:

DOLORES LABUDA

On:

2/8/2004

ID:

154

At OLA on 12/1/58?	Born before or after 12/1/58?	Where Lived on 12/1/58?
No	Before	I LIVED ON THE SOUTH SIDE. BUT MY MOM & SISTER LIVED ON THE NORTH

I AM WRITING THIS TO MICHALENE (MANCINI) POGGI. I WAS READING YOUR PERSONAL EXPERIENCE. AND DIANA GAZZOLA IS MY COUSIN I WAS SURPRIZED TO READ HER NAME. YOU SEE MY SISTER DIED IN THE FIRE HER NAME WAS CAROL ANN GAZZOLA, SHE WAS IN ROOM 211. IT WAS SUCH A SAD DAY FOR ALL OF US. I WOULD LIKE TO TELL YOU HOW SORRY I AM THAT YOUR HUSBAND DIED, AT SUCH A YOUNG AGE. GOD WORKS IN STRANGE WAYS, HE SAVED YOU AND YOUR HUSBAND FROM THE FIRE, BECAUSE HE HAD PLANS FOR THE TWO OF YOU. I AM SURE YOU HAD MANY YEARS OF HAPPINESS TOGETHER. MAY GOD BE WITH YOU AND YOUR FAMILY ALWAYS. GOD BLESS YOU, DOLORES LABUDA

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.

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