1899 St. Francis School Fire
On December 22nd 1899, Quincy experienced one of the darkest tragic days when a freak accident killed 12 young girls as they prepared for a Christmas pageant. Listen to the podcast to hear all the details. The following is a collection of imagery/media to help provide visual context with that episode.
Important Story Locations
St. Francis School in 1899
St. Francis school around 1893 following completion. (This school building was torn down in 1946). Image Courtesy of the Quincy Public Library: Quincy Area Historic Photo Collection
St. Francis Church (Left most structure) with St. Francis School directly across College St. (then Vine St.) Image Courtesy of the Quincy Public Library: Quincy Area Historic Photo Collection
The Fire And It’s Victims
Program announcement for Performance. Image credit: "Saint Francis Solanus Parish: A Century of Service, 1860-1960." (Publishing details unavailable)
Former St. Francis School Hall/Auditorium, the scene of the tragic fire. Image credit: "Saint Francis Solanus Parish: A Century of Service, 1860-1960." (Publishing details unavailable)
Photos of the 12 girls who died as a result of the St. Francis Fire. Image Credit https://www.findagrave.com
Father Andrew Suffered Severe Burns while helping students in the fire. Image Courtesy of the Quincy Public Library: Quincy Area Historic Photo Collection
No photos of the SSND Sisters involved in helping rescue the children was found in our research. During this time, the SSND vows preventing Sisters from appearing in posed pictures. The photo above is of SSND Sister Angele Marca. While she was not at all affiliated with the fire or Quincy, this photo of her taken in around the 1930s or 1940s, is included to demonstrate the style of habit that the SSND Sisters that helped in the fire would have been wearing. The habit was very restrictive to movement, making the Sister’s action all the more heroic given the difficulty in assisting in such a horrific event. Image courtesy of the School Sisters of Notre Dame North American Archives, Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
Funeral of the Victims on December 24th, 1899
at St. Francis Church with Modern Day Contrast
Funeral Hurses; Image credit: "Saint Francis Solanus Parish: A Century of Service, 1860-1960." (Publishing details unavailable)
St. Francis School Fire Memorial & Graves of Girls in St. Boniface Cemetery
Monument and Graves From Around 1900 vs. Today
Monument and Graves Today
“St. Francis Fire” by Quincy Area Native Idgy Vaughn
St. Francis 12 Little Angels Fund
Several years ago, a relative of one of the girls’ families established a tuition fund for St. Francis school as a tribute to the 12 girls who lost their life. St. Francis Student Delaney Beard created the accompanying artwork used in promoting the fun for donations.
Program Ad promoting the 12 Little Angels Tuition Fund
Shirt Design promoting the 12 Little Angels Tuition Fund
Special Thanks:
Quincy Public Library; Quincy Historic Newspaper Archives and Quincy, IL and Adams County Historic Photo Archives
School Sisters of Notre Dame and SSND Archivist Michele Levandoski
Lori Shepard and St. Francis School / St. Francis Church