;
f.
i
l he became connected with the New York
' ,v’ The company tin-ii
(had a membership
1 j and
'v' years, and \Vlli-i Hillil
raomely and conveniently lifted up. and
7" beratoits ranks. having now on its roll
‘ about ”vent .flvo names.
gimme service.
< 1‘00
. 1895‘.
[
an FIRE ‘ Louis.
W
History of flu film Bipart-
nmiu of the Town.
Sillml ionwai wanna.
chief hat-urn Baker, Prowln and
‘WIaaler, foreman Byxbea of old Well
look and Ladder Company, Capt-in
Wahle. of Putnam lino Compimy, and
low. of the Other. Who Have Dona
Valiant Service In Saving Life And
7 I’m part: From the Ravage; of l’lamu.
The people of the triplet cities. as South
Norwalk, Norwalk, and En t Norwnlk
might be called, can lie down 0 peaceful
slumbers at night with the assurance that
'their lives and property are well guarded
from destruction by fire.
ride that they take in their fire compan-
ea, and it is no boast of ours when we say
that nocity of equal population, wherever
it may be, can point to a volunteer depart-
ment more thoroughly organized. more
completely equipped. or better ollicered
and manned than exists in each of the
three municipalities within the confines
of the town of Norwalk.
The father of the South Norwalk Fire
Department, William H. Jones, is still a
typical and active
fireman, being oasis»
taut foreman of En—
gine company No.
8, at Lexington
avenue and Fifty~
first street, New
York. Mr. Jones
was born in that
city. February 7,
1835, but no one
would take him to
be sixty years of
age, as he looks
, twciitly years young—
er. 'le served an
apprenticeship in
" the foundry of the
Morgan lron
Works. At the age
“FA'l'ilEl: ” .ioVEs. _
of twenty Mr. Jones and Isaac llnwkiiis.
another athletic young man. performed
on the slack rope, the double trapeze and
the twenty—foot pole at the old Bowery
Theatre, under the name of the American
Brothers. He left the stage and went
back to his trade, working for John
Roach, the celebrated ship builder. in
1856 Mr. Jones joined the old New York
Fire Department as a mcmbcr of llose
company No. 47. lie was subsequently
connected with Engine company No. 44.
and Hook and Ladder company No. iii.
neceiving an honorable discharge when
be old Volunteer department went out of
* xlstencein l-‘ll'x’i. The following year Mr.
Eones came to South Norwnlk to take
barge of the foundry department of the
Not-walk lron Work-i. llis honorable
record as a fireman followed him, and in
‘1874 the late Dudley l'. Ely. then mayor of
the city. suggested to Mr. Jones the nec-
essity 01' a fire company, the fire fighting
a pliances at that time consisting of a
'f w buckets and ladders. The matter
'as laid before the Council, who author-
'zed Mr. Jones to organize a hook and
adder company. A call was sent out for
h meeting, which was hcld at the Council
rooms on Tuesday evening, March in, of
‘the year mentioned, when committees
iverc appointed to select a name for the
ompany, draft by-laws, and to split-it
ubscriptions to furnish a meeting
room. (in the Saturday evening
following another meeting was held,
when officers were clcctcd. 'l‘hc fort-man
éhip of the company fell to Mr. Jones by
in unanimous vote of the mcmbcrs. llis
lilrstassistnut was i). ll. Fairbanks: sci-
. istnni. If. l'l. Kiiiucy: secretary. l‘.
1' ll. Disbrow: treasurer, J. W. Duke. in
1575, business becoming dull at the Non
walk Iron Works. the ioundry was closed
and Mr. Jones returned to Now York. llc
was again i-iiiploycd in John lioiicli's
‘workn until h‘cptciiiber of that your. whcn
Fire Department.joiiiing Engine company
No. M. iii? was one of the six organizers
Of the Life Saving (.‘orps in lfisil. and for
that meritorious scrvice he was made an
assistant foreman. He. has since lil'cii
‘with various conipn nics of t he lll‘liflf'l llll‘lli.
En September '33 of the present year. Mr.
ones will have bccn with the department
twent 'ycnrs. a period which comics him
a )lncc on liicri-lircil listat linlfsnlnry.
r. . ones still retains an ardent lin'v for
outli Norwalk. and spends ills vacation
eyery year muting his old le‘UClflli'H. who
treat him with a sort of purl-illiil rosin-cl.
l'X'. Jones is too modest in say much
Qimut himself. butlliose who know him
eat any ho is cool hcndcd and ft’lll‘ll'fsN.
ad that his di-cda of valor would fill an
iouored pain-in the history of the New
'ork Fire llcparfmrnl.
l The nami- selected for the oriznnizaiion
of which Mr. Jonvs was the pnrcnl was
,‘Old Well Hook and lladdcr company.
mi about. forty llli'.
its rooms. as
now, were on llavi
land st rcci . A
truck for the com
any arrived April
8L This “baby
carriage." as it
came to bc known.
WM found to bc too
email after a low
to a southern city.
Another and larger
truck was purcluw
cd from tic New
Haven Fire Depart
ment, and this
(‘lllEl‘
wan only recently discarded for a modern
apparatus. The quarters of tlic company.
consisting of a parlor. incl-lint; room.
llAliEll.
billiard halland truck room. arc hand
the oryanizntlon is of such a charm-tor.
social y that it has attracted many incur
hief Eng neer Edward V. linker. tho
present bond of the department, has a
twenty earn” record as n. ilrcmnn, and
boil) atll young, he is likely to givi-
flout Norwalk many more years of
, Mr. linker wriu horn in
kl n in 1858 and came to Nora-pill in
1801. n earlylife he followed the drug
business. and for seven years was connect-
a‘wholesnlo grocer house. Later
_ . d a produce limitless for a
tlmc,and for the past eight years
been connected with the batting
mtg. in 1% licwas elected to the
assistant chief and filled that
ticnnntli loin. On February 1, it'll-f.
molaced at the head of the depart-
t and his work since then ha!
it is no empty /
Chief Baker that “the citiacnu of South
Nor-walk, recognizing the activity and
abillt . unuclflshncu and devotion dis-
play on numberloan occasions, his
wil ins efl'ort and knowledge of the best
mum of fighting flm. placed him at the
of the department." Working in
harmony with Chief Baker are two
cfllcient militants—D. William Harford
and George W. Bogardua. The ethereal?
core are: Secretary, A. J. Croaamanztrea-
uni-er. F. N. Ferris. ‘ .
Old Well never had a more deservedly
Egpular foreman than the present incum-
nt of that office. Frederick L. Byxbee.
lie is one of the
“old ori inal "
members a the
company, having
‘ joined when it was
organized upward
of twent years
ago, and as ever
, since been a mem—
ber. He was an as-
l sistant foreman for
four years,was then
elected foreman,
which he held three
years, when other
duties which called
him away from
home much of the
tinie,compellcd him
to relinquish the
i'()l:r1.\l.\N lli‘klilili. office. Last March
the foreiiinnship of the company
was thrust upon him attain, and
the high standing of Old Well is due
largely to his efllcii-ncy. Mr. llyxbec is a
native of South Norwalk, having been
born herein May. lh‘So. lie belongs to a
seafaring fnlnily, and naturally took to
the water when ln- grew to manhood. All
along the Sound. particularly between
Nor-walk and New York. he is known as
Captain Byxbee. and it is no stretch of
the imagination to say that a more trust
worthy or popular pilot never stood in the
whecl~hoiise. For six vcars he was in
command of the New England Terminal
company‘s transport, the Cape Charles.
plying between New York and “'ilson's
’oint. and is at present with the New York
and Norwalk Steamboat company as
pilot. Mr. Byxbec‘s assistant foreman
are E. F. Smith and ‘3. C. Nichols, with
these other officers. secretary. CW. Stow;
assistant secretary. Leo Davis: treasurer.
l". N. Ferris; steward, J. .l. Goodwin.
Succeeding William ll. Jones as forc—
man of Old Well (‘illllt' if. lingcin- Kin-
ney. tin-n Dexter i'l. Fairbanks, Mr. lxin~
ncy again. (Tnpinin W. ll. ll. ('l:ir .,
Frank M. Smith and Henry ilcnger.
Kinney was oncc morc clccfcd to tho foi‘v
manship of the company, was again rc-
circled. but rcsigncd and was succeeded
by Frank M. Smith for the unexpired
term. The fora-men in ,‘wllt‘l'i'nnlilll were
Frcd ll. ilyxbcc. lllll‘flf'l"5. llatcli. i". ll.
Northrup. Edward F. Sniitiinnd ilu-n Mr.
llvxbcc. ilm presciil iin-unibcnt. John
W. Duke “as our of the "originals" and
has always remained an active member of
the coiiipi'uy. lie is (lid \Yell's delegate
to the convention. (‘npiain W. ll. ll
Clark joined the (‘Oilllmlly in 1‘23. and
like Mr. Duke. has retained his member-
ship and popularity in the organization to
thcprcsciit tinic. Others still living iii
South Norwalk who \vcro original nicm»
bers of (lid “’0” arc- the- prcscnt foreman.
Fred l.. ilyxhcc. Henry ilofl'ninn. .lr.,
Frank M. Smith. Fred ’1'. l.yon.l;eorgc
ll. llarvcy. Hilbert E. Bogart and Frank
N. Ferris.
it. is no disparagcmcnt to the officers
and members of (Nd Well. past or prescnt.
to say that the company reached the top
wave of popularity when if. Engciw Kin
iii-y was fiic fort.“
man. He navi- lav-
ishly of hislinic and
‘niimcv to make it so.
.iiiid theornaniznt ioii
lhas iicrcr rw-rdod to
iauy pi-rci-plibic Iii“
Agree from the high
:sillillfilllg it nilniiicd
iiindcr his rl'iKll. lie
,ln-ld lhc forcinun-
ship of the company
four terms and was
chicf of thc depart~
llli‘lll for M‘Vl'll
, ‘:ll'\ Ncwf‘annnn
vi n‘ch us liinncy and
>§JSouth Norwnlk inn
ncve-r yi-l lm-n able
.‘.. r.
y“ , lllll‘ K'V‘x‘m. lo littiiigly rcilirn
thanks for llll' gift. for if Wits
a good our. ”0 was born in tho:
town well. we will say upwards of forty
ycar- ago. and l‘llllll' to this city twc-nly
iiic yoursnuo lo irzll‘il bailing in (‘roiuid~
lx'napp‘s factory. In ii‘udi- pursuits. :is
Well as in lirciimnii' main-rs, he rum-bod
the top round of lilo lzidlicr. llt‘lllK now
foreman of tho finishing dcpartniciit of
flip faciory. As a Mason hc has i‘n-ni-licd
llii- highcsi office in iln- gift of (lid Wcll
liodizv- and has bccn through the chairs of
iiiillcr Inului'. l. H. H. l“.: in llil’l. llic
iuinic Kinni-y is a synonym of all the good
qualities. and very few of llic lulll ours.
that human flesh is lll‘ll‘ to.
The curly records of l’llfiuiiii lios’c mini
anuy have imm- astray. [insHlllly destroyed.
but it is rccallcd bv sonic of ”W Illtll‘l‘
lili‘illm'l‘u of llw
organization that I'"
the company out
organized in 1327..
and n- organized in
NH. ’l‘lu- quarters
of lhc company
Wcrc originally on
l‘uinli sll‘cul. \vlici‘i-
ilicv rcnmincd until
[he prc'scnl com
pic-lo and i'illlYl'lli
i'lli lioiw house was
built in lWI. ’l‘lic
munpnny was rich
ly I-niiilcd to ilil‘
iww lionu- \‘llll‘ll
the wily rrccli-il. for
tho Iiicmbcrs were
lllf'il. in“ tin-y arc
no“. a thoroughly nrgainzcd. \nlinnf
N‘l of young l'clluwu. i‘Vi'i' willing
and rcndy to respond in an alarm of fire.
'l‘bcir annual clambnkc. which In hrld
l'l’i'l'y your on the night of July ii. in an
«rent that has endeared the how boys to
the many who have lll'l'il )rivllcgcd in at
lend their annual food. which linsnssuin
cd the proportions of a banquet. 'l‘hc
nnnwa of mum of those to whom the lion
or of organizing the company belongs are
.l. ll. Kidney, Edward Merrill. Jncobliau-
son. William Wold». L. ll. lbsckcr. Jolip
i \l‘l .\iN ll l‘llllJ'i.
llognrdus. llobi-ri. flurry. W. ,
lloyt and Frank liiclinrdu. The
present uci ivc membership of ”If“
company is abouttwenty-live. About. two
years ago the (‘lty Council mndc ihl- com»
pnnyapnrily paid one by purcbafillm fl
horse and stationing a driver at the hose
house. This has irrcally enhanced the
cilicicncy of the company. which ranks
with the best. of ilmni.
The career of'flaptalu John W. Wchlc.
of l’nlnnm lloso company. ever since in»
brcnmc a ilrcnmn ten years one. has been
an almost continual round of iinnoughi
for honora. liln ilrat Ollll'll won that of
nsolatnni foreman of the lime company:
be next served two terms as second new
sintant engineer of the Fire Department,
then advanced two rounds higher and he—
came chief of the department, which he
held one lei-indie had no sooner relinqniau
edthis office than he was elected to the
ti demonstrated an acacia tor
W film m truly «in of;
' tale {thymine cam an .
llgldo filament; N p y
Mr.
man: My. imam
eight years of age, a hat curler by trade.
and a good one. too. lie is known as an
all mound good fellow. from the ground
up. not alone among the firemen, butin
other walks of llfe.and is consequently
afflicted with more friends than usual!
fall to the lot of a young man. Ponuuod
of a deep bass voice. he occupies an envi-
gblo place in the musical circles of‘Nor-
walk. Hekeo the affairs of the Hon
company well a hand. and finds two able
mistanta in First Lieutenant Phlll N.
Wheeler and second Lieutenant lbirt
W. Clark. The amount secretary of the
company in A. W. Dreyfuaa; assistant nec~
rotary, Fred Barthel; treasurer. C. H.
Harvey. Jr.
Chief engineer of South Norwalk eleven
consecutive years, is a record of which
any fireman might be proud. These are
the laurels which deck the brow of Sam-
uel McGowan, irrespective of lesser glories
with which he has been crowned. Mr.
McGowan became a
fireman twenty-
iiine years ago in
Newark, N. J.
9
where he was assist-
ant foreman of Ex—
celsior Hook and
Ladder company,
No. 2. He came to
South Nurwalk in
1877, and soon after .
became a member ‘
of the Fire Depart-
ment by joining
Putnam Hose coni-
pany. He served one
year as second assis» ,
flint. one year , .
first assistant. and
was “1011 9190le liX-l'lliEi’ .u’uowas.
chief engineer of the Department. He
was repeatedly reelected until some poli-
tical disinfection arose in the City Coun-
cil. it. was under Mr. Mcfiowan’a ad»
ministration that Putnam Hose COIII‘
pany'licoayqunrtera were built and the
fire alarm system established in South
Norwalk. Mr. McGowan was severely
injured at a fire in the General Nelson
Taylor building on Washington street, a
few years ago, and for six months was in-
capacitated for duty. About a year ago
he was placed in charge of the paid de-
partment as driver. a position which he
now fills with credit to himself and the
city.
A valuable adjunct to the Hook and
Ladder and [lose companies is the South
Forwnlk Fire Police. The members. now
numbering twcntyoight. are most cflitti‘
ent in tho perfornmnce of their duties.
lending valuable aid to the firemen in prc»
curving order and preventing: crowds from
idicrfcriniz with lllf‘ work at fires. The
m-‘tnnizntinn was perfected in January.
led. in lili‘ police. rooms on llnviliind
Slrw-l, \vlicrc meetings were lll‘lll for
about six months. The Fire Police had
tin-ii outgrown thcsrqunrlcrs. and rcmov
cd to rooms over H. S. itood's jcwclry
store on South Main street, and a few
vmrq ”go look up their quarters in the
Librarv biiildiiuz on Waukinnion street.
The officers are M fullowx: (‘apniilLlflifiw
.'. Smith; first Si!TfU'f||ll,i‘llllrll‘u ll.'l'a_vlor:
second scrim-ant. l-ilmcr 1.. Hill: secretary.
W. .l. Ponder; treasurer, William Wclch.
f‘illl'll" l"iill\\'l'l"l".\’ BUYS.
A Department of Which the People of
Norwalk arc .lustly Proud.
The city of Nnrwalk can be congratu'
lated n mu having at the head of its vol
anti-or ‘ire Depnrnneut such a man as
('hief l-Inginccr J. Thornton l'rowitl. Mr.
l’rowitt first saw
ihc light of day in
New York city, iii»
, ‘ty-three years ago.
, ‘nn'd has resided in
Vorwalk since in
fancy. lie is a
most successful
business man. voil-
ductingn hardware
lluisiin-sa in both
Not-walk and Soul li
Norwalk. “is car
~ccr as n llrcmnu be
gun thiri) liwyi-nrs
ago. and he has
been cliicf ciiuinccr
for twenty yours.
having. during all
_, .... that time. dis
' ”1” ”hm” " charge-d flip dulics
of the Hilll'l' in a manncr that has
llt'l‘ll cniiiil-nlly satisfactory in the people
of Nnrwnlk and crcditablc in Marin”. llc
has been :in uniiriiig worker. sparing
llt‘llllt'r his \‘nli'i‘ nor lllllill'lll‘i' in champ-
ioning any project looking to the lwlirr
lllt‘ill of ilu- «ll-parimcnt. it has bccn
well said llnii “ii has bcvn illt' aim nml
plirpusi' iif lllc I'lill'f to establish .‘l fi'lltPr
nnl lei-ling :iinoui: till' liri-mcn. Fricnd»
ship has been cnm-ndcrcd among the
members in many instances that will last
tollicird inuday." ('hicf l’rowitl‘s as.
thllllli‘é. W. Smith and .r\. J. \Vlicalvi‘.
uri- bolli inch of caporicncc in dcpnriincni.
innilcrs.
The history of l in! Norwnlk Firc ill-part-
mcut dull-s back to the days of HIV lllli'kl'l
briundc: tip-ii t'llllii? the crane nut-ks. an
illl‘ hand cnginc. and a! :i spa-vial borough
nit-Mini; on chnibcr '3, lN.“r~',$':.mm was
nppropriafcd for our or more ilrc cngincs
and oihi-rwpiipnwnls for the organization
of an clliciciit lirc dcpariiucni. 'l‘hi-
mom-y iron! to purchase an cuginc. ll liww
cart. flop {vol of horn- and twenty two fool
of suction pipe. ()1: Wednesday cvoning.
lh'rciiilwi‘ if». of illlll your. l’lin'nix l'illginc
company was organized. with lhc iilli'
Ilolwri S. i‘rnufurd as fiii‘I‘illllfl; -ll||ill'~l H.
\\ nil-rluiri . :iulsloni: l‘bnrlcs ll. Sircri
si-rrviury: I", Hi. John luwluvoml. trcasur
or. The slcnuwrari-iwd nu l)i‘('t'iillll‘l' Ill.
but not proving satisfactory it. was w-nl
back, and on .\pril 7». 153'), a new cnginc
arrivvd. .rln canine linll‘d’. um pnwpl
qnurii-rs of Hope |lopccoiupnnyon Water
sirwt. was lhvn cull-di'llt'lcil. and Minu-
ywira lnlcr lbc building on Main sin-cl
wnscrcclwl. ’l'ln-stunnn-r gave place to
llllllilll'l‘lllll‘ in April. NU. which was in
continual acrvii'i' until the pnrchasoof 1 Inc
prcscut modern machine. l’lnvnix l'In-
ginccompany. which enjoys the distidr
tion of being second to no other volunti-cr
flrocompnnyin the slate. is olllvcrwl (Is
follow»: Captain. Alfred A. i‘hlncry. Jr.;
first lieutenant. Charles M. Smith: sccoml
lieutenant. ll. Hartley Weeks. all of them
capable. popular and efficient lill‘ll. it has
thirty nmmbcrs.
l'lonocr Hook and Ladder company was
organizd on January 33!}. Will, a truck lmv-
lug been previous y purchased by ibi-
Court of llurizcsscs. l'ln- fir-d forcman
was A. ll. Wilcoxwu: nssdsfniil. foreman,
J. (lamp. Jr.: sccrclarv, Nicphcu Miller:
trctniurcr. John Finch. lb: March I".',
infill. acommitteenppolnli-d by the com
pany foraisc mom-y to purchase a new
truck. rcporlcil that Hwy had bought one
at a cost K‘Nl and the old truck. The
min-kin the prim-iii one. It. wm brought
from New York July ‘3‘). isllil. about illil
iimv- the truck house wnu complctwl and
ready for m‘l'limllll’y.‘ The organization
was kiinivn in ilsinfnncy as the “silk
stocking" company. but the members
ware workers and a most valuable ncqui‘
sltlon to the department. Early in the
present your. the company having become
disorganized. a number of imminent
clung men ofNorwalk joined iha organ-
zatlon. determined to brln it back to its
former high standing. Agbou h onl in
short time has elapsed
since t anal. a
tournament in than object most all
and the company in now one of
tho militiamen“ in town compo-ed or
about thirty fenial young fellow, and of~
caudal tol own: Captain, Fred Betta:
nut lioutenant. Thoma: McGann: second
lieutenant, Janna B. Morril. The mem-
bers have been equipped with new uni-
forms, and have money in their treuury
with which they propose to noon return-
iah thllr room- in a andaome manner.
The records of Hope Hone are incom-
plete, but it up are that two companies
grow out of hienlx En no company
when that organization too possession of
the building on Main street, the company
remaining in the house on Water street
taking the name of Hope Hose comgyan’y.
Its first foreman was Augustus E. .11 .
The com any for many years vied with
Plucnix one company in popularity and
efficiency. In 1894 the City Council of
Norwalk found that discord existed
among the members, and disbanded the
company. It was reorganized April 18, of
the present year, by James B. Costello.
who was elected capain. Under his regime
the company has regained its old—time
good name. The rooms have been illllld‘
comely refurnished, the men newly uni-
formed, and the organization has won
confidence and respect to such an extent
that it is referred to with pride by the
people of Norwalk. 'l‘hc prcsent officers
are: Captain. James B. Costello; first.
lieutenant. Thomas ll. liobinson; second
lieutenant. Thomas Ward. The company
has a membership of about twenty-live.
Norwalk also has an active body of Fire
Police. with Aurelius J. Meeker as cap
toiu. and tWenty~four uniformed men.
who are ever alert to their duties at a fire.
The date of their organization was April
20, is“.
EAST SIDE COMPANIES.
Chief Engineer Wheeler and his Gallant
Fire Fighters.
That environment has very little bear-
ing upon the success of an undertaking is
illustrated in the history of the East Nor-
walk Fire Department. The first com»
niny~ Mayflower Hook and Ladder and
ilose company was organized in a barn
Ma lo, 18H}, through the efforts of Harry
Rii er, and was originally a bucket brig-
ndc. About the first of September of l but
your the company took possession of its
present quarters on VanZ'mdt avenue.
erected by J. Sturgis Randall. and subs-c
quently. as the organization grew. an ad‘
ilitioii was put on
the building. The 3
truck was pnrchiis- ‘
cd from thc Dan
bury dcpnrlmcut.
Dccciiibi-r 15‘7.
by a l'Hllllilil-lt‘l'
composed of John
'l‘rynn. llnrry liidcr. .
\\', S. 'l'nlc. S. h.
Nuidicynnd l'nirick
iii-ll. “'licli llii-i
apparatus :irrivcdi ~
in South Norwalk '
it was mct at lli-~ (
depot. and llt'llllt‘fl
by the Ami-rims
llriiiii corps. and
taken to the ncw
quarters provided
for in The officers at that time
were: Foreman, l.. M. Smith; first assist
am. Harry Rider: si-cond assistant. Frank
Roberts. Up to about a year ago the
company was obliged to purchase all its
equipment by popular subscrimlon and
my ali'its running expenses. This fact,
iowever, did not seem to impair the will
ingncss of the company to respond quick,
ly toevcry alarm of fire. and many in
stanccs are on record where the Mayflow
crs haw rendered most valuable- service
in saving property. The company has a
present iiicnilwrship of about fifty. and is
oiliccrcd as follows: Foreman. S. S. Nap
hey; first assistant. l.. M. Smith; sccond
assistant. E. l.. l-Idmunds. The com
panv's rooms are (‘usily and c invcnicnlly
arranged. provided with a. pool table. and
much of the social fcntiirc is iiis‘lillcd into
lllt' organization
Yolunlccr ”new company. which was
also organize-I lnrizcly lliro'lxli tlic in
lliii-ncc of lllli‘i‘V liidi-r. came into cxis
l.f‘l|l‘('. Mn}; iii, in», and “‘1'“! out of i~.\is«
fcln'i'. so far as :li'llVi' wrvicc is commrnml,
in NM. nfiwr an honorable record. in its
place ltilllllll‘i' how company is likcly «am
to bc organizwl. with llllli'll'r in the
southern .V'l‘l'llllll of i‘ithi forwl'l ‘.
Working in harmony with the May
liowcrs is :i i‘uiiipaiii' pl Fire l’llllth'.
organized six years and. 'l'licri- ari- vigil
lci-n incmbrrs. \vlin nil-cf in the sumo
room: \\ llll the hook and laddercompany.
'llccuplaiii is Snixiiicl Smith. first licu
tcnnni. (‘. W. la'l‘iillill.‘ N'l'llllll licnicn
uni. liiclmrd lli-ddy.
The Fast Norwalk Dcpartnicnl has for
its chief Frederick M. Wbcclcr. whose
usccni in his prcwiit position has been
rapid sinm- he joined l’ioni-cr Hook
and lunlda-rcoiiipniiy. of Norwalk, Juni-
ll. lH’HZI. lie was a llli'uillt‘l‘ of that
organization until Hi-plcnibi-r l, lHfiI,
\i‘hcn lil‘ irziusfcrrwl his affections to lhc
Mnyilowrrs, llif-ipllll'l‘ of ri-sidcncc bcim:
on that sidi-ofilu- rivu-r. His first oilin-
inllii-conipuiiy was llnif of swrcfni'y,
Which h-- lilli-d one your from May lfi, 1w.
wlwn lic was elected forcnmn. serving in
that cupm-lly iiiilil .‘lzii'i'h I, l‘illil. lie was
ilwn made first iissisiillif cnuini-i-r of illl‘
llcpnriiiicnl. was i-lcctcd l'llll‘f thi- your
following, and honored with n ro-clcciion
nnJuni- Loi' ilw prmcni ycnr. lie was
born in South Nun-walk. Soptcmbcr Ilil.
pan. and mat prim-iii. employed in' [he
suporiiilciu": oilim- of ilw Norwnlk Luck
company. Mr. \Ihcvlur is proud of his
dcpnrlmcnf and lln- people of Hunt Nor
walk arc proud of lillll. recognizing that
they haw a chief who iii-cps llrcmanic
mailers wrll in hand. He is :i good dim-p
plinarinn. I'tml licadrd. and ilw fact of his
popularityno-wls no comment. llc llils
l'orfirsl :NNl‘llIilil John W. Hanks, and
for muzniill assistant 'l‘. ll. llrillin. both
Wv-ll lifiml for such positions.
l‘lnsl. Norwnlk Was organized as Ii lire
district on Juno 1. Nil. 'I‘bc committin-
purchased Voiunlcur lloso ltnlilpmiy'n
jumper. whilu iln- Mnyllowvrs gaw- a bill
of salt-oftheirappnralus to the district.
The present committee is M. ii. 'l'ollcs,
Dr. i". ll. linker and J. W. Marvin.
Attaohabln sinlch Bunnora.
John N. llobbu, of North llcrwirk. Mia.
makes awry lllfl'l'i'afliliz exhibit of the
onlv satisfactory .iltnchablc Sleigh Iluu
lit-rs cvr-rmndc for fire apparatus. All
owners of fire carriages, as well as owners
of hem/y vo-hlvlrs. should examini- them.
He illflki‘fl hubrunm-ro for fire carriages
of every kind. which are giving great
satisfaction. unis lll'illt'i‘ll by Mic. recom-
nwmlaiion of ihcowm-rs of some of the
linost turnouts in New England. llo
makes tlicrunm-rsloordcr. only. and in
track any desired width. so that any
carriage can be used with satisfaction on
narrow country romlu. A“ m
Robbed Ilia limp user.
A short time ago (lscnr licmlliz. a cob
blrr, want in work for .l. ll. London. of
Norwalk. who conduct»: a r-obbling shop.
restaurant. barbcr shop and a coal route.
This morning London’s praiege was minisw
lug. "u was heard moving about his
room at :i o’clock. lleforn leaving he on—
torod the racmof Charles Collins. who at-
ten to Mr. London’s coal bunlnezs, and
etc a no. lie then visited the barber shop
and took two boxes of cigars. finishing up
. u
in.
i lili‘. F \Vlilii-TlJilf.
l the cobbllng shop
the took. '
where he took all of W
llllNVENllllN llAY.
Fireman From tin Stat:
Flood South email.
"if an m an illlfli.
Inadrada of Delegate: Arrive to Attend
the Twelfth Annual Maria: of the
Connecticut Auoclatlou-
W-lcomediwiih Outatralchad flami- by
Fircmca’a
Our [apple—lo Souion at Manic Hall
thin Afternoon—Touts at the Big Ban-
quet Tonight.
South Norwalk welcomes the gallant,
good looking fin-men to its arms today.
The city istlieirs. and they are \vclcomc
i;o\'l:i:.\'oi‘. n‘oi-‘i-‘ix.
to if, for llic pcoplc flu-l that. it isin good
hands. The illlll‘l rcgistcrs indicate-d iliat
tlic dclcgnlcs to lllc twclfili annual con
vcntion of the (‘onnccticut State Firr
men's association commenced to fli'i‘lYt‘
last niizlii, 'l'hcycaiin- in grcnlcr inim-
iii-rs this morning. and \Yl'i‘t‘ received with
cli:ii'.'ii'tori~.iic hospitality by the local lire--
im-n. Mich onch whom sci-mod to have
constituted himself a i'uiiiiiillicv of outer
iniiniiciit. 'l'lic dclcgntcs \H'i‘r' lir-‘t dirrc-
ted to the licuilqiisirtcm of illl' cvrcutivté
commitli-c. wlicrc llii-y i‘l'gi‘ici‘vd and rc-
cci'vi-d their luldncs. ’l'licii most of ihciii
look a look about town. and tho nay dcc-
orntions and the cordial ~niilcs of citizcns
irciicrnlly told the brave born that lllr'}
were more than iicarlily "Wt-iconic.” n
word that grcl-lcd them on every hand
The members of the three fire conipau
ics have been unusually active for many
weeks past. and all arrangements were
completed for the entertainment of the
delegates who called at the houses. The
apartments of each have been thoroughly
renovated and placed in the best possible
condition. and with numerous decorations
present a most inviting appearance. ()pcn
house will be kept by all the companies,
and special pains have been taken to hnvc
an abundance of refreshments. which will
be at the command of thi- dclcgatcs both
days.
'l'bcconiniillcc in charge at the
boom- is composed of Attorney l.co
Joseph Davis and Fred (l. Bum-dict. The-
entertainment I‘Hllllilitll'l: :it iflc hose
housi- arc- .llbcr! 1". Mcrritt. Hoorge Fontv.
Frank (‘lnrk..loliii A. Smith and J. \\'.
“'i‘lilc. .-\f. llii- Flrc lhillcl‘ l'iiilillfi [4‘
found Rufus J. finiifh. i’anl Krunuircii.
and R)". Donaldson.
'l‘he‘hi-ncrul mnnniitcn having charm-
filfc bit.r l'Vi'lli. and in whom crcdu 1-.
i lli' fur llics‘iicwi-ss which it lil'~|llil~i'~ ln
ln', consists of l'iiiniiiccr Iinkcr. .\%~'l.\‘l.‘llll~‘
ilzirford and liogzirdns. Stu-rotary Cross '
mun. 'l'ronsi rcr Ferris. .~\'~.\l‘illllll 'l'rl-ns
lircr linbrrt. . Mrll maid. from i lid \\'cll.
l". l. liyxbcc. E. F. Smith .‘llill 1'. ('. .\n ll ‘
“is; i’ulnnm low, J. \\'. Wi-hlv. l’. l. i
\\'ln'clcr and ii. W. Clark; l’iro l’nlicc. ii.
J. Smith, (‘. l). 'l'aylor and i4} 1.. Hill.
l"l..\ii.5 AND lll'N'l‘lNli.
Many Buildings Hail) Adorned llllii illl'
truck
llnvis
l
The Men who Keep Ki
5s
ASSOCIATION 0mm. , ~
in ill-Intuit .
in the State Organisation. g
The Connecticut State Firemh’l ”can"
elation was organiud in 1884. Ila new .
cedentedsnceess baa been mainly due to
‘ ‘r
(\ ’ \'
i'ncsipaxr WILLIAM c. SMITH.
having for oiliccrs men who have been
ever alive to the importance of men an
organization for mutual protection amon
the firemen of the state. Probably the
association never had a president who
was held in higher regard than the roan
cm. incumbent. William C. Sinith,of ow
ilaven. the contour of whose handsome
face is here portrayed. Mr. Smith has
risen from the ranks. He joined the New
Haven Fire Department as pipeman’ on
Engine No. 3. in was; went “'eet, a la
Horace lircelcydu mill: returned “broke,”
and again joined the Fire Department as
pipcman on Engine No. ‘3. He was pro-
moted to first permanent hose driver in
Engine company No. 2, on December ],
lNi'J. then to engine driver of No. 2. on
August 1. lfiiil. in 1579 Mr. Smith was
detailed to the Fire Alarm Telegraph ser-
vice. and was promoted to assistant
superintendent of the service in 1881,and
to superintendent of the fire alarm and
assistant chief of the New Haven Fire De-
partment in ib'fifi. his present positions.
He was first vice-president of the State
association in ‘lm and ’94. and president in
‘fl-l and “.05.
Scum-niry John S. Jones wan the organ-
izcr of i lu- first fire company in Westport,
lliiriysi-vwi years ago. and has never had
his mom'- sirn-ku-n from the roll of his old
rompnnv. of Which ili‘ was either foreman
irril<~i~llllll tort-.vt-iny'rlwo years. “'11:!!!
llll' Wulimr: l’irr Department was or-
gnnizml in l“; he was f‘li’f'li‘ll chief and
hushcld llic posilmn up to the present
iiiuc. \Vlivzi :lic ('oiiiicrticili State Fire-
nii-ii's llssiri‘iliii‘lil was orgniiizcd he was
, A» .
‘ '1‘ i"li‘i .illilN S. lHNl'.~.
on.- .rt ' ‘ llll‘lli'll‘l’r‘l will was
l'lt'l'll' . ~- lire! llll‘villlg and
iizi- l'l «blind for [en
(I!H\t‘l"li . .lcni rl li.’:ri liccn it
im-ipiwr . : .\.~.m laiicn of
For linuumi ill always at-
lvinls 'ls " H‘ l m: w: -.. pnssiblt', and
hue lu' 1 ~-~l i» 'i'l \il'i prrsidclit in
llll‘.’ ~ . . :1 \Vlie :i ::l Nil-ii meetings
ilie' l»:
ln- si'l'
Hull‘s .‘lliii ".~
" ~;:iiir r;...i.i tan always
\ .rr-Hiry's tonic. taking
ii"!
,1’ Svi'l'vifil'y Harry lllllS.
Although (V. -! .luii.~‘ ucpnizmcnt is
small ilizzi‘: .ii:;,: .ZVc i' lziii'uiilvs, fill of
whom. fr ll .uv ili'i-i‘ In ilH' youngest
imw iw»j..;:i-- \milllllt'i'l'wi and docs not
, , . .. n li: ."'i"l'.lil..'l' or tirca. still the
National i will“. lgmp-mi ..i~;v.~ ’1' nl' :lrc llii‘ii‘!‘\\‘l‘lterfl,
South Norwalk has put on its gnyrst :ii ‘spv.il.~ Will i 311' mm: M. Ann-m and cili-
tirv to \vclcoiiic ilic visiliiii: lircincn llilil‘rlrin'l' - flow-1mm Mr .5- in»; punt-r, the
to do lioningc to thc bravo ili‘i‘ lads of our W.-~‘; ».'l r ilw will. ,:I.i origin 'of the
city. Flags of all nations, hunting and . Suw- :. 112'. . maul mn lv- found on the
luinncrs in bewildering varicfy arc to la-'
si-cii cvvrywhcrc. l’iiblii- building-i. busi-.
ncss liousi-s and rcxidriiccs linvi- ihcir‘
fronts and windows draped with tho nn-i
linnal colors. The city has. not lwcu lil'l“
Hl'illi‘ll to such an L'Xll‘lll. in many a dny.‘
Home of the decorations ili'l' as follows: i
'l‘hcllld Well Hook and Ladder mm
paiiy'siii-:ulqii:ii'i.crs burn the .\iun-ric:in'
lliius. combiiiulions ui' dillci‘cnl national
colon. and rosclim of red. white and bluu
banal-rs nil ovi-r the from of the bulldm:
llu- entrance and windows brim: toppcl
iiiili prctty bnnchm of colors.
’l'lic Putnam llllh‘l' company's house l»
iirlislii'ully ilm-orntcil. .\l:iuy pri'iiy coup
lliillillnlm ul‘ milioiml unloi's. bump-rs and
hunting adorn the front of flu-1r bric'.
slruriurc, si-vcrnl large American llaici
brim; conspicionsly lll'l‘llillil’ll.
'l‘hc Library building, in which is ihr
llllllli‘ of our valiant Firc l’”lll‘i‘.~'lll|\\'~l
llu- lmndiwurl.’ oi‘ the diuoi-zuiw :iriisi.
Animnicnscilld lilory llf‘llnll'l from the
top of this building. while from llll‘ mu'vuiil
and first stories hang combination. of
colors arranucd in half rosottm.
'l'ho (.‘lty llofo-l is Very handsomcly dim
ornicd. Flags and hunting arc vervar.
tislically arranged on the Main and llavi
land street aides of the house.
J. 1’. Francis L‘f (Io. have a vcry unique
display in their store. in the west window
is a representation of thc old-time lire.
man. with big lint. red shirt. and blue
trousers. In tliuonst Window is a figure
dressed in the up lodate din-w uniform of
blue. The front of the store is pruiiily
dcmrntcd.
id. ii. ’l‘onilinson has one of tho prciiiwi.
decorations in town. The front. of his
Morals fcaiooncd with National colors.
willie nvor thodoor is arranged a bronZo
shield.
The Mahackcmo llotcl and the slur-cs in
the hotel block uri- gully attired in flags
and hunting. the cullro drcorniion being
one of the prettiest in thrI city.
'l‘ho Boston Him-c. H. ('. Hiillson. G. :4.
'l‘rowbridgedt (20., Dr. F. W. Darmcr’s
onion and tho imperial (.‘nl‘c. are prciilly
decorated.
Space will not permit us in mnnllon all
the decorations in flotillldlltllflllgll they are
worthy of it. Uthcrs soon are those of
lliellcriiinnla Hotel, Jacob l.lnchilur.
John Schaub, A. Dickcrman fl: Sun. Mar-
tln Spahr, ls‘. A. Lane. a. (fultncr, F. ii.
Coleman J. Rourke, Warwick Hotel. A.
Malmo f’ohlman dc Thompson. J. ll. be
Mott. colloid a mat. Swami do Corbett.
‘ . 3.8tnrtevant 0th a Gnldsohmidt.
c. It”. Seymour, new: Zoloft.
i
ilops lure nl \\'lil‘
liil\!;-- of .i . l 'E’W 1' nipnnirw iii the
".‘ill'lllflfin ~' "'i on mid! way too
lllllf'll of rim-r.- . ~. d a mrnibci‘
of do: 2:»4 w . l“- chm; full of
iiil~llri'~~ v.
form lil . ‘v
\i :1};in .‘»'..'l.
.i ili"l':' any duty to per-
mtpni ii'illi il'~ r'liii‘u. mid (ll-
llo
'\'7..w|1'|l'iv limo l‘vlllli‘w.
Hill Illu'». if \vcll.
WWMLM
'i‘iii-Jllsi'liiau ruin M. l'. salon.
('liicf Samuel ('1 Huang. of Waterbury.
is the ircnsim-r or [he awusinllonhnd has
acrwd in that. capacity for twelve years.
He is n quicl man. speaking only when
addiwm'ei. He has burn a ilrcnmn twen-
ty six your»: out of thirty right of hi» life.
lie is (tilli-f of llm Waterbury department,
llrv marshal and mipcrinfcndi-m oftho lira
alarm, Liki- Sin‘l‘clary .lech ho was one
of flu: uranium-rs of iln-nnwclntlvni. Dur-
ing the ycnm of his treasurcreliip he ball
handlcd upward of human, and cvcry ccnt
has been i'rildily accounts-d for.
The vice llrflliiill'lli.4 urn Morris Moyorspf
Dnnbury; Fri-dcrick W. Willi-y. Middle-
town: John Wagner. liockvillc; Louis W.
Grannbcrg. Norwich: i ‘larence E. Palmer.
ilrld cport: Luke l-‘Iynn. Willlmantic:
Will am (J. Wallace. Annnnin: Robert
Magonlual, Hartford; William ll. Day»
ton, Torrington.
[Continued an eighth page i V .m
Norwalk Chronicler