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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: L.S. On: 1/29/2012 ID: 583
At OLA on 12/1/58? Born before or after 12/1/58? Where Lived on 12/1/58?
No Before Gladys and Cicero, Chicago
I was in 4th grade at Resurrection School, in a 4th floor classroom. Remember seeing it on the news and being almost too young to comprehend the horror. Out of state relatives kept calling because they weren't sure which Catholic school we went to. Resurrection immediately put in sprinklers and fireproof doors at the stairwells and better windows. It's criminal that it took this tragedy to effect those simple changes that could have saved so many at OLA. God bless all of those families more closely touched. You at least know that other children were made safer because of it.


Posted by: Neal Donham On: 1/11/2012 ID: 582
At OLA on 12/1/58? Born before or after 12/1/58? Where Lived on 12/1/58?
No Before racine ave in chcago
I'm almost 58 now and live in a small town in Washington state.I have 3 kids,my youngest is 21 and is dating a fellow trying to become a fireman.One day we were talking about reading books and he mention a book he though I would enjoy. The book is To sleep with the Angels.Growing up in the Chicagoland area I can remember my parents talking about the fire at that school,but life went on and it was soon forgotten until I READ THIS BOOK.My prayers go out to all involved in that fire.We cannot always understand Gods wisdom,but we can see God working throught people as there helping other people.The story of this fire as deeply touched me and it is sometime I don't think I'll ever forget.God bless


Posted by: Susan Osada On: 1/5/2012 ID: 581
At OLA on 12/1/58? Born before or after 12/1/58? Where Lived on 12/1/58?
No Before Elmhurst, IL
I was born on May 9, 1954, in Hinsdale, IL, and at the time of the OLA fire I was just over 4 1/2 years old. I'm sure that most "adults" living at that time would have poo-pooed the fact that a "little kid" like me could absorb and remember so much at that age - - but I do, indeed, clearly remember the entire event.

When the fire happened, my family was living in Elmhurst, IL and it was the "golden age" of television and family life. Dad worked, Mom stayed home, and the wonderful invention of "television" was used to keep the young ones entertained. I watched shows such as "Romper Room", "The Howdy Doody Show", and "Kukla, Fran and Ollie", and they stay with me today.

I'm not sure what "childrens' show" was playing on television that afternoon, but I definitely was watching WGN-TV that day. I clearly remember that I was not happy that "my show" was suddenly interrupted by "big people" who came onto the screen and said that there was a fire in a school and children and nuns and teachers had been injured. Then, more “big people” adults came on the TV and said to us little people that this was really a bad thing, and that children might be dead.

I remember first being sad that I couldn't watch my show anymore. Then, the cameras and the new thing, "news helicopters", were showing scenes that my young and tiny brain had trouble processing. I wasn't even old enough to be in SCHOOL (still an alien concept to me yet), and suddenly these children were DEAD (a big question mark, which I was trying to process in my head) and the adults were showing this on "television", which up until that time was merely fantasy in my life.

It suddenly became very real; what was on the television was real, and it was not a "story" anymore. I remember asking my Mom (and my Dad, when he came home from work):

"Why did those children died in a fire?"

“They are really little like me. This is sad, why did those children die?”

"Will *I* die in a fire, too?"

"If there's a fire, will you save me, Mommy and Daddy?"

"What if no one could save me, or my friends?"

“I don’t want to go to kindergarten school, I might die in a fire and no one could save me.”

"Do you really want me to go to school, what if I die in a fire at school?"

With complete confidence, my parents reassured me that what had happened would never happen to me, or my little sister, or my friends. I trusted them then, and realized in later life that they were right ... it was something that would never likely touch me directly. However, they understood that compassion for the children and their families (as well as compassion for all people and beings on earth) was something that I should carry with me throughout my life.

Soooooo ... here I am, 53 years later, as I prepare to turn 58 on my next birthday. Mom is dead and cremated and buried off the shore of Lake Michigan ... and Dad is still with me. The pictures from that day in December, 1958, have haunted me for all of my life. That day in December, 1958, was the day that I realized I was not the sole person in the universe, but a small part of something larger. It was a new day, a new chapter, a new beginning of my existence. I realized, from that tiny time, that I was not invincible, that I was vulnerable, that I had no control over what happened to me, that day, or on any other day.

To this day, I sob every time I see the photo of John Jajkowski, Jr., being carried, lifeless, from OLA. I grieve for all that the parents and families lost, and what the survivors lost. I grieve for what may have been, that never was.

I grieve for those who could never share their loss with others, as I grieve in the fact that certain OLA families have chosen to not show/share the photos of their living and breathing children (especially Christina Vitacco ... for some reason, her story touches me on a personal level … I will never understand why the family would not want a photo tribute to their beautiful daughter to be displayed on the OLA site - and, as complete disclosure, I have no first-hand knowledge of the family, and no knowledge as to why they have chosen to disallow others from seeing their beautiful daughter's photo to be displayed, nor why the family has decided to prevent we, who are among the living, to share in the pain of letting them know that others here would love their daughter who perished, as much as the family members loved Ms. Vitacco in life, and also in death).

However, on an upbeat note: every time I read or see or hear about an update on the OLA school and parish, I am given new hope that really, in the long run, everything is right with the world, and that there is a positive ending to this tragedy and other tragedies as well.

Thank you for listening to me, and thanks to all the OLA survivors and their families for sharing this part of your life with all of us. Thank you, each and every one of you. You are inspirational as you live your lives, overcome the obstacles, and show us how each of us can draw on your strength and knowledge and the guts to keep on keeping on!

Sincerely,

Susan Osada
Currently living in
Buffalo Grove, IL


Posted by: Mary On: 12/26/2011 ID: 580
At OLA on 12/1/58? Born before or after 12/1/58? Where Lived on 12/1/58?
No After n/a
I entered first grade at St George Catholic School in Kenosha, WI in 1966. This was a full 8 years after the fire but the impact was so far reaching, even then. My teacher, a nun named Sr. Josephe was so moved by the tragedy that she made sure fire safety was taught to us all. We had weekly fire drills and we prayed for the OLA victims and their families every morning. Just prior to my starting 1st grade, our school tore down the old two story wooden building and put up a new brick two story with multiple exits, fire doors and a central alarm linked to the fire department. Clearly as a result of the tragedy in Chicago. Perhaps it can be some comfort that those who perished did not die in vain. Their tragic end spurred valuable changes to many schools and made schools safer for so many more children.


Posted by: Benny On: 12/24/2011 ID: 579
At OLA on 12/1/58? Born before or after 12/1/58? Where Lived on 12/1/58?
No Before Nyssa, Oregon
I was 10 years old in December, 1958 and lived in a very small eastern Oregon town. My parents subscribed to Life Magazine and it was there I saw the picture of the fireman carrying the young boy out of the school. Over the years that image stayed in my mind although all I could remember is the image - not where the fire was or even that it was a school.I grew up, went to university, served in the Navy, went to law school, married, had and raised two boys, started a law practice, ran a small company and always that image was at the back of my mind over all those years. I now live in British Columbia, Canada. A year ago I retired from the law practice and when alone at our summer cabin, finally had the time to start searching for that photo and story behind it. When I first saw the photo in Life Magazine, the young boy couldn't be dead. He had to be unconscious I believed, no, I was certain. I had never seen a dead person or even a photo of one. It was incomprehensible to me at that age that he could be dead - let alone 92 other children. Having found this site and read all I can about the fire, tears come to my eyes, even now.That photo in Life Magazine was sort of like a time capsule it seems in the back of my mind and 50 plus years later I was able to open it and learn about that tragic fire.To all the survivors I give my heartfelt sympathies. I am going to order that book - To Sleep with the Angles. Bless you all and the Angles.


Posted by: Katie On: 12/18/2011 ID: 578
At OLA on 12/1/58? Born before or after 12/1/58? Where Lived on 12/1/58?
No Before Maryland
I was 8 years old in 1958, in the third grade. I will never forget seeing news of the fire on TV and the effect it had on me. I was so upset that I couldn't sleep, wasn't able to go to school for several days and my parents had to take me to the doctor for tranquilizers. It was months before I felt save at school, but since this disaster I have always been very fearful of fire. I think about those that died every year at this time, knowing that they are at peace with our Lord.


Posted by: Joel On: 12/12/2011 ID: 577
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 wasn't born till 73 my Mom was alive and well in 58 She was 12 years old and though she did not go to OLA school she had friends that did. I didn't think much about this till sitting here tonight, My Mom passed away in 1974 from a brain hemorrhage and until now I just remembered her parents telling me she was buried in Queen of Heaven in Hill side next to where a lot of the children that lost there lives are, I remember the last time I was there I remember seeing the huge statue looking over from my Mom's gave and always seeing family member's placing flowers on graves. I have always thought my Mom was meant to be there to watch over the children and to be near some of her friends that didn't make it from the tragedy, I myself would also go through a fire in the 90's and know what an awful experience it is and wouldn't wish it on anyone, Although I did survive with minor burns and smoke will always have a special place in my heart for each and everyone that had to go through the horrible events of December 1,1958 and would like to say you are never going to be forgotten and there is much love in this world that you all where meant to go on living and loving no matter what anyone says you all hold special meaning to those around you and sometimes the best thing you can do is talk about it and not hold it in but to let it go and free yourself you have carried the burden for 53 years now, know that there are people that care and it doesn't matter if you still have the scars but to let yourself fully heal we want to hear your stories, for it shows us the younger generation that even though you go through a horrible tragedy you can move forward and start a new life, get married, help other people. You are all in my thoughts and prayers.


Posted by: Joyce Zakrzewski On: 12/6/2011 ID: 576
At OLA on 12/1/58? Born before or after 12/1/58? Where Lived on 12/1/58?
No Before 6111 W Fletcher, Chicago, IL
My best friend, Roseanna Ciochon, age 9 died in that horrible fire.

Roseanna and I grew up together on Chestnut Street in Chicago, attended St. Boniface school where we made our First Holy Communion together in the 2nd grade in 1956.

After that our families were forced out of there homes to make way for the Kennedy Expressway. My family moved to Belmont and Austin area, Roseanna's family moved to Harding Street.

I'll never forget that night. When my mom got the phone call I could tell by the expression on her face the news wasn't good. Roseanna died in her 4th grade classroom at her desk.

I still watch the home video of our Communion day, Roseanna's bright red curly hair and the two of us running down the street laughing.

Her life was taken way to soon and she'll always be in my thoughts. I have comfort knowing she's in God's arms.


Posted by: Diana Murphy On: 12/4/2011 ID: 575
At OLA on 12/1/58? Born before or after 12/1/58? Where Lived on 12/1/58?
No Before Chicago
My brother and I attended another parochial school. Our parish school was somewhat similar in design to Our Lady of the Angels School. This was beyond tragic. My mother wondered why the fire department couldn't have some type of telescoping ladder. Several years later, the "snorkel" was designed. I did not personally know any of the students. Our family was spared the loss of loved ones... because our cousins ( who would have been students at OLA) had moved to the suburbs a few years prior to the fire.


Posted by: Mary On: 12/1/2011 ID: 574
At OLA on 12/1/58? Born before or after 12/1/58? Where Lived on 12/1/58?
No Before Long Island, NY
I was in kindergarten on 12/1/58. Although I have no specific memories of that time, I am certain that I watched all of the TV news coverage of the fire, and since I was just beginning to read, I am sure I saw the newspaper articles. I have always wondered if my intense fear of fire might have had something to do with the OLA tragedy.

I first learned about the fire from the Andrew Greeley novel "Angels of September". I then checked Michelle Mc Bride's book out of the public library in my town and read it cover to cover in record time. I saw the History Channel documentary "Hellfire" a number of years later, and read "To Sleep With The Angels".

The Catholic elementary school I attended from grades 2 through 8 was dedicated on 10/2/60--the same day as the new Our Lady of Angels. I am certain that the OLA fire had a direct effect on the construction materials used in my school. I was also baptized in Our Lady of the Angels in the Bronx, NY.

I teach in a public school in Brooklyn, NY that is 110 years old. It is constructed of brick and plaster. Our windows all have gates on them (not the best neighborhood), and during my first year there, I had the custodian show me how to open the window gates from inside.

I continue to pray daily for everyone involved with this tragedy, but particularly today. May God continue to hold all of you in the palm of His hands.