The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1918-12-24
FIRE CHIEF GLADDING
GOT FINE FAREWELL
City Officials and Others Joined in Giving
Expression to Regret That He Is to
Leave the Department.

of municipal employees joined plain citi.
zens in plain clothes last evening in vari-
GUS expressions of good will toward a
prophet with honor in his own country
who also enjoys healthy reputation for
efficiency as frefghter that is state
wide-C. B. Gladding, the retiring chief
of Barre's fire department. The big Off
cial farewell, staged on the second floor
of the fire station, had small beginning.
Its origin was with the fremen who de-
sired to attest in simple and inconspic-
uous way their high regard for chief
whose leadership they admire and whose
authority they respect. 1t began with a
gold mounted briar pipe, neatly encased,
and it neared its end with handsome
leather arm chair, both headed in the di-
rection of him who was the guest of
honor
A company Of more than SO citizens,
including many business and professional
men, waited for the chief as he returned
to the station around Z o'clock. Being
farewelled in such pretentious way had
no part in his plans for the evening until
AtI saw iDllH bdblto SRftdu hNibSs tllS
lounging room of the regulars. The fire.
men had prepared an excellent Italian
supper, and after the guests had been
seated brief musical program preceded
the supper. Reardon's knickerbocker or
chestra, its output for the evening well
saturated@with jazz, was the particularly
popular feature of the early evening.
At the after dinner exercises the guests
got their first chance TO explain their
feelings toward the fire chief. Telling
him how he lines up in the affections of
the firemen was an impressive feature Of
the program, for the unadorned testi.
mony of the men who have served with
the chief these many years seemed to
come straight from the heart City Clerk
James Mackay did the honors at the
head of the table, and the first speakers
were Nelson d. Phelps, the oldest ex-
chief, and +, NJ. Tobin, in years of serv-
ice the youngest chief, for he is just on
the point of taking over the scepter, or
helmet, or whatever is the symbol of au-
thority in fire departments.
Mr.. Phelps remarks were full of in
teresting "reminiscences and during his To-
minute contribution to the program he
exhibited the badge worn by him when
the department was young. Mr.. Tobin
spoke of his years of association with
Chief Gladding and paid sincere tribute
to his predecessor Others who manifest
ed in thoughtful words their deep regret
over the chiefs impending change of
work made sure to express their new
wishes in his new environment. Among
the speakers that followed were: Mayor
4. G. Glysson, Aldermen A. A. Milne,
Duncan j. Mcmillan and Stephen Rizzi
all Of whom agreed that the city council
was very loath TO accept Mr.. Gladding
resignation. 1t was the mayor who spoke,
first for the fremen, and then for the
chiefs long retinue of friends and ac-
quaintanees, in presenting the briar pipe
and the arm chair, combination which,
said his honor, would work well at the
end of the Industrious days ahead.
Tribute piled on tribute, and congratu-
latory remarks were mingled with obvi-
ous regret as the after dinner speakers,
called upon at random, told the chief
they were sorry he is going and glad that
opportunity awaits him in another de-
partment. Mayor Glysson was followed
by ex.Mayor w. H. Ward, Rev. John b.
Reardon. ovcrseer of the charity depart
ment, and a near neighbor of the chiefs
official residence; Earl c. Cutler, G. +.
Cutler, G. w. Camp Frank G. Rogers and
James Sullivan, veteran fremen all;
Supt. Alex. Hanton of the city cemc.
teries, a former fireman, Private John
Downs, w. g. Reynolds, Chief Samuel
Sinclair of the police department, and
Constable George L. Morris.
The tuneful doings of the young or.
ehestra were iuterspersed during the
evening with vocal and guitar selections
by George tLaviolette and Louis Labelle.
and vocal selections by James Hogg. All
OF the musicians were heartily applauded.
Chief Gladding at New Years will sever
ties that have been in the making for
nearly quarter 1t was on the
night of May l3, 1896, that he joined the
department rs a call man. Another
'jiner" of the evening was the man whom
the city council has selected to fill his
place, Chief elect Tobin. 1t was on April
l, 1905, that Mr.. Gladding became chief.
In the years of his office tenure he has
been the moving spirit in perfecting a
serviceable fire department that has met
every one of the emergencies for which
it was created Partial motorization of
the department was accomplished during
his regime, and many other progressive
measures were carried out Chief Glad
ding has found time for activities in the
Vermont State Firemens association,
where his counsel is held in the highest
regard. He is past president of the
organization and at present member of
the executive committee Running matches
between the various hose teams of the
state have found a warm advocate in
Bsrre's retiring chief, and in long list
of such competitions, many Of them won
by the Barre runners, he has been con-
sistent exponent of good craftsmanship
Chief Gladding's election as superin-
tendent of cemeteries to succeed Mr.
Hanton was unanimous. His successor is
no less well known in the department Of
to-day As assistant engineer he has
game valuable working knowledge Of
what the office requires, and many proph-
esy for him large measure of success
Mr. Tobin for a number of years has
been superintendent OF the Trow & Holden
plant on South Main street.
EIECTED nTD OEFTcEpc