The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1913-02-13
VOLUNTEER FIREMEN
OF NEW MILFORD
HAVE GREAT FEAST
SEMI OF INST4TU-
TION OF WATER WITCH HOSE
co, OBSERVED WITH
BANQUET.
Especial to the Farmer.)


New Milford, Feb. 13.-Probably no
more successfully planned and more
splendid1y carried out than the dftieth
anniversary of Water Witch Hose Co.,
No. 2, one of the pioneer organizations
In the state, which was eelepFafed ny
a banquet and reunion at the com
pany'S quarters on Church street.
Tuesday evening. The lower portion
OF the building was TRANSFORMER INTO
a gorgeous banquet hall by the lavish
use of large American flags, which
completely concealed the woodwork.
From the center OF the ceiling was
suspended the word welcome IN the
national colors, while one end of the
hall bore the motto, I'VE protect our
Village Homes and at the opposite
the inscription, Water Witch Hose
Company No. 2, New Milford, Feb.
IL, 1863 Covers were laid for $50,
the association and guests partakang
Of a, most excellent menu of several
courses. Members of the board of fire
directors and the various speakers
ter the feasting had been dispensed
with the large assem- blage listened to
the after dinner speeches which were
the order Of the evening. Judge John
r. Adds acted as POSTMASTER, and
made the hit Of the evening In his
witty manner Of introducing the
speakers. Mr.. Adds made a br1er 40
dress, In which he welcomed the ex-
members and active members of Wa
ter Witch and their friends in most
happy vein. and In closing referred to
the long service of Russell B. Noble,
who has held the office of treasurer or
the company since it's inception, hay
ing been elected each year during that
period. He touched upon MI. Noble
devoted and valued services record
rarely ara1leled-a.nd in behalf Of the
association presented to him gold
pen. The recipient responded briefly.
being deeply affected by the testtmon-
ial. The first toast, The Making or
Water Witch No. b. was responded
to by Robert Erwin. who described the
early conditions of the town and the
various efforts made to afford fire pro
lection to the village from the year
1880, up to the time OF effecting per
manent organization. In dealing d.
rectly with the HISTORY Of Water
witch, he detailed many humorous in
hearers Seymour s. Green spoke on
the toast What a Fire Company
Means to the C1tfzens.'' He recount
ed the honored place the volun teer
ity, their opportunity for courageously
meeting emergencies, and assured them
of the appreciation and interest of all
classes Of citizens. Representative
G. NJ Hall, in his toast, sTIooking at
the F1remen from the Outside" gave
in an entertaining way his personal
telling the fire 1addies that though
their dre-dghting might not be in
vested with the spectacular accompan-
ments Of the city departments, there
was stii1 the opportunity for the dis
play of the loyal and heroic spirit.
Charles NJ Peach, chairman OF the
toast, 1.-THE Firenaen from a Business
Mans Standpoint He polnted out in
q. forceful way the value of fire pro-
lection as affecting the commercial
side of property and business indus
tries Of the town. and referred to the
confidence repoSed in the organization
banded for the safeguarding of homes
and human life from the perils of
flame. w. q. Brown, secretary of the
association, speaking on the toast, us
the Fire Company Paying Invest
serious yeins referring to the Has
Beens," often so termed in derfsion,
as going on record as having accom-
pitshed things, and urging the pres
emit and future members of the de-
partment to be satisfied with nothing
less than the highest effort in pronaot-
ing the best efficiency attainaable in an
organization. Merton p. Staub, who
was to have been one OF the speakers,
was unavoidably detained, and his
place was taken by e. j. Eknmons, who
ed himself as favoring the holding of
firenen's parade here later as tend
ing to foster and stimulate further in
terest In the local association. He
pledged the cooperation of all bust
ness men In carrying out plans to that
effect. The last speaker was D. E.
Soule, ex-chfef engineer Of Water
Witch. who gave "Reminiscences of hts
connection with the company in its
earlier years, IN responding to the
E FSat o Il Essas to +, be 9t Gh t6
struggles OF the organization to OBJ
tain more commodious headquarters
neceesitated by its growth. terminal
ing in the acquisition of it's present
fine structure, built in 1876 on land
purchased from the late Colonel Will
liam F. Starr, at a cost of $1,000. Mr..
panyss ex-members, and in former
years was indefafigab1e in his actfv-
fly to promote its success. Judge Ad-
dis, In delivering a few closing re-
marks, referred feel1ngly to the late
Nicholas Staub, whose memory is hon
ored and revered by the departmen
and the townspeople generally, and
who for years was the pride of the
company, zealo1sly devoted to it's in
Serests. and for a long period at its
The speaking was interspersed by
catchy songs by the entire gathering,
led by J. $. Pinney and previous to
the banquet there were selections by
George Toussaint, piano: M. w. HILL
violin; Albert Sheer, cornet, and A. c..
Worley, flute, in the par1ors on the
| upper floor of the building, which were
good-feIlowshtp prevailed. Water
! Witch Hose Company was organized
! in a building which stood on the site
of the present passenger station, and
They are: Russell B. Noble, George
N. Garfield, Robert Erwin, Thomas
w. Fuller, Alfred H. Noble, Alban G.
| FSerrissh David Rothe Charles H. Lake
of this town. and oliver Sullivan, OF
Washington The majority of these
were present at Tuesdays observance.
During the evening POSTMASTER Ad-
dis read letters of regret Sand congrat-
| ulation from several ex-menbers re-
| siding in distant sections OF the coun-
try.
The committee of ARRANGEMENTS to
whose untiring work the success of
the occasion was due consisted Of
Messrs. J. r. Adds, F.. &. Soule, W.
J. Clark, Thomas r. May, Robert E.
Murphy, Charles Planz, and Henry
lDonnelly- The catering was under the
direction of Mrs. Bernard Moore. who