OLAFire Logo
Our Lady of the Angels (OLA) School Fire, 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.        

Posted by: Flo Brady Stanton On: 12/1/2009 ID: 496
At OLA on 12/1/58? Born before or after 12/1/58? Where Lived on 12/1/58?
No Before Chicago
December 1, 1958... "The Day Santa Cried." That was the caption under the newspaper's picture of a drawing of Santa's face posted on a display board in one of the classrooms in Our Lady of the Angels School. What was once a child's vision of Santa was now, after the fire, a reflection of the horror of the day. The picture of the otherwise intact drawing showed long, black streaks under Santa's eyes that ran down the length of his face. They were tears as real as I and so many others shed with the unimaginable loss of lives and injuries due to the fire.

I was 15 years old and a sophomore at Mother McAuley High School located on the far South Side of Chicago. I don't remember hearing of the fire before I left school that day. I do remember walking into my home and finding my mother and grandmother crying in disbelief as they sat in front of the television. I couldn't begin to comprehend what they were watching. I hugged my three siblings who were safely home from "grammar" school and cried for the children (having no idea how many) who would never make it home. My youngest sibling turned four that day. How bittersweet singing "Happy Birthday" knowing there were families (having no idea how many) who would never again celebrate their children's birthdays. To learn 92 children and three nuns died as a result of the fire is but another senseless tragedy only made bearable by faith.

A few years ago I read the book, To Sleep with the Angels, given to me by my best friend who graduated from St. Anne's School of Nursing in 1964. She had heard stories of what it was like at the hospital the day of the fire and the credit it received for the handling of a disaster of such proportion. My heart broke for the victims, their families, and all who were involved in this catastrophic, life-changing event.

The Our Lady of the Angels School fire occurred 51 years ago today... my little brother turns 55. Last week, during a discussion about the book, I went online and was amazed to find this site. I stayed up for hours reading many of the personal recollections and all of those who had been enrolled in the school at the time of the fire. Please know that you are in my prayers and I am so sorry that you have lived in a generation that was not to discuss the fire and all its pain and grief. And to be told, "God takes the good ones," though unintentional, was but another injustice to you and your classmates who survived the fire. For those of you who struggle with the toll it has taken on you, it's not too late to seek help. You were meant to live... it's time to do just that.

Flo Stanton
Texas


Posted by: Buttercup On: 11/19/2009 ID: 495
At OLA on 12/1/58? Born before or after 12/1/58? Where Lived on 12/1/58?
No After n/a
I am 30 years old. The OLA tragedy was brought to my attention by someone who saw one of the first documentaries on cable. In the fall of 2003, I looked up the OLA tragedy when this website was brand new. I'll never forget the pictures of John Jajkowski in Richard Schedit's arms. It was sad and frightening! I also remember the photos of Millicent Corsiglia and Margaret Sansonetti - they were such beautiful girls with so much love in their eyes!

I avoided the website for four years. It was just so devasting. But then, after being a teacher for four years, I decided to visit the website. I was touched by the tributes, the memories, and stories. I was in tears reading about the fire and its victims. I read each and every personal tribute. The children were all so beautiful and so loving!

I have raided online archives to read old articles. I also watched newsclips on youtube. Every time, I am struck with sickness and sadness. Right around the 50th anniversary, I showed my husband the clip from Hellfire. He just watched in horror, esp towards the end, where there is footage of the flash. (From outside the school.) He had tears in his eyes!

I believe each child and teacher who died in that fire is in Heaven. And I believe they are watching over their friends and family and praying for the protection of all students all over the world.


Posted by: Maria On: 11/18/2009 ID: 494
At OLA on 12/1/58? Born before or after 12/1/58? Where Lived on 12/1/58?
No After n/a
I am a 12 year-old 7th grader. Obviously, I was certainly not alive. The first time I heard about this tragedy, I was at our Wednesday mass with our school. The priest was talking about Our Lady Of the Angels 50th anniversary. At first, it didn't seem that tragic, but when I returned home that day I searched it and found this website. The story brought me to tears. I can't help but place myself in this situation. I go to a Catholic school in the Chicago area, and, like OLA, we go from preschool to 8th grade. I become fearful when I imagine if my school had a fire like this one. More would probably be saved, but I'm sure we would still lose a few poor kids. This story will remain embedded in my mind for as long as I live. I send my condolences for those who lost somebody that day, almost 51 years ago.


Posted by: Jerry M. On: 11/13/2009 ID: 493
At OLA on 12/1/58? Born before or after 12/1/58? Where Lived on 12/1/58?
No Before Chicago
Just a few days before the fiftieth anniversary. An eighty-three year old Italian woman by the name of Vinnie C., told me that her husband worked with the father of Susan Smaldone. A nine-year-old fourth grader, who succumbed to her injuries three weeks after the fire. Vinnie recalled how her husband came home from work every night, to inform her that "Susan was still hanging on!" Then upon hearing of Susan's death, she broke down and cried uncontrollably. She was with child at the time and because she was so emotioally distraught, her husband discouraged her from attending the wake and funeral service with him. And as Vinnie told this story, she wept. This is just one small example of the unfathomable impact that this tragedy had on so many.

On December 1, 1958, I was eleven and in fifth grade at St Ann's, which is located at 18th Place & Leavitt in Chicago. I was home with a cold that day and when news of the fire broke out, I remained glued to the TV set, well into the evening hours when I was finally sent to bed. And I was so emotionally conflicted over this tragedy that I didn't sleep very well that night or for several nights afterward. My school held a special prayer service and we were encouraged to contribute to some kind of fundraiser for OLA. I think that all of us, who were attending a Catholic grade school in Chicago at the time of the fire, are somehow connected by it. And nearly fifty-one years later, my heart still aches when I think about it. God bless the brothers and sisters of OLA, past and present.


Posted by: Mary On: 11/12/2009 ID: 492
At OLA on 12/1/58? Born before or after 12/1/58? Where Lived on 12/1/58?
No Before Alaska
I vividly remember this, having been told by my folks. I was eight years old at the time and had just move to a different school that also had all the wood, open staircases, transom windows and sills that were too high to climb onto. I remember being scared to death of the school catching fire and always looking for the way out. The worse room in that school was the one in the basement. The windows were up high and the only way out was right past the boiler which sat inches from the door. I'm glad that I was told about the fire even though it was traumatic and I kept my fears inside, not telling a soul. It is better to know than not know. The reason I am posting tonight, even though I have been here many times before, is because of the school fire in Marysville, Oregon yesterday (Nov 10, 2009). It happen in an occupied school shortly before lunch. Miraculously, 460 kids got out safely. What bothers me is it was a wooden building without a sprinkler system. How can this still be happening in 2009? I hope lots of you readers who lived the OLA tragedy first-hand will write to the newspaper and let them know the threat is real. The story and pictures are at http://www.katu.com/ Portland, Or. Marysville is right outside or actually a part of Portland. It really scares me. Even here at the school my grandkids go to the kids coats, etc are hanging in the hallways right outside the classrooms. What are people thinking??? My thoughts and prayers are with you all of the time OLA.


Posted by: Sanks On: 10/30/2009 ID: 491
At OLA on 12/1/58? Born before or after 12/1/58? Where Lived on 12/1/58?
No After n/a
I'm only 27 but I firmly believed this changed the course of the West Side forever. My Grandparents and their 12 kids lived at 3745 W Lyndale. My family lived actually nearly exactly 14 blocks north on Lyndale and Hamlin right by Mozart School. My Grandparents were devout Catholics especially my Grandmother. Many of my Father's older Brothers and Sisters went to Our Lady of Grace on 2500 N Ridgeway. Some OLA students came to OLG after the fire. Our neighborhood started going downhill in the mid 1970's after the area around OLA went downhill. Many in my area were alarmed by how Chicago Ave, Augusta, Division went so downhill. They moved fearing it would come north. In the mid 70's Armitage was the dividing line between the good and the bad. I lived in the area in the 1980's and it became very bad, the last place we lived was on Harding and Wrightwood, we moved from the area in 1991. Sometimes I think if the area around OLA could have stayed strong maybe we could have too. Sadly both proud areas would ruined. May the god bless the victims of this tragic event and both of these once great neighborhoods.


Posted by: eileen lambert On: 8/9/2009 ID: 490
At OLA on 12/1/58? Born before or after 12/1/58? Where Lived on 12/1/58?
No Before yes, 2705 n laramie ave
i was a child when this fire happened. my father worked at crawford service and ignition on crawford ave and huron st. when he found about the fire he called my step mother, lily curry, who lived across the street from his business and told her as she and her family all went to OLA. she got my brother and i and drove over to the school. she stood us up against the brick wall across from the school. I recall seeing and hearing screaming, children jumping , parents screaming, and cops and firemen and ladders everywhere. it got to be too much for me and i turned my face to the brick wall. i am now 62 years old and i think of this horror every year. i recall awhile ago reading somethingabout a kid from the neighborhood who was a firebug and there was talk that he set the fire. i also read that he was a failure his whole life did a stint in viet nam and some time later i read he died. i cannot recall the name but this info is burned into my mind as i till this day dont know why something wasnt done about this rumor. i do have the book on the fire and from i read this kid was a nightmare even as a child. i am so very sorry for these families who lost their babies that day. i pray for them and the survivors.


Posted by: Anne On: 7/25/2009 ID: 489
At OLA on 12/1/58? Born before or after 12/1/58? Where Lived on 12/1/58?
No Before New York
I was 7 years old in 1958. My mother had grown up in a suburb of Chicago so it was a very special place to me and we visited there yearly. I was horrified to see the Life Magazine artist's depiction of what happened in those classrooms where so many died. I dreamed about it. My own catholic school had windows that did not open all the way and they would never have provided an escape for us. Each and every fire drill reawakened the memory of those frightful pictures and the suffering children in them.

One of those pictures in life magazine is still seared in my memory and I can see it today as if it were 1958. I grew up fearful of fire and for some reason was never able to forget that picture and the children in it. It was such a tramatic experience for me;I can only imagine how it impacted the lives of those children who lived through it. God Bless you all and give you peace.


Posted by: Wayne Mahnke On: 7/16/2009 ID: 488
At OLA on 12/1/58? Born before or after 12/1/58? Where Lived on 12/1/58?
No Before Chicago, Illinois
I was 8 when the fire broke out.. I was getting ready to leave St Helen School for the day, when our nun, (I dont remember her name), told us of the fire.. I was in shock at the news I had just heard about.. I do remember walking home, to my home on Iowa Street (ironic isnt it??) crying all the way home.. I remember telling my grandmother what had happened and she turned on the news on WGN to find out what the details were.. I remember her praying the rosary, all during the newscast..
I felt so sorry for all the family of those that had died.. But I really didnt gain all the aspects of what had happened, until I had gotten older..
In my heart of hearts, I wish ALL those that perished, were alive today..
May God have mercy on all 95 that perished..


Posted by: Tia LaMantia On: 7/12/2009 ID: 487
At OLA on 12/1/58? Born before or after 12/1/58? Where Lived on 12/1/58?
No Before Northern New Jersey
I was six at the time of the fire at Our Lady of the Angels. I was in the second grade, but it was my first year in Catholic school. Our school was in its first year and had only first and second grades in the basement of the church, which looked like the OLA Church. You might say I felt a kinship with those children halfway across the country because they, like me, were Catholic.
I remember looking at the photos in the centerfold of the New York Daily News--all those anguished parents--and feeling their pain. Somehow I remember hearing the song "Unchained Melody" playing on the radio at some point when the story was still new--and the sadness of the song made me cry. The solemn violins connected me with those photos of the grieving. Whenever I hear an instrumental version of that song, I think of the fire in Chicago. The event imprinted itself firmly in my memory.
Years later, as a middle school teacher in a tough neighborhood, I emphasized the need to keep silence and to listen to directions.
When a wisenheimer scoffed, I told them what happened in Chicago in 1958--how I'd never forget it, how I promised myself to be vigilant during firedrills, and how even losing one child would be too much for me and my fellow teachers to bear. It sobered up the whole class, including the wise guy.
I stumbled upon this website in a very bizarre way--I googled my own name to see what would come up. What a jolt it was to see that a victim of the fire had the same last name. I don't believe she was a relative...but the link from her name brought me here. I pray for the peace of the survivors.