Hollis' house burns, 1943

HOLLIS, LEIB

Posted By: Stephen D. Williams (email)
Date: 10/11/2012 at 20:25:53

[Transcribed from The Williamsburg Shopper, 5 Aug 1943, pg 7]

Three Injured In Explosion
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An explosion of unknown origin in the basement of the home of Dr. and Mrs. Hollis of Marengo, late Tuesday afternoon, seriously burned the two grandchildren, Edward 7 and Joyce Lieb [Leib] 12, of Dr. and Mrs. Hollis, the mother of the children, Mrs. Mark Lieb, daughter of Dr. and Mrs. Hollis, also was badly burned.
At the time of the explosion the two children were in the kitchen of the home, and the flames, resulting from the explosion coming up the stairway burned the children quite badly in their effort to escape from the house. Mrs. Lieb was on the second floor of the home at the time of the explosion and Dr. and Mrs. Hollis were in the doctors office.
The injured were taken to the University hospital and reports this morning are to the effect that Edward's condition is critical.
The father, Mark Lieb, is in the armed forces and is on his way overseas.
The house was badly damaged from the force of the explosion and the fire.

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[The Williamsburg Shopper, 12 Aug 1943, pg 10]

Marengo Boy Dies of Burns

Edward Leib, 7, who was burned Tuesday of last week in an explosion in the home of his grandfather, Dr. E. L. Hollis, died Wednesday in Mercy Hospital, Cedar Rapids. Funeral services were held Saturday in St. Patrick's church in Marengo, with burial in I.O.O.F. cemetery.
He is survived by his parents Pfc. and Mrs. Mark Lieb [sic], a sister Joyce and his grand-parents, Dr. and Mrs. E. L. Hollis and Mr. and Mrs. B. C. Leib.