Chicago Stories

Angels Too Soon: The School Fire of ’58 (3x1)

Air date: Sep 22, 2023

Our Lady of the Angels was an extremely tight knit, largely Italian parish in a vibrant community that flourished on Chicago’s West Side. But in 1958, tragedy struck when a fire broke out in the basement at Our Lady of the Angels and tore through parts of the building, trapping students and teachers in a terrifying inferno. The blaze killed 92 children and three nuns, shook a city’s faith, and stunned Chicago – and the nation – with sorrow. Now, 65 years later, survivors tell their story.