Kaffee und Kuchen: The St. Elizabeth Fire

Author Bret Grimes tells the story about how this one fateful night changed the course of our community forever.

One of the Largest Tragedies in Iowa History.
On January 7, 1950, a fire erupted at St. Elizabeth's Mental Health Facility for women. The disaster garnered state-wide and national attention as the second largest loss of life in the history of the state and the third largest hospital fire in the nation, to date. The fire, started by a patient, claimed the lives of forty patients and one nurse, while twenty-five patients were rescued. Rescue efforts were hampered by the fact that most patients were locked in their rooms at the time. Bret Grimes recounts the lives of those who fought and survived the ordeal.

Copies of the book will be available for purchase with time for the author to sign copies.

1:30 refreshments
2:00 program

This program is both in-person and virtual. The session will be recorded and available to watch at a later time. The virtual access will be sent Thursday January 23rd and again on the morning of January 26th.
If you have trouble accessing the zoom meeting, email clare@gahc.org directly.