Almond L. "Al" McSpadden 1916-1959

MCSPADDEN, LE VAN

Posted By: Merllene Andre Bendixen (email)
Date: 5/10/2015 at 23:53:51

Local Man Perishes In Fire at Armstrong
An Estherville man burned to death between 12:30 and 1 a.m. Sunday [July 12, 1959] in a room above an Armstrong recreation parlor.

The sheriff’s office speculates that Al McSpadden, 42, was smoking in bed when bedding caught fire. McSpadden was found dead near the north partition of the room, although his bed was near the south wall with windows and doors all locked.

The fire was confined to one room above Niels Hansen’s recreation hall, although smoke and water damage was extensive throughout the building.

Paul Madsen, who was occupying the front room next to McSpadden’s, discovered the fire. He said, “I was in bed sleeping when something sounding like an explostion woke me. I jumped up and ran out into the hall where I could see the flames shooting out over the transom of McSpadden’s locked door.” The noise is believed to have been from the combustion of the blaze.

Madsen awakened Magnus Brekke and Lawrence Olson who were staying in rooms at the back of the building. Then he says he ran barefooted down the main street of town until he met town marshall Harry Hanson and policeman Leo Walders at the bank corner.

Because Armstrong’s fire siren is out of order, Hansen sped around Armstrong blowing his police siren to rouse townspeople and the telephone operator called firemen.

But firemen were too late to save McSpadden who had been living in Armstrong about three to four weeks while working as a day laborer for various farmers in the area. His charred billfold and suitcase aided in identification as the body was burned beyond recognition.

Irene Vandenburgh, who operated a popcorn stand on Armstrong’s main street, said she sold McSpadden a sack of popcorn Saturday evening at 10:30 as usual.

McSpadden is survived by his mother, Mary, of Estherville and one brother, Eldon, of Cedar Rapids. The funeral was to be today at 2 p.m., with the Rev. Harlan Blockhus officiating. Burial was in Armsrong Grove Cemetery.

Sheriff Linn Foderberg was called to Armstrong to handle investigation details. Dr. R.M. Turner served as acting coroner. (Estherville Daily News, Estherville, IA, July 13, 1959)

Graveside Rite Held for A.L. McSpadden, 42
Graveside rites for A.L. McSpadden, 42, of Estherville, were conducted at 2 p.m. Monday at Armstrong Grove cemetery, Armstrong. Officiating at the service was the Rev. Harlan Blockhus, pastor of Nazareth Lutheran church.

McSpadden, a farm laborer, was burned to death shortly after midnight Saturday in a room over the Hansen recreation parlor in Armstrong, where he had been living during the past month. He had lived most of his life in Estherville.

Survivors include his mother, Mrs. Mary McSpadden of Estherville and one brother, Eldon McSpadden of Cedar Rapids.

Relatives from a distance attending the services were Mr. and Mrs. Eldon McSpadden and Orville Le Van of Cedar Rapids, Mr. and Mrs. L.C. Le Van and Verlyn Le Van of Elgin, MInn., and Glen Le Van and daughter of Boone. (Estherville Daily News, Estherville, IA, July 14, 1959)

Per WWII Bonus Case files, Almond L. McSpadden was born August 30, 1916 in Cummngs, MO