The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1899-09-28
OUR RED SHIRTS
Entertain Reading:
Pa, Firemen Right
noyally.
BIG STREET PARADE.
Banquet and Speeches in
Horticultural
Hall.

AS never before the hospitality of
Worcester veteran and active firemen
asserted itself yesterday, when Friend
ship fire company No. of Reading, Pa,
passed its first day under the guidance
of citizens of the heart of the common
wealth.
The aftermath Of Tuesday evening s
reception in this city was a potent fac
tor in making the enjoyment of yester-
day complete. The formalities of in
production were dispensed with, and the
vets and active firemen of Worcester
touched elbows with the visitors, and
the best fellows who ever graced any
community seemed to have selected
Worcester for a. field in which to prac-
tice the principles of good fellowship.
At 1870 o'clock yesterday morning
t1aring red shirts of the Worcester Vet
eran FiFemen's association members
dotted Front street. and shortly after
that hour 80 active firemen, represent
ing the 81 companies of this city,
wealth hotel, where the visitors were
chartered. Headed by the Athletic
band of Reading, the Friendship COM
pany was escorted to local fire head
quarters. where an informal inspection
OF the building and fire alarm system
was made. Shortly after IL o'clock
three special Consolidated street rail-
way cars were filled. and the visitors
had their first trolley ride under the
auspices of Worcester hosts.
The Odd Fellows home was the first
point of interest visited, and on the re-
turn down Lincoln street the cars
stopped long enough in front of the
home of Capt. r. L. Colbert of the
Worcester Veteran Firemen's associa-
ton for three cheers and a serenade by
band to be given. Through Lincoln,
Main and Pleasant streets to Tatnuck
the visitors were escorted, and here the
band gave short concert in honor of
its first pilgrimage to the soil of a rural
New England town.
Returning to this city, the cars were
stopped at Bowler Bros Lafayette
street brewery. and although Reading
boasts or rather admits that seven
| breweries operate in the city, there
was something novel about the local
plant. Refreshments were served and
speeches were made by James r. Ken
ney, ex-mayor of Reading, and mem
bers of the local fire companies.
| At 2 o'clock the parade was formed
| in Front street, near the Common
wealth hotel. The line was as follows
Squad of police, Sergt. George H. Hill
commanding. officers Burbank, Nc.
Leod, Sinnott, Ecton.
Worcester brass band, "a pieces, L
d. Waters leader.
Members of Worcester active fire de-
partment, q men, Capt. William Hodg.
don in command
| Worcester Veteran Firemen's asso.
| citation. Capt. r. L. Colbert in COM
mand. so men.
! Carriage containing eX-Mayor James
R. Kenney of Reading, Inspector OF
| Wires William Brophy Of Boston, Ai6
to State Fire Marshal Robert Mott ano
| e-President ]. Russell Marble Of the
board of trade
| Carriage containing ]. H. Meagher,
committee on fire department, city gov
eminent; Chief e. L. Vaughn, Worces-
ter fire department.
| Athletic band of Reading, 20 pieces.
J. Howard Shutter leader.
| Friendship Fire Co., No. 4. of Read
ing, Chief John w. Morrison in COM
mand, 65 men.
! The line of march was down Front
street to Washington square, counter
march, then up Front street to Salem
| square, through to Park street, Salem
Madison, Portland and Myrtle streets
to Main, through Main street to Lin
coin square countermarch, down Main
to Front street to horticultural hall.
AT 4 O'Clock the companies formed in
Horticultural hall for the march to the
banquet hall above, where at the guests
table were Mayor Rufus B. Dodge, Jr.,
ex-Mayor ]. r, Kenney of Reading,
Chief e. L. Vaughn of the local fire de-
partment, Superintendent H. r. Will
hanson Of the protective department, ].
H. Meagher of the common council, aid
| to state fire marshal Robert E. Mott
Rev. Almon Gunnison, chaplain of Wor-
cester Veteran Firemen's association,
Councilman Fred D. Johnson of com
mittee on fire department, j. Russell
Marble, vice president of Worcester
Board of Trade, Capt. William Brophy
of Boston, inspector Of wires, Capt
Robert Matthews, acting chief of police
of Worcester.
President ]. B. Lamb of Worcester
Veteran Firemen's association was
POSTMASTER. Rev. Almon Gunnison Of
fered prayer. After the banquet, served
by IL young ladies from the Creamerie
Toastmaster Lamb introduced Mayor
Rufus B. Dodge, Jr., who said in part:
| Worcester welcomes the Friendship
company of Reading, and the city takes
upon Itself the responsibility Of equal
ing in scope the hospitality OF other
New England cities which have been
lhonored by the managers of this eastern
trip of the Reading firemen.
There Is one quality which every cit
| izen of this city possesses 1t is loyalty
| The fire department of Worcester COM
| pares fayorably with any in New Eng
4 nd IN na Int
| States, with the exception of the Read
ing department. We have little use for
| firemen here. There are no big fires.
Business blocks go up occasionally, but
| do not mean to detract anything from
the credit of the local department. The
active department has done meritorious
work. On one occasion the Worcester
veteran flremen made preparations to
paint their hand tub, but a fire got
started, and the active department was
| called to put out fire in the veterans
own fire extinguisher.
| I'm Reading your fire department is
| made up Of volunteers but it has been
| proven that volunteer movements are
effective when the backbone and de-
| termination are not lacking. There is
virtue in old fashioned methods, and
| the volunteer fire department Of Read
| ing is an example"
| MdyOT OodBe ISleIleu W the WISH OF
| ex-Mayor James Z. Kenney of Read
| ing to his office, and said: II found the
ex-mayor of Reading a good fellow,
| for an ex-mayor" A voice from the
corner Of the hall piped in: You'll be a
good fellow yourself after a while"
and Mayor Dodge admitted it.
Mayor Dodge closed his speech by
| referring to the Heart of the Common
wealth as being proud of It's visitors.
and he hoped Reading would harbor
Observation-Disclosures
II PE-RU-NA /