Leon Hale Albee (1932-1948)

ALBEE, STEVENSON

Posted By: Eileen Reed
Date: 2/10/2024 at 13:06:41

April 30, 1932 -- October 30, 1948

Leon Hale Albee, age 16; son of Kenneth Albee; former Hermiston resident. Died at Eagle Grove, IA. Buried at Goldfield. Internment: Glenwood Cemetery

Hermiston Herald, Oregon
11 Nov 1948

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Rites at Eagle Grove for Accident Victim

Eagle Grove—Funeral services were held in the Wilson funeral chapel here Wednesday afternoon for Leon Albee, 16 year old son of Kenneth Albee of this city. Young Albee was killed instantly Saturday afternoon when a steel ladder fell 170 feet from the top of the smokestack on which he was working for a construction company. The smokestack is being built for the Iowa Public Service company.

Mason City Globe Gazette - Iowa
November 4, 1948

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LADDER FALLS 200 FT., KILLS LEON ALBEE

Was Working On Ground Near Base of 200 Foot High Smoke Stack At Iowa Public Service Company Building.

Leon Hale Albee, 16, son of Kenneth Albee, was killed instantly Saturday when struck by a steel ladder that had fallen from the top of the Iowa Public Service's 200-foot smoke stack, built at the corner of Lucas and Second street northwest.

Albee was working about fifteen feet from the east base of the big stack and the ladder fell from the top of the stack where workmen were dismantling the steel forms.

The ladder struck him at the back of the head and cut off a considerable portion of his skull, killing him instantly. Funeral services were held Wednesday afternoon in the Wilson chapel, with Rev. H. G. Dawes officiating. Burial was in Glenwood cemetery at Goldfield.

Construction of the big stack had just been completed on Friday and workmen were dismantling the forms into which the concrete was poured for each of the ten foot sections. The form was decreased in size each step up the stack by applying pressure to steel bands around the forms.

When these bands were released one of them sprung out with such force that it dislodged two of the steel ladders on which the men worked. One ladder fell, striking Albee and the other hit the ground near the cement mixer used on the job.

Albee was either warned by shouts of eyewitnesses to the tragedy or had reached up to scratch his head as two fingers on one hand were also severed by the falling ladder.

The Custodis Chimney Construction company of Chicago, III., has the sub contract for building the stack. Mr. G. W. Shaw is the engineer in charge of the job.

Eagle Grove Eagle
Eagle Grove, Iowa
Thursday, November 4, 1948

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OBITUARY

LEON HALE ALBEE

Leon, youngest son of Kenneth and Edith Stevenson Albee, was born at Hardy, Humboldt county, Iowa on April 30, 1932 and died instantly about 2 o'clock October 30, 1948. At the time of the fatal accident he was 16 years, 6 months of age. He attended school at Eagle Grove and at a boarding school for boys about one year and a half, and for a number of years he has been living with his aunt in Oregon. A few months ago, he came back to Eagle Grove and has been living with his father, working at different places, but recently employed by the Custodis Chimney Construction Company. He was killed instantly as part of a metal ladder fell about 200 feet, striking him on the head.

He is survived by his father, his mother, one sister, Betty of Sioux City, two brothers, Curtis at present in the U. S. Army and Winton of Oregon, besides a number of other relatives and friends. He was preceded in death by one sister, Avis, in 1944.

Services were held Wednesday, November 3rd at Wilson's chapel with Rev. H. Dawes, pastor of the First Methodist church officiating. Interment was in the Albee family lot at Glenwood Cemetery, Goldfield, Iowa.

Eagle Grove Eagle
Eagle Grove, Iowa
Thursday, November 11, 1948