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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: Susan Garstki McManus On: 12/2/2008 ID: 437
At OLA on 12/1/58? Born before or after 12/1/58? Where Lived on 12/1/58?
No Before Harlem and Foster area, Chicago NW Side
I was eight years old and in the third grade at St. Monica School at 5100 N. Montclare Ave. I remember watching the TV and reading the newspapers, and praying in school for the sisters and children who were killed.

Sometime after that, a boy came to our school who had been in the fire. He was a year older than I, so he had been in fourth grade at the time of the fire. His name was Leroy. I can't remember his last name. His head had apparently been severely burnt, and we wore a head covering covering the back of his head. It was somewhat like a bonnet and tied under his chin.

My dad's family was from St. Hyacinth's, and everyone seemed to know of someone who had been there.


Posted by: Evelyn Bonilla On: 12/2/2008 ID: 436
At OLA on 12/1/58? Born before or after 12/1/58? Where Lived on 12/1/58?
No Before Newark, New Jersey
I remember the nuns at St. Lucy's Catholic School in Newark, NJ telling us that 90 school children died in a fire and that was why we had fire drills. We all vacated the upstairs of the building very quietly although I was very self-conscious of going down the fire escape since in those days girls wore jumpers and I thought all the boys were looking up at us. Years later, I became a teacher and for 25 years always reprimanded my students for their cavalier attitude during a drill. I would tell them one thing I take seriously is a fire drill and I would recount the story. One day looked up on the internet "school fires" but this did not come up and it only showed a few public school fires. This made me doubt my story. Today 12/2/08 I sadly viewed the 50th anniversary of that loss. It still brings tears.


Posted by: Gerri On: 12/2/2008 ID: 435
At OLA on 12/1/58? Born before or after 12/1/58? Where Lived on 12/1/58?
No Before Wheeling, IL
We lived in a three-flat near St. Hyacinth Parish. My parents, grandparents, aunts and uncles, were all well familiar with the neighborhood and where OLA school and church stood. Although I was only three years old, I can recall flashes of memory from the TV and then hearing my parents talk about the fire.

Later as an adult, and a Registered Nurse, I had the priviledge of knowing and caring for Ms. Michelle McBride, one of the survivors, who also wrote a book entitled, "The Fire and Will Not Die". The stories she and her family shared will always have an impact on me.

I attended the 40th, 45th, and 50th anniversary masses and each time was extremely touched and overwhelmed with emotion. May God bless all the angels and those who risked their lives to help others that fateful day.


Posted by: Kathleen Powers Goodridge On: 12/2/2008 ID: 434
At OLA on 12/1/58? Born before or after 12/1/58? Where Lived on 12/1/58?
No Before Chicago, IL / Little Flower Parish
On December 1, 1958, I was a nine year old in the fourth grade at Little Flower School on the South Side at the corner of 80th and Honore Streets. In many ways OLA School reminds me of Little Flower School. After the tragedy, new fire alarms were installed on every floor at a level that children could reach, and we were instructed in their use. Starting in January 1959 and continuing throughout my grammar school days, the Chicago Fire Department regularly supervised our fire drills several times a year. Some drills were announced in advance so we could be ready and wearing our coats, but most drills were unannounced. I remember one drill in particular. The fire alarm sounded, and the entire school evacuated the building to stand in quiet lines on the streets. After just ten minutes or so, we returned to our classrooms, sat at our desks, opened our books, and the fire alarm sounded again. Again, we evacuated the building. The CFD was timing us, and we had not evacuated quickly enough the first time. I, and my 1400 classmates at Little Flower School, were safer during the rest of our school days, thanks to the sacrifices of the OLA students and their families.


Posted by: Father G. Gardner On: 12/2/2008 ID: 433
At OLA on 12/1/58? Born before or after 12/1/58? Where Lived on 12/1/58?
No After n/a
I came across this web-site a few years ago while I was helping out at at a church on the south-side of Chicago. I wasn't even born when this horrific event took place nor do I know any of the victims or even anyone affected by the OLA fire but I have to say that when I saw the web-site the first time and read the accounts and stories of those involved, I was moved to tears. How can anyone look upon this tragedy and not be moved. I have not dared to post anything until now, for fear that it would seem out of place or incorrect as someone who just stumbled upon the site. I suppose though that this is one reason why this site was created...so that we learn of what happened on that fateful December day in 1958. So that we know of the sorrow and pain that the victims and their parents, friends and relatives went through and still go through. But more importantly that we can pray for and remember not only those who lost their lives but also those who suffered and still suffer from this event, so that we can do all in our power that nothing like this ever happens again and that those little angels and the the three heroic nuns who perished will never be forgotten. It being the 50th anniversary of the fire and as a token of my respect and sympathy for the victims both living and dead and all those who were affected in any way by this tragedy, I offered mass for your intentions and for the repose of the souls of those who died and my holy hour yesterday was offered for the same intentions. I hope the little that I have done will help...


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.