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.

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Story Index

Stories 442 to 433 Stories 422 to 413

Posted by:

Antonio S. Correa

On:

12/2/2008

ID:

432

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

Although I was not born at the time of this tragic incident, I attended St. Joseph Elementary School on 4800 S. Paulina. I don't think any of our teachers were at OLA in 1958 but they always told us stories of the tradegy. Mainly to keep us from goofing around during fire drills, which we had as often as we had mass. Everyone knew where the fire alarms were as well as the fire extinguishers. Remembering the stories and finding this web site makes it almost surreal. My prayers go out to all those who lost someone on this day. It was in hearing these stories that many students took fire drills very seriously at my school 1985-1989.

Posted by:

Rhonda (Smith) Kline

On:

12/2/2008

ID:

431

At OLA on 12/1/58?	Born before or after 12/1/58?	Where Lived on 12/1/58?
No	Before	1052 N Lawndale Ave Chicago, IL

First let me say my prayers are with the familes that lost loved ones. There isn't much I remember except i was about 5 an dmust have been put down for a nap. Because when I woke up my mom was gone and a neighbor was with me and my brother. Through the years I saw articles that my mom had saved. I was wondering why she went down there and I see from the map on this site that a couple of kids lived near us which must be the reason she went. I was surprised to see that it had been 50 years. Reading about it now it was such a tragedy.

Posted by:

Linda Trytek

On:

12/2/2008

ID:

430

At OLA on 12/1/58?	Born before or after 12/1/58?	Where Lived on 12/1/58?
No	Before	1120 N. Francisco

I was six years old, a first grader at St. Mark's school on Cortez and Rockwell in Sr. Marie Michael's class. The school was built in 1910, and was just as much a fire-trap as OLA. My class had 50 students, no sprinklers, no fire doors, wood floors, stairs and wrought iron and wood desks. The cloak room was an unlit nightmare. I had only been at St. Mark's for three months on 12/1/1958. We heard lots of sirens that day. Even now when I hear sirens I want to know where they're headed--a school? my home?? The scariest part of that tragedy is that it could have happened to any of us.

In October of 1962 my parents had a stillborn son who was buried at Queen of Heaven cemetery in Hillside, close to the children from OLA. When visiting the cemetery my parents seemed as sad at the OLA memorial as they were at my brother's tiny grave, and we would say prayers in both places.

In the 1980's I was a social worker at a psychiatric hospital. One of the patients had survived the OLA fire but continued to have many emotional scars from the experience. Both her teacher and best friend died that day. Sometimes even psychotherapy and medication wasn't enough to heal those wounds.

For the last 14 years I've taught preschool, and have taken each fire drill with utmost seriousness. My very young charges are sometimes terrified by what they think is a "real" fire. While I reassure them, I also make sure they keep moving out the door to our gathering place. I too always scan public places for the exits, and always read the safety information cards on airplanes, just in case. My children have been frequently instructed to do the same.

If anyone doubts that "we are all connected", let them read these accounts. I have been humbled by the extent of the effects of this tragedy on everyone who lived through it, and on everyone who has learned about it from their relatives, friends, teachers, this website, and ordinary people like me. May the Lord grant us all peace.

Posted by:

Marcie

On:

12/1/2008

ID:

429

At OLA on 12/1/58?	Born before or after 12/1/58?	Where Lived on 12/1/58?
No	Before	St. Louis, MO

It seems incredible that 50 years have gone by since I came home from school and learned about the terrible tragedy unfolding in Chicago. I had just had my twelfth birthday a couple of weeks before, and since many of the victims were my age, it seemed almost personal. I still grieve to think of how their lives came to such a horrible end. They missed so many innocent pleasures. To any survivors or relatives remembering this tragic event today, I hope you've found comfort and peace at last in knowing that your darlings are safe with God, and that you'll know only happiness in the future. God bless you all.

Posted by:

Maryann

On:

12/1/2008

ID:

428

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

I was 9 years old and it was my little brother's birthday. A small party had been planned and excitement was brewing in the house. For some reason the t.v. got clicked on while preparations were still being made and the terrible tragedy was unfolding in front of everyone's eyes. How sad for all that were involved in any way that day--the party was cancelled and the rest of the afternoon into evening was centered around the television and the news. We prayed aloud for all the lost souls that nite and were reminded often times after to be aware of fire always. I know I'll never forget that day
and the feelings of fear a nine year old can carry.
God bless the families and the survivors.

Posted by:

Mary Beth

On:

12/1/2008

ID:

427

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 this 50th anniversary, I would just like to say to all the survivors, (family members, relatives, friends, etc.) you are in my thoughts and prayers everyday, but especially today. At two o'clock today I prayed that God could take us all back in time and make that sad, little boy not start this fire and all would be ok. Of course, for whatever reason, that was not God's plan. I pray for all those little, beautiful angels everyday and know that they are watching from above and probably have been so happy in heaven all of these years. I know they wish they could take away all of your grieving and sorrow. It is hard to look at their beautiful little faces in the picture memorials, so happy and sweet and innocent. Some of those little faces have stuck with me more than others and it just breaks my heart to think how their parents and families had to go on without them. I can not even begin to imagine the amount of pain and suffering to try to live on without your child with you. God bless all of you and may God give you the strength to go on and please know that there are so many people who are thinking of you and praying for you everyday. With much love and prayers, God bless and keep you.

Posted by:

Meagan

On:

12/1/2008

ID:

426

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

I was not alive to see this happen, but as i heard and watched videos of this tarible event i stared to cry. It is so hard to see what has happen over the years due to fire safty needs not being met. I have never thought that a story fro so long ago could affect e like this. Once i had read and seen the movies on what happen on that tarible day i had to read more about it. All tough i cried i felt as if i needed to know about it. I feel so bad for everyone that was affected by this horible day, for if i am affected by it, and i wasnt there or even alive, i can not even begin to think of what the people who were there are going through. I am studying to be a fire fighter for reasons like this i would love to make a difference. I am sorry if this offened any one for i did not mean to. I am soooo sorry for everyone that was a part of what happen that horible day... and i hope that every one will find peace in this one day.....

Meagan Rabner
12/1/09

Posted by:

Lynette Myles

On:

12/1/2008

ID:

425

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

I was 7 years old and in the second grade at Fuller Elementary School in Chicago at the time. I will never forget the tragedy at Our Lady of the Angels. I vividly remembered my mother and teacher talking about the fire for days after the tragedy. My teacher spent time instructing us what to do in case of fire at our school. Also I remembered the number of fire drills we did at my school following the fire. My family moved from Chicago to St. Louis in 1960; I did not attend public schools after the move. After that, I attended parochial schools in St. Louis (St. Alphonsus Rock, St. Theresa, and St. Mark and St. Mark High School for girls until I attended college. I am deeply sorry for the families and my prayers will continue for them. I will never forget the tragedy at Our Lady of the Angels. My grief over the losses of the students is still intense today. I don't understand this myself but the tragedy has engulfed me more since September of this year. Recently, I finished the book about the fire that was published in 1996 and it brought back to me the stories I had heard from my second grade teacher at the time. I have been thinking and praying for the students and the families all day today and will continue to do so. I am so very sorry. I will never forget.

Posted by:

Anyacat

On:

12/1/2008

ID:

424

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

I attended OLA for religious instruction because my parents thought the school was too far for me to travel from our home on Ferdinand and Ridgeway. My closest friend escaped the fire (she was in room 208) because she told her mother she didn't want to go back after lunch. I remember the school as dark and scary. I remember the neighborhood well. I remember the horror of watching the drama unfold on television and later, the names of people I knew, reported as injured or dead. My poor mother was caught on the Chicago Avenue bus with two children, age 5 and 8, right at the intersection that provided an excellent view of the fire and children jumping from windows.

Posted by:

Marge Marzullo Wilson

On:

12/1/2008

ID:

423

Enrolled on 12/1/58?	Present on 12/1/58?	Injured?	Age	Grade	Classroom	Teacher
Yes	Yes	No	12	7	208	Sister Mary St. Canice

How can it be fifty years ago today? And the same day of the week. I didn't know this site existed until a few years ago and, it many ways, it was a comfort so many years past due. That day, Sister Mary Eunice, who JoAnn Pelletier (sp?)and I helped out before school, had asked us if we could come down before the end of school to help pass out birthday treats for one of her first graders. Sister Canice gave us permission and we left Room 208 early. I remember waving good-bye to my dear friend Patty Dryzmala who sat in the last seat of a row near the back door where we exited. We walked down the infamous stairway but there was nothing amiss. During the maybe 20-25 minutes we were with the first graders, I was asked to run to the convent which I did. Again, I saw or heard nothing unusual. Then the fire alarm. Thinking it just a drill, we got all the first graders dressed and led them out the doors on Avers. There I saw what will forever be apart of my life. I looked up at those windows and saw one nun pushing children out and saw lifeless uniformed bodies on the ground. We herded the children up Avers nearer Augusta avenue and waited. Somehow I was able to call home. My younger sister had died just a few years earlier and I wanted my mom to know I was okay. Then some of my classmates came down the street, no shoes and smelling of smoke but alive. That night, our phone rang constantly as some of my friends mothers were hoping their daughters were at our home. And I watched Frank Reynolds on TV as the names of my friends rolled by on the screen.
Until an OLA reunion many years ago, we never ever talked about what had shattered our childhoods. And for so long I prayed that God would show me why I was saved, what unbelievable thing was I meant to accomplish with my life. Not surpisingly, no clear answer came and the guilt many of us seemed to have felt remained for many years. I was also in NYC on 9/11,at the World Trade Center on 9/9 and 9/10, but nothing will compare to what happened 50 yrs. ago today.

Stories 442 to 433 Stories 422 to 413

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