Nose for News by Sarah Stultz

A week ago yesterday I had just returned from my lunch break and was sitting down to start work on the next day’s newspaper when I heard a page go out for the Manchester Fire Department. The dispatcher said smoke was coming out of a house in the small city just north of Albert Lea in Freeborn County.

Not knowing much else, I quickly grabbed my camera, an extra lens and my memory card and began driving north on Minnesota Highway 13. I wasn’t exactly sure how to get to the address listed on the scanner, but I figured I could easily find it because of the small size of Manchester.

Soon I saw dark smoke billowing out into the sky ahead, and I remember my heart racing as I continued to drive. Seeing that much dark smoke was not a good sign.

As I continued driving north, I saw an ambulance approach in my rearview mirror. I pulled over and let it pass, trying to keep an eye on where it was headed. I guessed it was going to the same place I was.

When I arrived at the house, at 25886 708th Ave., I took a deep breath and stepped out of my car.

In front of me was a large, old and beautiful white house that was beginning to become engulfed in dark smoke.

The firefighters  already at the scene were pulling out hoses and setting up other equipment, and a few members of the Freeborn County Sheriff’s Office were assessing the situation and trying to assist. At that time, all I could see was dark smoke billowing from the windows and other parts of the house, and there was an eery sound of loud crackling coming from the house.

In just a few short minutes, flames began to emerge from the smoke. By the time I left, the home was fully engulfed.

I remember commenting to Freeborn County Sheriff Kurt Freitag — who had walked over early on to say hello — about how quickly the fire had spread.

That’s when I found out it was likely that the home’s owner, Edson Lebeck, was still inside in the basement and had likely died.

I stood staring at what once had been a beautiful white house that was now becoming overtaken by bright orange flames.

In the 8 1/2 years I have spent at the Tribune, I have covered dozens if not hundreds of fires, but rarely have I covered a fire that claimed a life — and never in such a way as this one.

The experience evoked feelings I have had before from covering the deaths of other people whose lives have been claimed by tragedy through car wrecks, tornadoes or other disasters.

On my way back to the office, I couldn’t help but think about what I would do if that man was one of my own family members? What if that was my own old house, which was built pre-1900? It likely would have gone up in flames just as quickly as that house did.

Who was the man who died that day in the Manchester fire?

I have heard a handful of stories in the last week about this man, who was born and raised in the area.

From what I have been able to learn, Lebeck grew up on his family’s farm near Manchester, attended Manchester Country School, graduated from Albert Lea High School and took over his family’s farm.

He and his wife, Betty, had four children.

I have been told Lebeck’s house was the subject of many photographs and paintings, and I would like to ask that anyone with any knowledge of these paintings or photographs to please contact me.

It’s sad to see a life shortened in such a horrible way. Please remember Lebeck’s family in your prayers and hug your loved ones a little tighter tonight.

 

Sarah Stultz is the managing editor of the Albert Lea Tribune. She can be reached at 379-3433 or sarah.stultz@albertleatribune.com.