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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: Janice Pellettiere On: 2/13/2003 ID: 63
Enrolled on 12/1/58? Present on 12/1/58? Injured? Age Grade Classroom Teacher
Yes Yes No 7 2 102 ?
My name is Janice Pellettiere. My maiden name is Pomilia. I was in 2nd grade at OLA at the time of the fire. It's hard to believe and I can't figure out why it still feels wrong talking about what happened. We also never talked about it. I lived on Trumbull Ave. and was growing up on the same block with both my mother and father's family. We were a large Italian family with four sets of aunts and uncles, grandparents and close to twenty cousins. Cousins who were more like brothers and sisters. We would run across the street in our pajamas to have breakfast together. At the time of the fire I had a cousin in every grade from kindergarten thru 5th and one in 7th at OLA. We lived eight blocks from school and most of the time walked to school. I can still hear my mother calling out to my cousin Mary Ellen who was two years older than me "Mary Ellen hold Janice's hand on the way to school".

As the fire alarm sounded my 2nd grade classroom was on the 1st floor very near the front door of the school. We exited with no trouble. We lined up in front of the convent facing the school. I don't recall even seeing smoke. Before long a panicked nun ran up to us telling us to go home. After that I'm told a friend of my Aunt saw me a block from school and wrapped me in a blanket and took me in. I can vaguely recall sitting and looking out her window. I ended up well into the night at my Aunt Carrie's house. Everyone had been found except my brother George who was in 5th grade and Mary Ellen who was in 4th. My Parents and Aunt and Uncle were franticly searching the hospitals. Sometime in the middle of the night they found George. He had jumped from his classroom window. They never found Mary Ellen. The next day my father accepted responsibility to search the morgue. He identified Mary Ellen's body. My beautiful cousin was gone.

My brother George broke the femur bone in his leg and was in the hospital in traction for 6 weeks. He came home in a body cast and spent about another two months in bed in that cast. He never spoke of the horror he must have experienced that day and I never told him how brave I thought he was and how grateful I was that he did what he had to do to save himself that day.

Five children on our block never came home from school that day. Mary Ellen Pettenon, Eileen Pawlik, James Ragona, Valerie Thoma and a little girl named Maria (I didn't know her. Her family had just moved here from Italy). I will never forget them or their families.

It's funny. I can't recall anyone holding my hand on the way to school after that. Somehow after that it didn't matter.


Posted by: john montedore On: 2/12/2003 ID: 62
Enrolled on 12/1/58? Present on 12/1/58? Injured? Age Grade Classroom Teacher
Yes Yes No 12? 7 ? 208 ? ?
what a strange feeling to read all the accounts on this web site.My

Chicago parents alerted me to it here in san francisco. I almost feel

like a amnesiac remembering so little. I do think there's been somewhat of a mental block to the pain at the time. Names ? all i remember as friends are the names Russo, Guzaldo, and jim Sansone. Does anyone remember me ? Strange. Lost in a crowd and a sea of blurred memories. Thank you all for sharing your intimate thoughts and pain. It gives one a sense of history to know where we came from. I do remember jumping at the chance to get away from the whole scene when two reporters asked me and someone else to go to the TV station to tell our story. It got us out of the cold and away from the horror. They told us they would call our parets to let them know where we were. But my parents were out searching in panic till late that nite. Then i felt responsible having to tell them that i lost my right shoe escaping down the main staircase in the dark stampede to get out.

Then feeling happy that we didn't have to attend school and going to

either Ore or Hayes. Can't even remember. I guess it wasn't something i really ever wanted to remember. Until now. At 56 years old.

John Montedore

Four2namio@aol.com.


Posted by: john montedore On: 2/12/2003 ID: 61
Enrolled on 12/1/58? Present on 12/1/58? Injured? Age Grade Classroom Teacher
Yes Yes No 12 7 2nd floor can
Maybe time does erase so much memory. I was one of the two kids who appeared on the nitely news reports with Fahey Flynn and Frank Reynolds.

Can't remember the tv station but after i escaped slowly down the main staircase from the second floor we all ran to the rectory next door to drink water and sooth our coughing. As i had struggled down the very narrow staircase i remember stepping on people who had fallen on the steps. The smoke was so black and thick you couldn't even see the large globe lights on the ceiling, let alone what was in front of you. I was scared to say the least. But the struggle to get down those steps was far from easy. It was sheer panic in total darkness. To make matters worse, about a third of the way down, i lost my right shoe and i struggled to hold back the pushing crowd to feel on the steps for my lost shoe. I remember thinking my parents would be angry if i lost a shoe. But i was quickly pushed along down the stairs by the stampede of

panicked kids. I remember the screeming. i remember the fear and the darkness. After getting water at the rectory we emerged to stand across the street and watch as the building burned and children jumped up to two stories down. Around 3:30 or so two reporters approached a friend and i (i can't remember his name) and asked if we would go to the television station with them to tell our story. We kind of jumped at the chance being the opportunist that i've always been but i do remember sitting in the back seat of their car hopping the reporters weren't two kidnappers. We did one or two interviews then they took my friend and me out to dinner at Tad's Steak House. Then back to the station for a couple of more on air interviews. Meantime my poor parents were scouring the neighborhood, like everyone else, looking for their child. Unfortunately, the television people kept trying to call them on the phone but my parents were out doing door to door until quite late. When they finally returned home late that nite thinking i was was one of the lost souls they received their first phone call from an aunt in San Diego, california who had seen me on the news and told them i was ok. Well eventually i got home that nite to very relieved parents.

To this day i've always considered my self a very lucky guy. Even through the usual stumblin blocks of life. At 56 years old i still count my blessings. My parents now live in Des Plaines and in 1979 i moved just north of the Golden Gate Bridge, San Francisco. The fire did

set up a survival kind of dynamic in my life. I think having that angel on my shoulder that day of the fire kept me believing he'd always be there. So far, so good.

Hello to all my fellow paticipants in our shared tragedy !

John Montedore

e-mail: four2namio@aol.com


Posted by: Chuck On: 2/12/2003 ID: 60
Enrolled on 12/1/58? Present on 12/1/58? Injured? Age Grade Classroom Teacher
Yes Yes No 11 7 201 Sister Mary Andrienne
!


Posted by: Patti On: 2/11/2003 ID: 59
At OLA on 12/1/58? Born before or after 12/1/58? Where Lived on 12/1/58?
No Before


Posted by: Mary E. Garrett. On: 2/11/2003 ID: 58
At OLA on 12/1/58? Born before or after 12/1/58? Where Lived on 12/1/58?
No After n/a
My Mother was a teacher at OLA at the time of the fire. Mrs. Garrett (formerly Herlihy). I am named after a girl that die in the fire. her name was Mary Ellen Pettenon.

I have read "To Sleep With The Angels" I obtained a copy of it not long after my son turned 9.

Since then I have searched for any information on Mary Ellen Pettenon that I can find. If anyone has information on her I would greatly appreceat it. I would like to know where she was laid to reat so I may bring flowers for her grave. I would like to see a picture of her, so that I may know finally what she looks like. Maybe even contact her family and let them know that my mother made good on her promiss. Let them meet my son, and share him with them as Mary Ellen would have shared her children.

And most selfishly for me, lay to rest the ghost who's shadow I have lived in all my life. I dont think that my mother even realized that all of my life she compaired me to her, and sadly I did not fill the bill.

Thank-you for letting me bring this out in the open.

Rev. Mary E. Garrett

Lylymaiden@netscape.net


Posted by: Kristine On: 2/10/2003 ID: 57
At OLA on 12/1/58? Born before or after 12/1/58? Where Lived on 12/1/58?
No Before Chicago's North Side
At the time of the fire I was attending a catholic high school on the north side. It remember that it was a very bright, cold day. I was in the history class when we started to hear the continuous sound of fire engines. It seemed to us that every fire truck in the city was on the streets. The nun, who was teaching our class went to the window and looked out. I remember she commented that there must be a big fire somewhere. The phone in our class room rang shortly afterward (this never happend). Sister told us that there was a fire in a catholic school and that we must pray for God's help. After returning to our home rooms were told to go directly home. When I got home I saw Frank Reynolds talking to a student on television, and the horror of what had happened was being shown on the TV. Many of my friends lost brothers and sisters in the fire. The nuns forbade us to speak to these students about the fire when they returned to school. It wasn't good manners to ask them about their personal tragedy. I still remember seeing the picture of a nun being brought down a ladder by a fireman, and the children standing around them with awful expressions. I don't know if she was one of the nuns who died or if she was just injured. It was dreadfull. I have taught CCD was over 21 years in three different parishes, but the first thing I always do is to make sure I can get my class out of the school just in case there is a fire. I'll never forget that fire as long as I live.


Posted by: Pat Reavy On: 2/10/2003 ID: 56
At OLA on 12/1/58? Born before or after 12/1/58? Where Lived on 12/1/58?
No Before Chicago's Far West Side
I did not attend Our Lady of the Angels School. On December 1, 1958, I was in the fifth grade at St.Catherine of Siena School on the far west side of Chicago (located at Austin and Washington). Because so many died on that tragic day, Our Lady of the Angels Church was unable to handle all of the funeral masses. We were told by the nuns at our school that one of the funeral masses would be at St.Catherine of Siena Church. We were told by the nuns that all the children from our school would attend the mass. I have never forgotten that day. The little girl's name was Annette LaMantia. She was 10 years old. I have thought of her many times over the past 44 years. It was the only time I ever experienced a family in such tremendous emotional pain over the loss of their beloved child. I can still see her mother collapsing in grief and sorrow. I guess I just want to tell her family that even though I never knew their daughter. I remember. I remember Annette.


Posted by: Fran (Panno) S. On: 2/10/2003 ID: 55
Enrolled on 12/1/58? Present on 12/1/58? Injured? Age Grade Classroom Teacher
Yes Yes Yes 10 5 212 Sister Therese
I have never really had the opportunity to talk about this much..and actually hestitated to do it now. I watched the program on channel

11, and from there I found this website. The really strange part is, I dont live in Chicago anymore, but I flew in the day before the program aired to be with my mother as she was having surgery, and I saw an article in the newspaper about the program. I guess I was suppose to see it.

The night before the fire, I layed in bed and kept having a sense of fear... I told my mother something bad is going to happen at school, I had no vision of fire, just a sense of fear, but it was strong, she just told be to go to sleep and stop being silly. The next morning I still had the feeling, so strong in fact that I refused to go to school, I cried and carried on, my mother was convinced that I didnt do my homework and was afraid to go to class, but I was afraid, and kept on saying something bad is going to happen, as it turned out, she let me stay home that morning because it got late from all the carrying on , but at lunchtime she said YOU WILL GO TO SCHOOL....and I did!

I can honestly say I dont think about it much... I dont want to...but this week I cant seem to stop thinking about it.

We were at our desks in room 212 and I can still see the page in the book... It was Geography.. and there was a picture of children sitting on a beach somewhere, I can still see the seashells in that picture. I remember hearing what sounded like a choir, Sister even said " maybe they are practicing in the church " but later it was said there was no one singing in the church... to this day Im convinced it was the Angels coming to escort the children to heaven. I can still hear little Robert Anglim (he sat in the first row, right by the door) say... Sister... smoke!!!! it was seeping in trough the door... but he couldnt open it...It was rattling, and then Sister tried, but there was really nothing she could do either,we couldnt get out of the room, so she told us to stay at our desks and pray. We did that for awhile, but soon it was all out of control...from here my memory is out of focus... The room filled with smoke so fast... you couldnt see... somehow I was blessed and sat in the row next to the windows, but I didnt know what to do.. The boys started throwing books and things to break the widows and soon everyone in the room was pushing against me to reach the windows for air or escape. I was holding a girl named Maria's hand.. Maria was a bit older than the rest of us.. she was from Italy and didnt speak English well, I use to take her to my Grandmothers house for lunch sometimes. My grandmother lived on Iowa and Lawndale.. and she use to speak to Maria in Italian... anyway Maria started to laugh and I remember telling her this isnt funny Maria... I didnt realize then that it was hysterical laughter. Maria and I were seperated there at the windows and somehow I lived and she didnt.

I crawled up on the window ledge and stratled the ledge with one leg outside and one over the radiator.. one hand on that handle on the window and the other one trying to wave smoke away but it was so thick... I remember telling my mother later that it was like mashed potatoes. There was a boy hanging from the sill... I couldnt breathe anymore.. and the children behind me were pushing so hard that I felt that soon I would have to jump.. I couldnt see out the window and honestly thought the firemen werent going to come.. but the boy hanging from the sill ( and I never did see who it was, although I think it was a boy named Frank M. ) He said dont jump they are coming now.. and then I saw a fireman help the boy down.. and reach up for me... I climbed out into his arms, but the latter was short, he got me and led me down and when I hit the air I must of passed out I never remembered getting to the ground, I just remember coming to.. and seeing total chaos. bodies on the ground, flames in room 210 and kids sitting lined up along the wall across the alley.. and thats where I figured I should be.. but somehow I heard my mothers voice in that crowd.. and I crawled up to here and pulled on her coat and said Here I am Mommy... she scooped me up and carried me into the convent... but then I guess she decided she would try to go to my Grandmothers house.. as she walked out carrying me a fireman took over he carried me to an ambulance and we ended up in Franklin Pk hospital... and things were crazy there too.. so much terror going on, parents looking for their children, Hospital staff trying to keep up. I was bandaged on my arms and sent home. My dad was driving home from work and met us at the house... it seemed the whole neighborhood was standing there in front of the house. I was home for about an hour... and throwing up soot... and my ears were burnt badly, no one seemed to notice that at first... I went back to another hospital I was put into an oxygen tent and my burns were tended to there, but that night I was left there alone, most likely in shock, I still dont know why my parents werent allowed to stay. I do remember a firefighter coming in to see me the next morning, he was also a patient, but no one really talked to me. I saw a newspaper, but no one would let me look through it. I was so lucky or blessed, my burns were mostly 2nd degree except for a few 3rd on my arms. my hair was scorched... it was long and in a pony tail.. I remember having it cut off a few weeks later. I smelled smoke on my body for the longest time, as though it had permiated my skin. for awhile,I was so araid of the dark, that I had to have lights on at night. I was afraid of buses or elevators, anything where the doors closed. I still dont like elevators, and flying is so hard for me to do. Im sorry to ramble on... Im not sure there is any real reason to write any of this... but no one ever let me talk not my parents....NO ONE! Whenever I am in a theater,or hotel, or any public assembly, I still search out the exits. I cant light a barbeque, To this day... I always minimize my own pain and just move on...I accept things I probably shouldnt. Yet I tend to everyone elses needs, maybe too much, but I never want anyone to feel the way I feel inside..(overlooked) My husband passed away 5yrs ago and his family was all buried at Queen Of Heaven... so now I have visited the graves of all the victims buried there.

MY children are the only ones who have ever really heard this story... to this day my parents dont want to talk about it. And Im sad to say.. I dont feel real close to them. I respect them but I think Im healthier away from Chicago. The city or the Church.. should offer counceling..Yes, even now, 45yrs later...since there was none available then... And I will freely say that anyone involved..had their lives profoundly affected... weather they realize it or not.

I now live in Florida... and all I can say is... We survived for a reason...and whenever I question Gods presence.. I still remind myself that I truely think I heard the Angels sing that day!

God bless you all...And to the families that lost a child.. I finally have the chance to say... I'm so very sorry!


Posted by: Patricia Addante On: 2/9/2003 ID: 54
Enrolled on 12/1/58? Present on 12/1/58? Injured? Age Grade Classroom Teacher
Yes Yes No 6 2 104 Mrs Garrett (nee Herlahy)
I was in 2nd grade at OLA the day of the fire. When the fire alarm went off, I thought that it was a fire drill. We knew exactly what to do and so left our room and lined up on the stairs going outside. I turned around to look for the 'older' students who usually lined up on the stairs right behind us since they were on the 2nd floor. That day they were not there and a billow of black smoke surrounded the 2nd floor door. That's when I knew that it was a real fire. My class was brought across the street in front of the convent. From there I could see children screaming for help from the 2nd floor windows. For years I wondered if they had survived. I found out while reading 'To Sleep With The Angels' that no children died in that particular room.

Because we had no coats and it was a cold winter day, we were eventually brought into the church. From there we were told to go into a neighborhood home and call our parents. I had a friend who lived across the street from the church on Hamlin Ave. I went to her home and her mother called my mother asking her to bring a coat and pick me up. Thank goodness my mother got the phone call before she knew about the fire, or she would have left the house to look for me and been frantic.

I have no physical scars from that day, but the fire affected me in ways that I'm still discovering as an adult. We did not talk about what happened either at home or at school. That was the way people dealt with situations in those days. They felt the less said,the better and just get on with life.

Fortunately, I have had opportunities to meet with other survivors through the Friends of OLA which was organized by Linda Maffiola. I also have read the book 'To Sleep With The Angels'. Though it has been difficult to bring up these memories and emotions, this is what is helping me to heal.

The children and nuns who were lost that day and all of the people affected by this tragedy will always be in my heart.