Waterbury evening Democrat., 1889-05-07
AFTER FORTY YEATS.
Reunion and Banquet of Phoenix Fire
 Co No Last Night.

Reunion and Banquet or I'nOnlX F1fe Co No I Last Night.
 1 Music hall was resplendent with gay | buntings and handsome banners, and | the bright lights threw out dazzling
 splendor on the happy audience who had assembled last night to celebrate the fortieth anniversary of Phoenix Fire Co., No1. Caterer David had made am- pie provision for the entertainment and good cheer of the guests, and as each wis itor and member of the company placed
 in his buttonhole bouquet, the first souvenir of the occasion, a smile of con tentment and an appetiZing feeling were the first results of the festive opening. Every detail had been ar ranged to nicety and old Phoenix fair ly surpassed the most sanguine expecta- tions The four large tables stretched across the hall were fairly loaded with
 the cheering viands and the clink of the
 toast glasses made joyous sound, musi- cal to the ears of even the poor reporters. No time was spared nor wasted in the attack on the elegant spread and course
 after course followed in rapid succession
 until all had been thoroughly provided for and their sharpened appetite appeas- ] ed.
 1 Never in the history of Phoenix has
 such banquet been given and even the l OlueSl IcIleIlDItluCe LII SohiC ol tilC oIu- timers present failed to recall such a
 feast of good things, such a happy, pleasant assemblage of diners. Potted plants occupied the availeble places on the tables and around the hall and now
 and then a glimpse could be caught of
 the busy feaster as he pursued uninter- rupted his perusal of the menu. Even old gray haired veterans, who
 had seen many experiences and
 attended many such banquets
 were again for the time
 being boys and entered into the festiv-
 it1es with all the zest of their more youthful companions. The visiting out
 of town guests occupied prominent po-
 sltions at the head of the table and one
 more strong cementing taste was added to
 the already firm friendship existing be- tween the Nameaugs of New London and
 the Phoenix oe Waterbury. Thomas H. | Hayes, foreman of Phoenix, acted as the
 toastmaster and many a time on his hap
 py introduction of the many speakers re- ceived merited applause. It was a trying and difficult position to occupy
 with satisfaction, but even to the last
 toast the jolly foreman of No. sustain ed the reputation he and his company
 had already gained as the champion hosts of Waterbury. So many toasts had been given and so many "reminiscences of the history of the old fire department
 of Waterbury from the date of forma-
 tion of Phoenix No May 5, 1S49, down to the present time, were recounted that
 to give succinct and clear account of
 the speeches of the toastmakerS by cut
 ting the different remarks were lmpos- sible. The, speakers were as follows
 Mayor Henry l. Boughton, Commission CT Geo Roberts, Chief Engineer $. c,
 Snagg, ex-Mayor Bradley, F. B. Rice
 president of board of trade, E. c. Lewis : c. k. Baldwin, Mir Maxim, represen : tative of the Nameaugs of New London A. s. Chase, ex-Mayor Henry A. Math , ews, William Laird, ex-chief of the Phoenix and one of the oldest members
 Alderman Henry w. French, George A Boughton, J. Richard Smith, George E.
 Squires, George E. Roberts, James A
 Hynes, foreman of No 5, Henry P. Gun
 ningham, foreman of No 4, MT Starr o1
 No 8, Harry Moses, foreman o1
 Hook & Ladder company. H. $. Chase H. l.. Wade, F. J. Brown and Louis M
 Meyer of Chattanooga, Tenn, Fire Com
 missioners Thomas Kelly and M. F, Con nolly, City Clerk E, G. Kilduff, c. B , Vail, George w. Root, Peter s. Snagg one of the oldest foremen of the com
 pany, w. w. Scott, James M. Birrell E $. Fields, Charles Smith, Sheriff J. w
 Mcdonald, Edward Williams, an eX foreman of Phoenix, Chris Stroebel l tained by songs from the Phoenix soloists Frank Phelan and John H. Loughlin = The press was responded for either b, song or speech by Ed Maloney for th' I I DEMOCRAT, J. Holohan, the American l H. Loomis, the Republican, NJ. J
 Brezinski. Examiner, J. Hayes, tn Herald. The festivities broke up abou l o'clock by the entire audience singin!
 "Auld Lang Syne." Among the out o town guests of the Phoenix was repre- = sentation from the Nameaugs of Nev | nnIp,,