New Britain herald., 1924-11-21

With the New Britain high school demonstrating it's superiority over its ancient rival, the Hartford team, as was it's wont in other years, old timers inNew Britain athletic cir cles have been rUminating about the days when football was football" and some interesting historical facts have cropped up.
 While rummaging about his attic one day this week, a New Britain man who stands close to the top iu the citys industrial affairs came across the above photograph of the i team which battled for the honors of the high school gridiron and in most cases came away victorious, ! years before tho birth of boys who ! won the plaudits of "The Old Home Town" last Saturday, and according 10 the opinion of a prominent gov ernment official in the city, Brought ! down the wrath Of the Hartford weather man" upon the victorious team and the admiring city.
 New Britain's first high school football team was organized official ly in 1S92-32 years ago. 1t was most formidable lineup and Hart ford. Hopkins grammar school and the Roxbury, or what was at that time the Cheshire military academy, all contributed to the laurels Of the local team. the Hillhouse high Of New Haven being the only excep- tiOn.
 The passing years have brought many changes 10 New Britain and it's native sons, but no more striking illustration of this is seen than in following the fortunes Of thIS-its first high school football team. The canvass uniforms of which they were very proud. have long since passed Into oblivion. bu. not so the wearens.
 The fortunes Of the players are in- terosting to note as the years have gone by. Some have been called to another world, those who remain, all have achieved some degree Of sue cess In their chosen careers.
 w. R, Corbin, who played end, has passed away. Garry Finch, tackle, is a prosperous merchant in North Adams, Mass. Arthur Young, quar- terhack, now is an attorney and maintains his law offices in Pitts bUrgh. Fred Jost, center, is connect ed with the office of the Corbin Screw corporation. "Wnl" Peck, who played end. now is Attorney William Peck and maintains his offices in New York city. A. E. Porter, quar- terback. now is secretary and treas urer of the Prentice Manufacturing company in Berlin. Frank G. Nib- berts, who played guard, is vice president of the New Britain Trust Co. "Mort" Camp, end, still known to his friends as Mort" is Attorney Mortimer II, Camp, member Of the firm of Kirkham, Cooper Hunger ford and Camp, and is assistant cor poration counsel for the city of New Britain. Traces Of Thomas A. Ma loney. tackle, and John Camp from Newing on, Rn end, have been lost, but both men have since passed away.
 Walter Hart, manager and left fa'fbaal,, now Is president Of the Stanley Works. Archer Young, captain and right haifback, is con- nected with the engineering depart ment Of the Standard Oil company in Pittsburgh, H. H Vessel. end, is connected with the Hart and Cooley plant.
 Jim" Nor h. guard. now is James <. North, prrs.Irn, Of the C. J. White Manufacturing company. Jim" Mes kill later became an attorney and eventually Judge Mcskil and suhse- qV"Ntly died. Al Thomas, who playeI under the namo of Hine, the later being lis stepfather's name, TOW is Dr. Alfred II. Thomas, and is located on Staten Island, New York, br. Thomas after leaving the New Britain team played with Yale, while Attorney Camp and Arthur and Archer Young sfterward made the Wesleyan team, Archer Young being captain his last year there.
 While this was the first real foot ball team for the New Britain high school the city had q football team in 1881. consisting of some high 5choo, players and several I. NJ. C. 4. boys Some Of the players did not even have uniforms The team was organized to play Hartford and in- cluded among its players was Rob- ert VI. Dame, who later became chief of the New Britain fire department and held that position until he died n 1920.