you did a great job this is so sad.at 1:24 that firefighter was carrying out that lil boy was his own son..i couldnt imagine the noises and scene alone carrying my own child out and never hear him laugh talk or anything. rip angels.
i am so horrified and saddened...but why oh why did the nuns instruct these kids to sit in their seats and pray???????..God helps those who help themselves!!! i would have run like hell outta that building the moment i smelled smoke!!!...
Why would the children and nuns perish if they were studying the religon of god and believed and they were saved...they wouldnt have perished, they would have had eternal life...
@MissSierra2015 this is not the occasion for such snarky comments; it is being viewed from the human perspective here not the spiritual. as believers, they would've closed their eyes in death and lifted them in life with The Lord. that is eternal life, but this addresse the earthly perspective and tragedy. u r an ashole. Jesus said in this life u will have trials &tribulations. lear of what u speak before being so insensitive.
I dont know if you will see this or not, but I just wanted you to know that your tribute to everyone involved is so touching and beautiful. I have been studying this fire for many years and it breaks my heart over and over again. I was three yrs old and living in a south Chicago suburb when the fire occured. My father said he could see the smoke from his downtown office window. Thank you for your beautiful video. You are very talented.
my aunt, rosemary zagone, was in room 212 on the day of the fire. she jumped from the third story and suffered fractured arms and severe burns. i spent the last hour talking to my dad about this fire, never knowing until today how tragic it was. thanks for the video.
I was in 6th grade at St Thomas of Canterbury when this happened. All the children in our school prayed and prayed. I will never forget the horrible reality of the suffering at such a young age.
I think that your video is a wonderful, meaningful tribute to all.
On Dec 1 2008, I looked for an article or story in the mainstream press or media. There weren't any. I thought that was a shame as it was a singular tragedy in American history.
Hi... I'm actually in this video! 1st grade class - I'm the 2nd one by the wall, row close to our homeroom Sister. Yes, I was in this fire... however our classroom was the 1st to get out - our homeroom teacher/nun smelled the smoke - and told us to just leave everything in our desk - and don't take your coats - and let's just leave now.. - Actually the fire started directly below us, in the basement area - Because of my homeroom teacher - I am alive today... God bless all and prayers! Louise
I was 7 years old in 1958 and my cousin Linda, who was 9, died in this fire. I didn't really know my cousin, but I remember hearing about her death at the time. While reading the book "To Sleep With the Angels" I met various people connected to this tragedy just by them seeing me w/the book. I even met the niece of one of the nuns who perished that day. Your video is a wonderful tribute to the children who lost their lives that day so you be proud of your work to remember them.
im doing a paper on what happend in this fire and it all fall down on politics and money the fire department new that the building was not safe yet they said it was the city for not upgrading that building. sh*t like this dose not need to happen but on the other hand for guys in office it take a tragedy for them to finaly figure out what needs to be done.
One of the survivors was an 8 year old boy named Jonathan Leonard Friga, who later changed his name to Jonathan Cain and became the keyboardist and rhythm guitarist for Journey when the original keyboardist, Gregg Rolie, quit . He co-wrote "Open Arms" and wrote "Faithfully"
I was born in 1967 and we lived on Pulaski Rd.(a few blocks away) I started kindergarden at OLOTA in 1972. And attended CCD there also.We would go to church there every Sunday. I remember bits & pieces of people, including my parents, talking about the fire, but really never knew the horrible profound tragedy until my early teen years when we moved to the suburbs. Cant believe how oblivious I was, knowing that something this tragic happened just 10 years before I was born. I cry when I see this.
I didn't know there was a book about this. I'll have to try and find it. I think you did a good job on the video. I'm sure the parents and siblings of the children who perrished would be honored by this video.
My senior class also read this book, and we also watched this in class. This video almost brought most of us to tears. To see these pictures and to imagine how many of the injured had suffered... I can't even imagine.
Wow rainydaywoman1957, how about getting a hobby? To the person who posted this, thank you. My great aunt lost her daughter in this fire. Just one of many losses she dealt with during her life. I'm sure she'd forgive any errors in grammar.
Its sad... Because all of those children will never get to achieve their dreams. Never able to enjoy the many possibilities of life. Never able to love someone, get married... They will never experience the simple pleasures we take for granted daily ever again... :[ Rest In Peace guys!
My aunts were in this fire and i know this may seem selfish cause so many perished in this tragedyBut i wanted to say aunt Ro and aunt Char i love you and i miss you
this is for Rochelle wenckowski Ratajczak
and most especially Charlene Wenckowski R.I.P
you will always be missed and you were the best godmother i could have hoped for
I'm doing this for my 8th grade history fair project and i was wondering where you found all of the pictures. and also, may all of the innocent people who perished in this tragedy rest in peace.
@Bobslover14 A difficult subject to discuss, learn, and teach others your age about, no doubt. But, only through teaching and learning projects like this will others learn true history. THUMBS UP!
This comment has received too many negative votesshow
You're in 8th grade and this is how you spell? Do you even know how to spell, puncutate or structure a sentence? This is what our taxes are paying for?
@rainydaywoman1957 - I think you are seriously focusing on the wrong topic here. An 8th grader is interested in learning and making others aware of this horrific event. They want to LEARN and you are putting them down because you don't like their spelling? Wow. Maybe you should be grateful that they are willing and interested in learning instead of focusing on "this is what our taxes are paying for"..Perhaps a little Christian Charity would go a long way here.
I just found out that Fireman Richard Scheidt from the famous photo (carrying little John Jajkowski's body out of the building) passed away last April. RIP brother. John's mother and brother attending the wake and met with his family.
The janitor was treated so badly. Jim Raymond did not deserve that ridicule. He loved that school and had kids at that school. He saved many of the kids as well. The book was pretty moving and showed how this fire still affects people. The part in the book when the dad told his boy to jump and the boy got pulled back in and engulfed in flames by far the worst part in the book. I had to stop at that part.
look mr probono whatever, we know you're a journey fan because you're spamming everything on this subject. enough already!! it's about the event, not the song, ok?
my dad and all of my uncles were in this fire my dad said that when the fire alarm went off and the nun said "omg its a fire" he ran like hell lol he was the first one out. he also said that a nun was with her children in the classroom and she opened the door and there was only black smoke. then and angel came and told her to go roll them down the stairs and they would be fine. also, my uncle was on tv. his name is matt plovanich
I just read the book To "Sleep With the Angels" and it had such a strong impact on me. It's probably because I used to live in the area...well anyway you did such a great job on the video.
I remember this fire well. I was in 7th grade in a brand new fireproof school like many built by the Daley administration in the fifties. But my first five years were in a old school built around 1910, and all I could think of was: "That could have been us." What a terrible tragedy this was.
I got to know Charlene Campanele a few years back-Her jump from Room 210 is mentioned in the book "To Sleep with the Angels", but she was not listed by name as the girl who landed on the small roof and fracturing her spine. In one of the wierd quirks of fate about this fire, she had passed away after being in a coma for about two months, on November 30, 2003. Most of us learned of it the next day, December 1st. I signed the memorial guestbook...
I read the book by Michele McBride " The Fire That Will Not Die" last year. The pain, agony and abuse she endured is beyond my comprehension. A courageous wonderful human being. God bless you Michele. You are a beautiful angel in Heaven.
Fifty years later and those photos still haunt me. One of my friends still has burn scars on his arm.
A kid eventually confessed to setting the fire, but the confession was suppressed in a confidential juvenile court hearing: they say the judge, a devout Catholic, feared not only for the kid's life, but also wanted to protect the Archdiocese from liability. On the latter point, I think the way so many kids were crammed into classrooms in those days contributed to the tragedy.
Thank you to everyone who has shared informations or stories about the fire. Like harwetopa, I recommend the book, thought it can be hard to read at times.
The date is off, the fire occurred on Dec 1, 1958.
My two cousins were in the fire, one survived, the one did not. Everything that could go wrong did go wrong.
Events conspired to create a horrible tragedy. The school complied to fire codes of 1905!
The fire was an arson by a student. My two sweet cousins were in that fire, Linda died that day and Jerry survived. There is a memorial dedicated anew this Saturday, Dec 8, 2007. Cardinal George of Chicago to officiate.
I would like to thank everyone for commenting and sharing their stories and information on the fire.
Also, to answer a question, since while I was doing this project I had assumed the school was still around and I wanted to visit it since I live in one of the suburbs of Chicago, found out that due to low attendence the school was closed, but I do believe the church still stands. Mistake me if I'm wrong. If it was still open, I had wanted to get some video of me inside it, but...no luck.
so what did happen? what was the cause of the fire?
wow thats very sad... but why did so many children die? was there not any fire alarm systems back then in 1952? like bells to alert people that there was a fire in the building or whatever? or Pull stations back then?
and was the school a total loss or was it just re fixed back up?
The fire was started by a smoldering barrel underneath a stairway. There were no fire alarms, no sprinklers, nothing. The only thing was a few extinguishers that were about 7 feet high, too high for students or many adults. The building was constructed in 1910, built of masonery and mainly wood; The wood had gone through many staining and sealings with petrolium based paint and sealer.
The barrel smoldered for about 15 min estimated until it lit up the stairway on the south end that had the only stair escape out of the building. With all the toxic materials used in the construction, it created a toxic gas which eliminated any chance of using the hallways for escape. This prevented firefighters (who didnt have scba's at the time) from entering the building.
The barrel did a lot more than smolder, the fire was arson, set by a student who was never prosecuted or publicly identified; there was no mechanism in those days to prosecute or charge a child. That student went on to set more fires and got caught but never imprisoned. Read about it in the book "To Sleep with the Angels: The Story of a Fire" by David Cowan
I've heard form one source that the kid that supposedly set the fire passed on in 2004. There is another book now out of print by the now late Michele McBride "THE FIRE THAT WILL NOT DIE" (1979) who suffered much physical pain as a result of the fire until she passed on in 2001. Jonathan Cain of Journey (a 3rd grader at the time) was a survivor of the fire
The school fire created many new fire codes. Unfortunatley the Achdioceise did not want to comply for years after! They had street Fire Alarm Pull Boxes. A door to door salesman kept trying to use a phone, but people refused to answer the door and call FI7-1313.
I teach at a school less than five minutes away from where this fire took place. Every year I show my students the memorial website in order to help them respect fire safety laws and to teach them about their own mortality. It's amazing how these tough inner city kids get wet eyes when they see the pictures of the classrooms and the staggering numbers of those that perished that awful day. Perhaps some of the facts posted here have typos, but for the most part everything here is correct.
This is a very moving short video about a terrible fire, and most of the info is actually correct. Regarding the nuns telling the kids to sit and pray, one classroom was near the stairway and the kids could have safely escaped but the hall was filled with smoke and the nun did not know if it would be safe so she had the students sit and wait for help which did not come in time to save them. Hindsight is 20-20; the nun died with her students.
There must be some factual mistakes or typos in the script. It says the last child died in 1952 when the fire was in 1958. I do not believe anyone has ever come up with a "source" for the legend that nuns told students to stay at their desks to pray rather than try to escape. The fire trucks first came to the church around the corner but quickly went to the school.
you did a great job this is so sad.at 1:24 that firefighter was carrying out that lil boy was his own son..i couldnt imagine the noises and scene alone carrying my own child out and never hear him laugh talk or anything. rip angels.
momofdakoda 1 month ago
i am so horrified and saddened...but why oh why did the nuns instruct these kids to sit in their seats and pray???????..God helps those who help themselves!!! i would have run like hell outta that building the moment i smelled smoke!!!...
exgroupiefromelmont1 3 months ago
Guess they didn't pray hard enough
dalewormheart3704 4 months ago
@dalewormheart3704 your an asshole if you are going to make fun of children dying in a fire
nate93510 3 months ago
This it so sad as I'm listening then I hear my brother it the other room talking over skype really loud. ):/
This is super sad though all those kids were expecting a happy Christmas with Santa D:
CupcakeNapper 4 months ago
2:35 was so depressing
kcy2001 5 months ago
Why would the children and nuns perish if they were studying the religon of god and believed and they were saved...they wouldnt have perished, they would have had eternal life...
MissSierra2015 9 months ago
@MissSierra2015 this is not the occasion for such snarky comments; it is being viewed from the human perspective here not the spiritual. as believers, they would've closed their eyes in death and lifted them in life with The Lord. that is eternal life, but this addresse the earthly perspective and tragedy. u r an ashole. Jesus said in this life u will have trials &tribulations. lear of what u speak before being so insensitive.
stillwill2215 6 months ago
@stillwill2215 i know what im talking about...i know all about that for i am a christian thank you very much and dont cuss at me
MissSierra2015 6 months ago
@MissSierra2015 maybe i misunderstood your comment; i thought you were making light of the situation.
stillwill2215 5 months ago
The coverage of this years ago filled me with horror for a very long period. Thank you for posting this.
swan3285 10 months ago
I dont know if you will see this or not, but I just wanted you to know that your tribute to everyone involved is so touching and beautiful. I have been studying this fire for many years and it breaks my heart over and over again. I was three yrs old and living in a south Chicago suburb when the fire occured. My father said he could see the smoke from his downtown office window. Thank you for your beautiful video. You are very talented.
babydoll22855 10 months ago
my aunt, rosemary zagone, was in room 212 on the day of the fire. she jumped from the third story and suffered fractured arms and severe burns. i spent the last hour talking to my dad about this fire, never knowing until today how tragic it was. thanks for the video.
zags18 11 months ago
I was in 6th grade at St Thomas of Canterbury when this happened. All the children in our school prayed and prayed. I will never forget the horrible reality of the suffering at such a young age.
I think that your video is a wonderful, meaningful tribute to all.
dlylight 1 year ago
On Dec 1 2008, I looked for an article or story in the mainstream press or media. There weren't any. I thought that was a shame as it was a singular tragedy in American history.
fliegeroh 1 year ago
I appreciate the effort to took to research and honor this very sad event, but it would have been better without a soundtrack.
quexalcoatl 1 year ago
Comment removed
mizzlouiza 1 year ago
Hi... I'm actually in this video! 1st grade class - I'm the 2nd one by the wall, row close to our homeroom Sister. Yes, I was in this fire... however our classroom was the 1st to get out - our homeroom teacher/nun smelled the smoke - and told us to just leave everything in our desk - and don't take your coats - and let's just leave now.. - Actually the fire started directly below us, in the basement area - Because of my homeroom teacher - I am alive today... God bless all and prayers! Louise
mizzlouiza 1 year ago 2
Seeing those coffins lined up like that is very sad :(
TheRuneScapeDnA 1 year ago
I was 7 years old in 1958 and my cousin Linda, who was 9, died in this fire. I didn't really know my cousin, but I remember hearing about her death at the time. While reading the book "To Sleep With the Angels" I met various people connected to this tragedy just by them seeing me w/the book. I even met the niece of one of the nuns who perished that day. Your video is a wonderful tribute to the children who lost their lives that day so you be proud of your work to remember them.
lindatribs 1 year ago
You did a very good job with this video. I'm glad you got a good grade.....it's sad that so many children died......
sumame47 1 year ago
im doing a paper on what happend in this fire and it all fall down on politics and money the fire department new that the building was not safe yet they said it was the city for not upgrading that building. sh*t like this dose not need to happen but on the other hand for guys in office it take a tragedy for them to finaly figure out what needs to be done.
lhsdood 1 year ago
this is a good video, it's so sad! I did a drum cover to the song Jonathan Cain made about this tragedy. This video is really moving nice job
idrum4jrny 1 year ago
If you want to know more about this tragedy, go to olafire.com. All you would want to know is there.
olddude521 1 year ago
The pictures showing all those coffins lined up really got to me.
I hope the nuns who told the children to stay inside are right where they should be; burning in Hell.
AzureClarity 1 year ago
@AzureClarity I'm sure they told them that to keep them calm and hopefull the firefighters would come.
TheRuneScapeDnA 1 year ago
One of the survivors was an 8 year old boy named Jonathan Leonard Friga, who later changed his name to Jonathan Cain and became the keyboardist and rhythm guitarist for Journey when the original keyboardist, Gregg Rolie, quit . He co-wrote "Open Arms" and wrote "Faithfully"
thudor1 1 year ago
I was born in 1967 and we lived on Pulaski Rd.(a few blocks away) I started kindergarden at OLOTA in 1972. And attended CCD there also.We would go to church there every Sunday. I remember bits & pieces of people, including my parents, talking about the fire, but really never knew the horrible profound tragedy until my early teen years when we moved to the suburbs. Cant believe how oblivious I was, knowing that something this tragic happened just 10 years before I was born. I cry when I see this.
halfhorse67 1 year ago 2
I didn't know there was a book about this. I'll have to try and find it. I think you did a good job on the video. I'm sure the parents and siblings of the children who perrished would be honored by this video.
MsMercury 1 year ago
i like this video. i cried five times! great job and all of these people seemed like really great people.
ginger74911 1 year ago
My senior class also read this book, and we also watched this in class. This video almost brought most of us to tears. To see these pictures and to imagine how many of the injured had suffered... I can't even imagine.
Kristina5342 1 year ago
@Kristina5342 oh that's awesome that classes watch this video, I had no idea it would reach that many people. :)
ilovemeninmasks 1 year ago
Comment removed
Kristina5342 1 year ago
Wow rainydaywoman1957, how about getting a hobby? To the person who posted this, thank you. My great aunt lost her daughter in this fire. Just one of many losses she dealt with during her life. I'm sure she'd forgive any errors in grammar.
cherylodette 2 years ago
Its sad... Because all of those children will never get to achieve their dreams. Never able to enjoy the many possibilities of life. Never able to love someone, get married... They will never experience the simple pleasures we take for granted daily ever again... :[ Rest In Peace guys!
anim3b3st 2 years ago
My aunts were in this fire and i know this may seem selfish cause so many perished in this tragedyBut i wanted to say aunt Ro and aunt Char i love you and i miss you
this is for Rochelle wenckowski Ratajczak
and most especially Charlene Wenckowski R.I.P
you will always be missed and you were the best godmother i could have hoped for
Love you
Billy
wengler7 2 years ago
I had 2 aunts that were in this fire, Having been through a fire in my life i cant begin to imagine what they went through .
The friends they lost. The sleepless nights they indured God bless them
i cant even fathom what they went through
R.I.P CHARLENE WENCKOWSKI.
and god bless ROCHELLE WNCKOWSKI RATACZJAK I you and miss you
Billy
wengler7 2 years ago
i wtached the exact same vid in my computer class *tear, tear
Neeble098 2 years ago
I'm doing this for my 8th grade history fair project and i was wondering where you found all of the pictures. and also, may all of the innocent people who perished in this tragedy rest in peace.
Bobslover14 2 years ago 2
@Bobslover14 A difficult subject to discuss, learn, and teach others your age about, no doubt. But, only through teaching and learning projects like this will others learn true history. THUMBS UP!
jenniwindtalker 1 year ago
im in 8th grade which is middle sclooh and we read about this 92children died and 3nun died i read about this september11 2009
206TINO 2 years ago
This comment has received too many negative votes show
You're in 8th grade and this is how you spell? Do you even know how to spell, puncutate or structure a sentence? This is what our taxes are paying for?
rainydaywoman1957 2 years ago
You seem to be mean, I'm sorry to see that
mfranzen88 2 years ago
@rainydaywoman1957 - I think you are seriously focusing on the wrong topic here. An 8th grader is interested in learning and making others aware of this horrific event. They want to LEARN and you are putting them down because you don't like their spelling? Wow. Maybe you should be grateful that they are willing and interested in learning instead of focusing on "this is what our taxes are paying for"..Perhaps a little Christian Charity would go a long way here.
jenniwindtalker 1 year ago 2
@rainydaywoman1957 really ?
ffdeadhead 1 year ago
@rainydaywoman1957 There were like two errors in the whole video, back off!
brittsdisneyvlog 1 year ago
I just found out that Fireman Richard Scheidt from the famous photo (carrying little John Jajkowski's body out of the building) passed away last April. RIP brother. John's mother and brother attending the wake and met with his family.
Frach438 2 years ago 2
This video is really nice. My Grandpa was a fireman in this fire. God Bless all those who took part in that tragedy. <3
luv2dance509 2 years ago
You did an excellent job on this video. Such a tragedy with so many innocents parishing. May the all RIP.
Renfurrer 2 years ago
is this school in cleveland ohio?
cairnproductions 2 years ago
Chicago.
capr1c1ous 2 years ago
This is quite beautiful. A job well done. It's obvious that you have respect for the subject matter. I hope you got a good grade. :-)
ankimo1 2 years ago
Thank you so much, and yes I did get a good grade. :)
ilovemeninmasks 2 years ago
I am a fireman and I belong to Our Lady of Angels Parish in Woodbridge. I visit the memorial website often...
Excellent job on the video.
Frach438 2 years ago
omg this made me cry! but i'm doing a report on this..help me out? i havent read the book, i did check it out i just didnt get around to it...
thismonthsloser 3 years ago
read the book To Sleep With The Angels. it is amazing. much better than tan dvd Angels Too Soon
oldies4dino 3 years ago
The janitor was treated so badly. Jim Raymond did not deserve that ridicule. He loved that school and had kids at that school. He saved many of the kids as well. The book was pretty moving and showed how this fire still affects people. The part in the book when the dad told his boy to jump and the boy got pulled back in and engulfed in flames by far the worst part in the book. I had to stop at that part.
Wilky1231 3 years ago
look mr probono whatever, we know you're a journey fan because you're spamming everything on this subject. enough already!! it's about the event, not the song, ok?
numberonefilmfan 3 years ago
@ hellonhighheels19:
I also read the book "To Sleep with the Angels." I highly recommend it to anyone who hasn't read it already.
96rorrim 3 years ago
my great great cousin Patricia died on that tragic day
stargirl615 3 years ago 6
Great job on the video (except for the date, that you already mentioned).
thebronze 3 years ago
my dad and all of my uncles were in this fire my dad said that when the fire alarm went off and the nun said "omg its a fire" he ran like hell lol he was the first one out. he also said that a nun was with her children in the classroom and she opened the door and there was only black smoke. then and angel came and told her to go roll them down the stairs and they would be fine. also, my uncle was on tv. his name is matt plovanich
hornyflyingcows 3 years ago 11
50 years this year since the fire
BOSAVIX 3 years ago
I just read the book To "Sleep With the Angels" and it had such a strong impact on me. It's probably because I used to live in the area...well anyway you did such a great job on the video.
hellonhighheels19 3 years ago
I remember this fire well. I was in 7th grade in a brand new fireproof school like many built by the Daley administration in the fifties. But my first five years were in a old school built around 1910, and all I could think of was: "That could have been us." What a terrible tragedy this was.
boazrg 3 years ago
there was a fire like this but it happend earlyer it was the cleveland fire collionwood 176 chrildren diead and 2 teachers it happend in 1908
CBFanForever305 3 years ago
Wow.
VERY well done tribute.
I got to know Charlene Campanele a few years back-Her jump from Room 210 is mentioned in the book "To Sleep with the Angels", but she was not listed by name as the girl who landed on the small roof and fracturing her spine. In one of the wierd quirks of fate about this fire, she had passed away after being in a coma for about two months, on November 30, 2003. Most of us learned of it the next day, December 1st. I signed the memorial guestbook...
muscababy 3 years ago 3
I read the book by Michele McBride " The Fire That Will Not Die" last year. The pain, agony and abuse she endured is beyond my comprehension. A courageous wonderful human being. God bless you Michele. You are a beautiful angel in Heaven.
headley62 3 years ago
actually the fire involving the barrel was a different fire that killed 175 in collinwood ohio...known as the lakeview grammer school fire
FFPearson 3 years ago
Fifty years later and those photos still haunt me. One of my friends still has burn scars on his arm.
A kid eventually confessed to setting the fire, but the confession was suppressed in a confidential juvenile court hearing: they say the judge, a devout Catholic, feared not only for the kid's life, but also wanted to protect the Archdiocese from liability. On the latter point, I think the way so many kids were crammed into classrooms in those days contributed to the tragedy.
BenAliGtor 3 years ago
Thank you to everyone who has shared informations or stories about the fire. Like harwetopa, I recommend the book, thought it can be hard to read at times.
legolasanubis 3 years ago
it was like so sad and them poor scared children i would be relly relly scared
harknesski 3 years ago
What song is this?
jbobbster 3 years ago
How To Save A Life by the Fray
legolasanubis 3 years ago
Unbelievable that anyone could post such a comment! What planet did you slither from?
rikeme 3 years ago
='[
boredness12321 3 years ago
It is very sad.I am very sad too.
andrasas87 4 years ago
The date is off, the fire occurred on Dec 1, 1958.
My two cousins were in the fire, one survived, the one did not. Everything that could go wrong did go wrong.
Events conspired to create a horrible tragedy. The school complied to fire codes of 1905!
The fire was an arson by a student. My two sweet cousins were in that fire, Linda died that day and Jerry survived. There is a memorial dedicated anew this Saturday, Dec 8, 2007. Cardinal George of Chicago to officiate.
Rest in peace cousins.
dennis9934 4 years ago
The date that you said the fire was on is in the movie. At about 30 seconds into it. Thanks for your comment
ilovemeninmasks 4 years ago
I would like to thank everyone for commenting and sharing their stories and information on the fire.
Also, to answer a question, since while I was doing this project I had assumed the school was still around and I wanted to visit it since I live in one of the suburbs of Chicago, found out that due to low attendence the school was closed, but I do believe the church still stands. Mistake me if I'm wrong. If it was still open, I had wanted to get some video of me inside it, but...no luck.
ilovemeninmasks 4 years ago
Seems to be a nice respectful video and good work. I was there. My picture is in this video in the Room 210 class photo.
sonorra 4 years ago
so what did happen? what was the cause of the fire?
wow thats very sad... but why did so many children die? was there not any fire alarm systems back then in 1952? like bells to alert people that there was a fire in the building or whatever? or Pull stations back then?
and was the school a total loss or was it just re fixed back up?
cmarlow330 4 years ago
The fire was started by a smoldering barrel underneath a stairway. There were no fire alarms, no sprinklers, nothing. The only thing was a few extinguishers that were about 7 feet high, too high for students or many adults. The building was constructed in 1910, built of masonery and mainly wood; The wood had gone through many staining and sealings with petrolium based paint and sealer.
nco154th 4 years ago
The barrel smoldered for about 15 min estimated until it lit up the stairway on the south end that had the only stair escape out of the building. With all the toxic materials used in the construction, it created a toxic gas which eliminated any chance of using the hallways for escape. This prevented firefighters (who didnt have scba's at the time) from entering the building.
nco154th 4 years ago
The barrel did a lot more than smolder, the fire was arson, set by a student who was never prosecuted or publicly identified; there was no mechanism in those days to prosecute or charge a child. That student went on to set more fires and got caught but never imprisoned. Read about it in the book "To Sleep with the Angels: The Story of a Fire" by David Cowan
dennis9934 4 years ago
I have this book and recommend it highly.
harwetopa 3 years ago 2
I've heard form one source that the kid that supposedly set the fire passed on in 2004. There is another book now out of print by the now late Michele McBride "THE FIRE THAT WILL NOT DIE" (1979) who suffered much physical pain as a result of the fire until she passed on in 2001. Jonathan Cain of Journey (a 3rd grader at the time) was a survivor of the fire
thespeez 3 years ago
the fire involving the barrel was the lakeview grammer school fire....in 1908 killing 175
FFPearson 3 years ago
The school fire created many new fire codes. Unfortunatley the Achdioceise did not want to comply for years after! They had street Fire Alarm Pull Boxes. A door to door salesman kept trying to use a phone, but people refused to answer the door and call FI7-1313.
RJBFIRECHIEF1 4 years ago
I guess you weren't in it as I read over your description and saw that you interview someone.
By the way, do you know how this fire started?
Trainmaster1212 4 years ago
I can assume you were in it? Tell me more about it if you were.
5/5, very emotional vid...great song.
Trainmaster1212 4 years ago
I would like to thank everyone who has commented, I do aplogize for the mistakes, and I thank you for pointing them out.
ilovemeninmasks 4 years ago
I teach at a school less than five minutes away from where this fire took place. Every year I show my students the memorial website in order to help them respect fire safety laws and to teach them about their own mortality. It's amazing how these tough inner city kids get wet eyes when they see the pictures of the classrooms and the staggering numbers of those that perished that awful day. Perhaps some of the facts posted here have typos, but for the most part everything here is correct.
JBCopland 4 years ago
This is a very moving short video about a terrible fire, and most of the info is actually correct. Regarding the nuns telling the kids to sit and pray, one classroom was near the stairway and the kids could have safely escaped but the hall was filled with smoke and the nun did not know if it would be safe so she had the students sit and wait for help which did not come in time to save them. Hindsight is 20-20; the nun died with her students.
townhall05446 4 years ago 3
go to the website. i can't post the address here.
numberonefilmfan 4 years ago
There must be some factual mistakes or typos in the script. It says the last child died in 1952 when the fire was in 1958. I do not believe anyone has ever come up with a "source" for the legend that nuns told students to stay at their desks to pray rather than try to escape. The fire trucks first came to the church around the corner but quickly went to the school.
D4g4marc4 4 years ago
There is no reason why this disaster should have happened. Grandfather laws kill!
jimmyhd1969 4 years ago