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| Sister Rita Gervais died fighting the fire |
The fire that killed 39 (later listed at 35 ) on June 17, 1951 took place across from where the Lionel Groulx metro now stands. To be specific, it was at the northeast corner of Atwater and Lionel-Groulx, then called Albert.
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| Click image to see newsreel report |
Those killed in the blaze were mostly elderly nuns and the charred remains of top sis Rita Gervais were found in the hallway. She walked straight into the blaze with a fire extinguisher and died trying to fight the conflagration.
Her body was found in a praying position. Seems to me that she might have been given consideration when Albert St. was renamed, as Lionel Groulx has since been judged and found lacking.
This is the fire that destroyed the Sainte-Cunégonde nursing home, at the corner of Atwater and Albert in Saint-Henri. I'd never heard of this terrible tragedy; Google makes it too easy. There is a British newsreel about it; http://avantlautoroute.wordpress.com/2011/06/13/lincendie-de-lhospice-sainte-cunegonde/
ReplyDeleteI believe the fire was at the Sainte Cunegonde hospice located at the corner of Atwater and Albert.
ReplyDeleteI've received two answers that are sorta correct but I need a little more precision, step it up guys!
ReplyDeleteon atwater, hospice ste-cunegonde
ReplyDeleteOn atwater, the Ste-cunegonde hospice
ReplyDeleteHospice Ste-Cunégonde, an orphanage and old folks' home on Atwater, worst fire in Montreal since the notorious Laurier Palace fire in 1927.
ReplyDeleteThere was a tv show about this on History not too long ago....
ReplyDeleteThe address of the Hospice St. Cunegonde was 2625 Albert (later renamed Avenue Lionel-Groulx). The building was located on the north side of Albert just east of Atwater. Today, a modern residential complex exists a this spot.
ReplyDeleteJust south of St Jacque street and next to the railroad track wich was neighboring their backyard. I know I was there watching. The parish was Ste Cunegonde.
ReplyDelete