Is Our Lady of Angels Museum site slipping from supporters' grasp?

A retired Chicago firefighter is spearheading a last-ditch effort to acquire a vacant Chicago firehouse to be used in part as an Our Lady of the Angels fire museum.

"The city now wants to sell the property to a developer ... unless we can convince them otherwise. This may be our last chance to acquire this property for the museum," Bill Kugelman, formerly of Arlington Heights, wrote in a March 11 e-mail blast to those on the Our Lady of Angels Fire mailing list, urging them to write city officials.

The Dec. 1, 1958 fire, at the Humboldt Park school killed 92 children and three nuns, and served as a catalyst for sweeping changes in school safety across the country.

The old school site is now being used as a charter school. Its adjacent convent and parish center serve as a mission for poor residents.

Kugelman, president of the Fire Museum of Greater Chicago and former president of the Chicago Firefighters Union, believes the firehouse across the street from the fire statue at Holy Family Church is one of the only viable locations for a museum. Holy Family, which survived the Great Chicago Fire of 1871, has several pews dedicated to the Chicago Fire Department.

It also holds the Our Lady of Angels fire memorial statue, moved to the church several years ago by Kugelman himself at the request of the Rev. Joseph Ogibene, a young priest who rescued dozens of students from the fire.

Now, Kugelman says, there is no available space to put the crosses from the old school's classrooms, a model of the burning school that was specially built, along with other pictures and memorabilia.

The 137-year-old firehouse has been vacant for the past two years.

In recent months, hundreds of fire survivors and their family members have contacted 2nd Ward Alderman Robert Fioretti's office, as well as the mayor's office, about acquiring the firehouse.

A Fioretti spokesman said Tuesday that while the requests have been heartfelt, no one has presented a detailed plan about exactly how the building will be updated and used.

The city sent out a request for developer proposals on March 15.

Fioretti's office was unclear on when proposals are due back.