Man honoured 100 years after fatal fire at Capitol Theatre
A Moncton man is being memorialized a century after his tragic death in a fire at the Capitol Theatre.
On March 26, 1926, a major fire broke out, and Alexander “Sandy” Lindsay, a member of the Salvage Corps, attended the scene to fight the fire along with other members.
A brick wall collapsed near an area where the capital adjoins the Empress Theatre, and his skull was crushed. Lindsay was taken by ambulance to the hospital, and they tried very hard to save him, but while waiting for surgery, he passed away.
“He was an incredible man who was well-known across the region for his time selling advertising with the local daily paper of the time. He was really involved in the community. He was a member of the Rotary Club. He was a member of the Moncton Curling Association. He had a wife, Emily. They had a son, John, who was 18. It was a true loss that he lost his life volunteering to save the Capitol Theatre,” Managing Director Kim Rayworth told our newsroom.
The theatre has dedicated a seat in Lindsay’s honour, with a plaque.
Rayworth says 100 years later, his presence can still be felt at the theatre.
“I feel him. And I think it’s beautiful in a way that he gets to be here with hundreds of people daily. He was said to have been an amateur musician and performer. He was a member of the choir. And I think how great it must be for him to feel everyone’s energy and excitement for coming together here. There is no greater sacrifice, so for me, it touches me a lot. I’m really happy when the paranormalists want to come in here and study it. I’m really happy that his memory stays alive. This is just another small way we can do that by putting a plaque on a seat,” Rayworth expressed.
Moncton Fire Deputy Chief Keith Guptill says this is a huge deal for them
“It reminds us of what the ones that are here today, of what we do and why we do it. To see the appreciation that these folks are sharing with us, with the City of Moncton, with the Moncton Fire Department and the local community, is such an encouragement to us,” Guptill explained.
