Even With the Kaiser Canned, Keep Those War Gardens Going

From the December 12, 2018, MidWeek  (DeKalb County, Illinois)  "Looking Back."

1918, 100 Years Ago.

"Even though the Kaiser has been canned and the United States war gardens have helped out wonderfully in the work there should be no letup in the raising of foodstuffs for the coming year.

"The consignment of seeds  for the various dealers in the city came in this morning, and it looked queer to see large boxes of seeds being delivered before the city had even had a snowstorm."

Keep A Good Thing Going.  --Cooter

Fairdale, Illinois, Celebrates End of WW I With Burning of Kaiser in Effigy

From the December 5, 2018, MidWeek  "Looking Back."

1918, 100 Years Ago.

"Fairdale celebrated peace in the appropriate manner Monday by a community service at the school house.

"Music by the band, speaking, singing and the burning of the kaiser in effigy, were features of the affair."

War's Over, Man.  --Cooter

Memorial Clock Dedication Delayed By Influenza in 1918

From the December 5, 2018, MidWeek  "Looking Back."

1918, 100 Years Ago.

"The dedication of the Wiltberger memorial clock in Waterman, which was to have been held some time ago but was postponed on account of the prevalence of influenza, will occur on Sunday.

--Cooter

Huge 1917 World War I Bond Rally in DeKalb

From the December, 5, 2018, MidWeek (DeKalb County, Illinois)  "Looking Back."

1917  A photograph of an absolutely huge crowd of people gathered at the DeKalb Armory for a bond drive to raise money to support the World War I effort.

It took place on October 21, 1917, at the Armory located at 320 East Locust Street.

--Cooter

The Vietnam War in DeKalb County in 1968

From the November 7, 2018, MidWeek  "Looking Back."

1968, 50 Years Ago.

**  "Once again, the senior girls  of Shabbona High School will be baking cookies for the boys in Vietnam."

**  "Reports of a possible break through toward peace in Vietnam spread around the world today.

"Attention centered on an American offer to end the bombardment of North Vietnam."

--Cooter

No More Tin Foil in Wrigley's Juicy Fruit Chewing Gum for the War Effort

From the November 14, 2018, MidWeek  "Looking Back."

1918, 100 Years Ago.

"To help meet the needs of the government, Wrigley's will discontinue the use of tin foil as a wrapping of Juicy Fruit chewing gum, in order to release valuable material to Uncle Sam.

"Hundreds of thousands of pounds per week of tin foil will thus be made available to the government, it is said.    Juicy Fruit  will hereafter appear in the hermetically sealed pink wrapper same as Spearmint.  Doublemint will also be wrapped in waxed pink paper, instead of green."

--Cooter

Drunks Coming From Maple Park to DeKalb in 1918

From the November 21, 2018, MidWeek  "Looking Back."

1918, 100 Years Ago.

"Saturday and Sunday seemed to be busy ones for the police as there were several drunks arrested Saturday night and early Sunday morning, many coming back on the last car from the nearby oasis, Maple Park.

"The fellows given a chance to sober up at the city bastille and Monday morning were before the police court and assessed the usual fine for such misdemeanors.

Maple Park Was A Major Destination for NIU Students in the 1970s for the Same Reason.  --DaDrunk

New Taxi Fare Rates: 35 Cents in 1918

From the November 14, 2018, MidWeek  (DeKalb County, Illinois)  "Looking Back."

1918, 100 Years Ago.

"The following rates will prevail for Taxi Service.  35 cents to all points in the city except south of Bush street, and points on Haish, Leonard, Ellwood,  and Glidden avenues south of South street, west of Normal  Road on Lincoln Highway, north and west of Normal school, north of Clark street, and east of the tracks on Lincoln Highway, where fifty cents for one passenger will be the rate, or 35 cents each for more than one.

"Night calls , from midnight to 6:00 a.m. 50 cents a person.  Funerals and weddings $5.00 per car, in DeKalb."

Hey, TAXI!!!  What, No UBER?  --Cooter

Collecting Nut Shells and Pits for Gas Masks

From the November 14, 2018, MidWeek  "Looking Back."

1918, 100 Years Ago.

"Saturday afternoon the Star theatre gave a special matinee for the kids of the city and as an admission charged the youngsters were asked  to bring all the nut shells, pits, etc. they could find.  A large barrel was placed in the lobby of the theatre and it was necessary to hake the barrel several times to make it hold the pits and shells the kids brought.

"The barrel was filled before the afternoon show began and the manager of the local theatre  feels very well repaid for his efforts, as he has a barrel of material for carbon for gas masks to turn over to the government."

--Cooter

Airplanes Flying Over DeKalb in 1918

From the November 14, 2018, MidWeek  "Looking Back."

1918, 100 Years Ago.

"Many DeKalb people witnessed a most perfect aeroplane  flight this forenoon just before 11 o'clock, when a big machine sailed over as graceful as any bird.  The machine was not flying fast or high and the continual purr of the motor was easily heard by pedestrians on the street.

"The machine came from the northeast and was flying in a southwesterly direction.  Another airplane was seen here shortly before one o'clock in the afternoon."

--Cooter

Students Raising Money For Lincoln's Original Gettysburg Address in 1943

From the November 28, 2018, MidWeek  "Looking Back."

1943, 75 Years Ago.

"Mrs. Marjorie B. Leinauer, county superintendent of schools reports that a total of $128.99 has been contributed so far by the school students of the county for the fund to be used by the state to purchase the original manuscript of Lincoln's Gettysburg address, which will be placed in the state historical library."

--CootAbe

Nut Shells and Pits Collected for Gas Masks in 1918

From the November 28, 2018, MidWeek  (DeKalb County, Illinois)  "Looking Back."

1918, 100 Years Ago.

"Over 617 pounds of nut shells and pits were sent recently from DeKalb to the government for the making of gas masks.

"What disposition shall be made of them now, no one  knows.  Barrels are standing on the corners yet being filled."

The War Was Over By This Date.  --Cooter

The Flu Epidemic Hits the Movie Houses in DeKalb County in 1918

From the November 21, 2019, MidWeek  "Looking Back."

1918, 100 Years Ago.

"During the past week or ten days, that the movie houses have been compelled to close shop on account of the flu epidemic, the owners have been busy at odd jobs around their places, such as painting, wiring, etc..

"It is very probable that the places will be allowed to open up again within the next few days or a week and they will then be in fine shape for the fall and winter business."

I imagine there will be quite a few other stories about this flu in the "Looking Back" articles in the next year.

--DaCoot

"Flu Masks" On the Train in Nov. 1918: Was This the Spanish Flu Pandemic

From the November 21, 2018, MidWeek  "Looking Back."

1918, 100 Years Ago.

"There is always a first time for everything, and passengers on the 7:40 this morning saw DeKalb people board the train wearing 'Flu' masks.

"This is the spirit of cooperation here in the city of DeKalb that is going to keep a serious epidemic from getting a foothold here."

Was this the Spanish Flu Pandemic near its beginning, or just a regular winter onset flu?  Sources say the first observed case took place in Haskell County, Kansas, in January 1918.  The first recorded victim of the flu was Army cook Albert Gitchell at Fort Riley, Kansas, on March 4, 1918.

If this "Flu" mask incident in DeKalb was the Spanish Flu it was way in advance of the bad breakout in 1919.

--Cooter

Boy Scouts Getting Into Pershing Week and Selling War Stamps

From the September 12, 2018, MidWeek  "Looking Back."

1918, 100 Years Ago.

"When you pass the booth of the Boy Scouts at the Leslie's building, stop and ask the boys what they are doing.

"They will inform you that it is Pershing week and they are so enthused that they will induce you to show your patriotism.  They reported sales of the stamps as 'pretty good' this afternoon."

Supporting the War Effort.  --DaCoot

DeKalb Boys in the Final Allied Offensive of World War I

From the August 8, 2018, MidWeek (DeKalb County, Illinois)  "Looking Back."

1918, 100 Years Ago.

"DeKalb people who have boys with the old Third regiment over in France were glad to read the Chronicle Saturday night and get the first authentic information concerning the place where the boys are doing their fighting.

"There have been many rumors but the interview with General March for the first time told DeKalb folks that their boys are fighting with the British and Australians to the north and west  of the scene of the present allied drive."

This was part of the Somme and Oise-Aisne Offensives which led to the end of the war 100 days later, but with huge Allied losses.

--Cooter

The Case of the "Rough Looking and Dirty" Fellows in 1918

From the August 29, 2018, MidWeek  "Looking Back."

1918, 100 Years Ago.

"Four fellows, rough looking and dirty,  were lurking around the railroad station this morning and when they saw an officer coming, whose coat happened to fly open enough to show a star,  the boys very hastily made themselves absent.

"When the Sterling passenger train came in, they all boarded the train between the tender and first coach, and one was dragged a few feet before getting on the train.  It is probably a good thing for the city that they made their departure in this manner, as it would have been necessary to send them on their way had the police discovered them."

--Cooter

Tourists Find a Section of the Berlin Wall Under Vegetation

From the August 15, 2018, Chicago Tribune by Erik Kirschbaum LA Times.

Nearly 30 years after it was toppled, a 20-yard-long section of the Berlin Wall has been discovered, hidden behind bushes, weeds and overgrown trees that over the years obscured it.

The Berlin Wall is one of the Cold War's most divisive symbols.  (I personally never thought it would come down.)

It is 11-feet high cement slabs and was found in the heart of Berlin.  It had once been part of an interior security barrier to keep East Germans from getting close to the outer wall separating East Berlin from West Berlin.  It is covered with graffiti and is now under monument protection status.

The tourists discovered it in June but it was just determined to be authentic this week.

Another, longer piece of the wall, about a 260-foot section, was discovered in similar fashion in January in a northern district of East Berlin in a forest area.

This occurred just one day after Berliners marked the anniversary of the wall's construction in 1961.

I  have a very small piece of the wall.

--Cooter

Stealing Apples in 1918

From the September 5, 2018, MidWeek  "Looking Back."

1918, 100 Years Ago.

"Boys, almost young men, were stealing apples on the north end of town last night.

"Residents watched them work in almost professional way with flashlights.  A look-out is being  kept for them  on their second visit."

I wonder what the punishment will be if they are caught.

Hey, No Apple Cider For Youse Guys!!   --Cooter

NIU's Summer Commencement 1968

From the August 22, 2018, MidWeek  "Looking Back."

1968, 50 Years Ago.

"At Northern Illinois University's  annual summer commencement, 470 students received graduate degrees.

"Another 338  received bachelor degrees as Northern presented a record 808 doctoral through undergraduate degrees at the event.  About 2,500 attended the ceremony.

And, I was there the next year and graduated in 1973.

NIU's Growing Fast.  --Cooter

Korean War Veteran Chuck Class-- Part 4: The P-51 Mustang

One poignant story Mr. Class was about the P-51 Mustang pilot that had been shot down.  Most of the aircraft he saw were World War II vintage, very few jets.  This plane had been shot down, but the pilot had been able to make a crash landing and the plane was upright.  But the plane started smoking and Mr. Class was close enough that he could see the pilot slumped over in the cockpit.

He wanted to rush over to the pilot's aide, but enemy troops were nearby and firing at the plane.  The smoke turned into flames and burned the whole plane.  That was a hard one.

Mr. Class did his basic training at Fort Leonard Wood in Missouri.  He was drafted into service.

--Cooter

Korean War Veteran Chuck Class-- Part 3: That Portable Shower

A really big treat for his unit was when portable showers would be brought to them.  "That was just great and they had warm water!"  This was a real big thing.

There were Korean homes in the countryside, but they were most often abandoned and just about everything taken from them.

They built Bailey Bridges made of steel and put together much like an erector set.  These were developed by the British during World War II and were noted for ease of construction and where you didn't need cranes or heavy equipment.

A major job of Mr. Class' unit was clearing minefields, both U.S. and Korean.  The American fields were supposed to have mines put in at a certain distance apart, but that was a rare occurrence.  They sure didn't appreciate that.  Anti-tank mines were dug in deeper than the anti-personnel ones.  They used mine detectors.  He became quite the expert on mines during his service.

Most of the mines he picked up were American and you were somewhat safe if you were behind the mines as they faced the enemy.  But a problem was whether or not the mines had been booby-trapped.  If they thought that had been done, they would loop a string or rope around the mine and get twenty feet away and pull it.

He had a near-miss once from an American hand grenade turned into a booby trap.  He realized right away what he had tripped and hit the ground hard just before it went off and luckily was not hit.

--Cooter

Korean War Veteran Chuck Class-- Part 2: The Turkey Dinner

Fortunately, he was never wounded during the conflict.

As an engineer, he usually wasn't near the front lines, except when his unit would give the infantry a night off and take their places along the front lines.

Both North Koreans and Chinese wore the same uniform.  U.S. and South Korea forces also wore the same uniform. About the closest he ever came to seeing the enemy was seeing them on a distant hill. "They were shooting at us and we were shooting at them."

In 2000, he and his wife went to Washington, D.C. and visited the Korean War Memorial.

His unit had their own cooks so they didn't have to eat the c rations.  They bought their own food and ate well.  He remembers one Thanksgiving where they had the complete turkey dinner, but had a glob of ice cream melting into it.

--Cooter

Korean War Veteran Chuck Class, 89-- Part 1: The Sweater

I interviewed Mr. Class on Wednesday, December 12 at the American Legion Post 703 in Fox Lake, Illinois.

He has been with the post for 42 years in a multitude of jobs, including past commander.  Right now, until the end of December 2018, he is the Adjutant and Financial Officer and lives in nearby Spring Grove.

In the Korean War, he was in the Army in the First Cavalry, supposedly moved by vehicles, but he recalls more often by a lot of marching.  He arrived on scene in 1951-1952, when most of the "nasty stuff" was over and fighting was mostly around the 38th Parallel.  The early part of the war involved battle lines going all the way to the northern part of the peninsula and to the southern part.

Mr. Class  was with the engineers and involved in a lot of bridge and road building as well as explosives (especially disarming mine fields).

The weather in Korea is much like it is here in the Midwest, cold in the winter and hot in the summer.  He arrived over there in June and by December it was pretty cold.  He remembers being very thankful for a sweater he received.  But one time he took the sweater off on a warmer winter day while his unit was working in a mine field.  A shell came in, exploded, and perforated that sweater.  "Thank goodness I wasn't wearing it."

--Cooter

60th Anniversary of Our Lady of the Angels Fire-- Part 7: The Aftermath

The only positive that came out of the fire was the changes made to the fire protection system requiring the inclusion of sprinklers in all schools, the fire alarms required to be hooked up to local fire departments, building materials changing from flammable to non-flammable materials such as concrete to replace wood and plaster.

Fire drills are held and students are trained what they need to do in case of fire.  Teachers are required to account for all their students.

There has not been another school fire  in which more than ten students have died since the Out Lady of the Angels fire in 1958.

60th Anniversary of Our Lady of the Angels Fire-- Part 6: Other Suffering

In the early 1960s, a boy who was ten years old and in fifth grade at the time of the fire confessed to starting the fire, a confession that he later recanted.  He did, however, know details of the fire's origin that had not been made public and that he should not have known.  He was not ever prosecuted.

Those that died that day were not the only ones to suffer.  Many of the students were severely burned and spent months in the hospital healing and even several years later were still undergoing skin grafts.  Others had nightmares and others required counseling to overcome the emotional problems they had to deal with.

60th Anniversary of Our Lady of the Angels Fire-- Part 5: Arson?

That afternoon throughout the Midwest, as families turned on their televisions to watch their favorite afternoon shows, they discovered that the only program on was news about the Out Lady of Angels fire.  Throughout the area, watchers remained mesmerized through the following  days as coverage moved from the fire to the funerals of the victims.

It was not easy to find out who was still inside the school as many of the students found their parents in the crowds watching or made their way home.

The cause of the fire has never been officially determined but it was thought to be that the fire started in the basement and was probably started by one of the boys who brought down the wastebaskets at the end of the school day and thus it was arson.

60th Anniversary Our Lady of the Angels Fire-- Part 4: 92 Students and 3 Nuns Perished

The school's second floor windows were 25 feet from the outside ground preventing a safe jump for students ir teachers.

The fire department was late getting to the fire as they had somehow been given the wrong address.  They then had to use a ladder as a battering ram to break through the locked iron fence surrounding the school.  Eventually more than 200 firefighters from 22 engine companies, seven ladder companies and 10 squad companies responded to the fire.

The Chicago Fire Commissioner at the time, Robert Quinn, was quoted as saying of the fire, "It was the worst thing I have ever seen or ever will see."

Firefighters and neighbors began to bring ladders to the site to attempt to rescue trapped students on the second floor of the north wing.  Firemen climbed ladders and pulled many students through the windows to safety.

Some of the students jumped from the windows.  Approximately 340 students and teachers were trapped on the second floor of the north wing and of these, 92 students and three nuns perished.

60th Anniversary Our Lady of the Angels Fire-- Part 3: A Recipe For Disaster

While the building was made of brick, it was the interior that was fuel for the fire.  Inside was entirely combustible.  The walls, desks, doors and the roof quickly burned.  The floors had been coated with flammable petroleum-based waxes that had built up over the years.

There was only one fire escape which was located in the north wing but the hallway leading to it quickly became filled with toxic smoke.  Sprinklers were not required in the building.  Fire alarms were located in the south wing and not connected to the fire department.

There were not any fire safe doors from the stairway to the second floor.  The few fire extinguishers in the north wing were mounted seven feet off the floor as a deterrent to students messing with them.  Unfortunately, at seven feet even most of the adults could not reach them without a ladder.

60th Anniversary of Our Ladies of the Angels Fire-- Part 2

Continued from December 2.

The fire began in the school's basement between 2 and 2:20 p.m., shortly before the students would be dismissed for the day.  The basement housed cardboard trash barrels where students emptied classroom waste baskets into to be disposed of later by the janitor.

It was here in the basement at the foot of the stairway that the fire started.  And the really sad thing was that 30 minutes later the students would have been gone.

The fire quickly made its way through the school, filling the air with fire, smoke and heat.  The halls quickly filled with smoke and soon the second floor of the north wing of the school was cut off from easy access to the hallway, fire escape and stairway needed to exit the building.

The school was built in 1910 and included numerous additions and remodeling as the student population grew, leaving a winding building of many wings, bot something that would be effective in a fire.  Even though the school had been fire inspected a short time before the fire and it is reported that it passed inspection because of the age of the structure, it had been grandfathered in in and not required to meet the newer safety measures.

So Sad.

Workin' In Those Oat Fields in 1918

From the August 22, 2018, MidWeek  "Looking Back."

1918, 100 Years Ago.

"Sid Rowe, George Rowe, Wes Concidine and Fire Chief McEvoy went to the Hickey farm today to shock oats and Conidine and George Rowe had boasted of their ability to stay in the field all day and do more work than the others.

"Police Magistrate Glidden called at the Hickey farm this noon concerning the work of the men and learned that Concidine and Rowe had been given a leave of absence from the field at 11 o'clock and it was necessary to administer first aid to the two workmen.  The other two men, according to the telephone word this noon, were still in the field, working along in fine shape and all the oars that would be cut would easily be shocked by night."

Again, a wartime lack of manpower.

Who Got Bragging Rights?  --Cooter

Genoa Schoolhouse Burns Down in 1918

From the August 22, 2018, MidWeek (DeKalb County, Illinois)  "Looking Back."

1918, 100 Years Ago.

"Yesterday afternoon about three o'clock fire was discovered at the Genoa schoolhouse and before the fire department could get to work the flames were beyond control and the building was totally destroyed.

"The origin of the fire is unknown.  Reports say that it might have been started from spontaneous combustion, while others think it might have started from sparks from rubbish which the janitor was burning alongside the building."

I'm Sure the Children Were Extremely Upset.  --Cooter

Still Looking for "Big Joe's" Mate in 1943

From the August 15, 2018, MidWeek  "Looking Back."

I first wrote about this on August 20, 2018.

1943, 75 Years Ago.

"Although one effort to secure a cow buffalo for Hopkins Park brought only temporary success, the buffalo passing away shortly after arriving in DeKalb, efforts are being made within another week to secure another mate for "Big Joe" the present occupant of the tract in back of the Sanatorium."

Joe Needs a Wife.  --Cooter

The 1 Millionth Dekalb-Built Wurlitzer Piano in 1968

From the August 29,. 2018, MidWeek  "Looking Back."

1968, 60 Years Ago.

"In 1919, the DeKalb Division of the Wurlitzer Company was born, and it became the exclusive source of Wurlitzer built grand pianos, augmenting  the production of upright and player pianos at the Wurlitzer  North Tonawanda, New York Division.

"To consolidate  piano production, Wurlitzer transferred all piano manufacturing operations to DeKalb in 1935.  Since that time, Wurlitzer  pianos have come from DeKalb in a steady flow except during World War II, when the entire plant was converted to war production.

"Recently, a majestic grand piano came off the modern Wurlitzer production line with the serial number 1,000,000, the millionth piano built in DeKalb."

Play It Again, Sam.  --Cooter

Pearl Harbor Survivors

Today is the 77th anniversary of the attack which plunged the United States into World War II.  Usually, when I write about a Pearl Harbor survivor, it is to report his death.  I am always happy to write about one who sis still alive.

From the November 16, 2018, Desert Star  "Clarence Lux celebrates with fellow vets" by Jene Estrada.

Mr. Lux was celebrating his 98th birthday.

He enlisted in the Navy in 1940 and was on the USS Tennessee on that day.  He was discharged in 1946 as a petty officer.

He is one of three Pearl Harbor survivors still left in the area.  The others are Jim Donis of Palm Desert who was in the Army Air Corps and Ed Wise.

The 41st President, George H.K. Bush: Shot Down Over Chichijima

Since President Bush's burial will take place today in College Station, Texas, where his presidential and vice presidential libraries are located (as well as his vice president during his term, Dan Quayle).

From Wikipedia.

GEORGE HERBERT WALKER BUSH

While he was president, he was called just George Bush, but after his son was elected, he was referred to as George H.W. Bush, Bush 41, or George Bush Sr..

I am writing about his World War II service in most of my blogs today.

George Bush piloted one of his torpedo squadron's Grumman TBM Avengers when they attacked Japanese installations on Chichijima on September 2, 1944.  His crew included  Radioman 2nd Class John Delaney and Lt. (jg) William White.  His aircraft was hit by flak during the attack, but Bush successfully released bombs and had several hits.

With his engines ablaze, he flew several miles from the island where he and one of the other crewmen bailed out.  The other one's parachute did not open.

Illinois Bicentennial: Welby Nall Crang of Clinton

The Crang-Bennett American Legion Post 103 in Clinton, Illinois, is named for Welby Crang and Artie Bennett, two locals who died in France in World War I.

Welby Crang was a private in the Army and was with the Signal Corps of Camp Logan, Colorado, and then with Aviation at Kelley Field in Texas.  He landed in Liverpool, England, October 29, 1917 before moving to Indrie, France, by the end of the year.

He died of pneumonia December 28, 1917, in Issodun, France.  He was the first World War I death from DeWitt County.  His funeral was held in Clinton on November 7, 1920.

Illinois Bicentennial: Artie Bennett From DeWitt County

From Crang-Bennett American Legion Post 103, Clinton, Illinois.

Crang-Bennett American Legion Post 103 is named after    Crang and Artie Bennett, two Americans from Clinton, Illinois who died in World War I.

Artie Bennett entered the Marine Corps on May 21, 1917.    He was with the 82nd Company 6th Regiment U.S. Marines and landed at Brest, France,  November 19, 1917.  On June 8, 1918, while forcing the enemy from their positions, the company encountered  much enemy gunfire.    Private Bennett was severely wounded while attacking enemy machine gun nests.  He died one hour later.

This was the first death from Dewitt County, Illinois, caused by enemy fire.  Private Bennett was later buried at American Cemetery Belleau, Aisne, France.

Illinois Bicentennial: Sent More Than 350,000 To WW I-- Part 2: The American Legion

In honor of the Illinois Bicentennial of Statehood today.

Illinois Governor Bruce Rauner signed a proclamation announcing that the Illinois National Guard and Chicago's Pritzker Military Museum will lead efforts to to ensure the land of Lincoln remembers its role in the Great War.

Records from the Illinois Office of the Adjutant General lists more than  351,000 Illinois men serving in the Army, Navy and Marines during the war and some 5,000 died.

The American Legion Post in Clinton is the Crang-Bennett Post 103 is named for Artie Bennett and  and Army Sgt. 1st Class  Welby Crang, who lived  a block from Bennett and died in France in 1917 from pneumonia.

This post was founded in 1919 to honor those who died but also to help those who returned.  Said Ron Devore of the post:  "Some of the guys had been gassed, their lungs were burned, they had missing limbs and disabilities; they were messed up for life, and they weren't getting anything from the government."

The Bicentennial of Illinois Statehood, December 3, 2018: World War I

From the November 4, 2018, Sauk Valley.Com.

ILLINOIS SENT MORE THAN 350,000 SOLDIERS TO EUROPE TO FIGHT DURING WORLD WAR I

By Tony Reid.

Artie Bennett, a Marine from Clinton, Illinois, was cut down by a hail of bullets in France.  A letter home from a fellow Marine said Bennett, age 18, had been attacking a German machine gun nest as Marines fought to stem a enemy advance that was threatening Paris in June 1918.

He lingered an hour before dying, one of the first casualties from Illinois.

The letter was typed by fellow Marine  Private John  W. Olsen, said:  "He passed away quietly, without complaint, and was laid to rest near where he fell."

60th Anniversary of the Our Lady of the Angels Fire--Part 1: December 1, 1958

From the November 28, 2018, Hi-Liter newspaper  "Remembering the students of Our Lady of the Angels school fire" by Sandra Landen Machaj.

For students at Our Lady of the Angels Catholic Grade School, Dec. 1, 1958, began as an ordinary school day.  But for these students and their families, it would not end that way.  It would be a day that changed their lives in ways that would never be forgotten.

For it was on that day that a fire broke out in the school and took the lives of 92 students and three of the nuns that taught them.  The fire with its large number of deaths was the worst school fire ever in Illinois and the third worst school fire in the nation.

In 1958, Our Lady of the Angels was one of the largest parishes in the Archdiocese of Chicago.  The parish consisted of about 4,500 families, many of whom sent multiple children to the parish kindergarten through eighth grade school.

The school had an enrollment of approximately 1,600 students.  Located at 909 N. Avers in the Humboldt Park section of Chicago, the community at that time was a melting pot of Italian, Polish and Irish families, most of whom had lived here for several generations.