Norwich bulletin., 1910-12-29
FORMER LISBON RESIDENTS
 LONG SERVICE AT SPRINGFIELD
Jeremiah Shea Celebrates His 91st Birthday-Unce of Timothy SuiIi- van.

Jeremiah Shea of 29S Central street, the well known veteran enploye of the Springfield water department, ceIebrat- ed his S1st birthday Friday says the Springfield Republican. Jerry Shea, as his many friends know him, has seen the WaterwOrks system of this city develop from a crude line of logs that brought water from the Van Horn reservoir to the main streets until it reached it's present modern equipment MT Shea was employed on the water lines of this city for fifty years and six months, having gone to work as fore man Of gang of Workmen d the Van Horn reservoir in June. 1858. He re- tired from the work in November, 1909. During the greater part of this time his work was on the pipe lines of the system, but for the last ten years of his connection with the water depart ment he worked about the main office of the department and was sent from there to make various repairs in diff ferent parts of the city.
 Alr. Shea is fond of recalling the log pipe days, when logs were hollowed out and turned with grooved ends so as to fit into each other and convey the water to the city. The largest logs were eight inches in diameter and were graduated until they ran into pipes of one inch. There was a pressure of only ten pounds. sufficient only to force water to the first floor of buildings, and city water for the hill section was unheard of. Mr. Shea remembers when iron pipes were put in in place of the wooden ones in 1864. He worked upon these lines, fourteen miles of which were laid. The largest pipes were twelve inches and they graduated off to pines of three and two inches. The largest pipes of the system today are ffty-four inches and there are 17J miles of pipe in the city
 'Je errN' Shea was born in County Cork Ireland. in 1929. He came to this country in May. 1850, and spent short time working in Boston. During the six years before he finally settled in Springfield Mir. Shea visited great many cities and worked a while in each. He went from Boston to Brat tleborO, Vt. from there to Duchess county, N. Y. and then to New London, Ct. His next move was to Lisbon, Cta then to Saratoga N Y, and then to Marlboro. His next move was to Providence. R. l.. where he met Miss Mary Sullivan. who became his wife in 1852. Mrs. Shea. objected to moving but one other town was their home for a time before they finally settled in Springfield. MT. Shea worked for nearly year on the tunnel in North Adams, most of his work previously having been in railroad construction.
 Alr. Shea came with his family to Springfield in 1856 and worked for time at the aImOry and later at the WatershOps. He then went to work for the water company. the city water supply then being under the control of private individuals. He has had ten children, five of whom are now living four daughters, Miss Mary Shea. Miss Margaret Shea, Miss Catherine Shea and Miss Anna Shea. and one son William Shea, all of this city. Mrs Shea died some years ago. Mir Shea is in pretty good health although he is somewhat feeble. He observed his birthday simply by receiving a few Of his intimate friends, who congratulated hit,:-
 Ar. Shea is an uncle of Timothy Sus- livan Of this city.