New Britain herald., 1926-07-01

capabilities and it was due 10 their faithfulness and their desire 10 maintain their excellent record, to- gether with their love for fire fight ing. that they stroye 10 work har- moniously and at all times as a unit
 Mir, Cooley served as assistant foreman of the company before be- coming stoker of No. 2 bumper, on October 1, 1888, following the cree ton of the Elm street station. He became engineer of company No. on September 5. 1902, serving in this capacity until 1907, when he retired to take over the superin- tendency of the fire and police sig nal system.
 The veteran smoke eater recalls many interesting incidents connected with the early days of fire fighting in New Britain. He saw the de- partment grow into the permanent system with horse draw aparatus' and out of that period into inc mo- torization and two platoon develop ment. He has seen new men come into the department and veterans drop out, many of them through death. and in his own branch Of the department, he has with his own hands fashioned much of the detail of an intricate and delicate system. attending to his work with faith fulness that has attracted merited commendation by his superiors and the public at large.
 His value to the city is apprecl- ated, It is evident in the comments heard on his work and his devotion +o duty. He knows his work and he does it, without ever thinking whether the call comes on Sunday or q week day. al night or during the regularly accepted working hours In other fields Nineteen years ago there were 19 alarm boxes in the 1 city and today there are lS@, with each succeeding year witnessing the ! expansion Of the system, MT. Cooley sees in this fact, not alone increas- i ing responsibility for him but an in- | disputabIe evidence of the growth ot 1 the city and of the fire depart ment's opportunity for service 10 the { public.
 Born in Germantown, Pa. August ! s. 1853, Mr. Cooley came 10 New | Britain at the age Of IS and took l employment at the Stanley Rule and Level factory remaining there 2G l years. He never learned the cleo trical trade in the sense of ap- premiership, but having a natural | inclination toward the mysteries of electricity, he absorbed Q great deal of the details while working at the business, and the old school | of experience, which turns out the , best alumni. taught him the res.
 Mir. Cooley has served under seven chiefs: Samuel Moore. H. k. Walk IT. John W. Carleton, William Sul- 1 Uvan, Leroy M. Cowles, Robert N. i Dame and the present department 1 head. William J. Noble. Two of his | brothers served In the Philadelphia fire department more than thirty years.
 | Although his connection with the fire department has required that he be on call at all times he has managed to find time to devote to | his hobby-music.
 1 He was drummer in the old City 1 Band and for 28 years played the l drum in the American Band. in ad- dition to being a member Of Zahn- 1 ieitar's orchestra. which, long before the days Of jazz and canned music. ! WAS in demand for dances and simi- 1 lar affairs in all parts Of Connecti- ] cut.
 Today. members of the fire de par'meut. including inc chiefs and ] the commissioners. received boxes Of cigas from the veteran superin- 1 tend"nf, On all sides, as he went about his work. he was hcsieCed by well wishers who shook his hand | and assured him that 5o years more would not be too long for him "a remain in the service. Al the age Of 72, Mr. Cooley Is in good health,
 and is as agile and keen as many ! mon 25 yrnrs his junior Out in
 all kinds of weather. he has da
 y"lopod strong physique and fl ever there was 8 living proof of thr oft expressed theory that work and plenty of il is The ranacea for hu.
 man ills. il is Mir. Cooley
 Souncy Enters 30th Year
 Deputy Chief Souney was ar-
 pointed a substitute hos-luan at No
 1 house Jnly i. 1H97. and today en-
 tered on his goth year in the ser vice. Tn 1929 he was appointed
 substitute driver and on April 25
 1904 he became q permanent mem.
 hor of inc department and seryed in every fire station in the city. IT August, 1a06 he became permanent { driver and on October 1 1o07 h' ! was promoted to the captaincy o . Company No. 5. being the first mar
 to serve in that capacity in tha' company. When the two platoon
 system became effective. he was ap
 pointed second deputy chief ant
 since then has been in charge of ih' burenu Of fire prevention.
 Thief Souney n his youth was {
 prominent athlcr" and was partic
 uIarly skillfm in the boxing gam . Posse ssed Of strong nody and keel eye. he developed his natural adapt
 ability for the manly art and evcr
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