New Britain herald. [microfilm reel] (New Britain, Conn.) 1890-1976, 1928-12-22
BILLY DOYLE WAS
FAMOUS LIVERYMAN
Knew Horselesh Thoroughly
and Had Floulishing Business

The recent death of William
Doyle, veteran liveryman. removed
the third member of a quartet of
men whose connection with the
business of renting horses for profit
and racing them for sports sake,
over a long period of years made
them well known throughout Con
necticut. James T.. White and
James Doyle passed away some
months back, ana James NJ. Einne-
gan alone I. mains of the group.
Not SO long ago. the owners OF
livery stables IN New Britain as else
where depended in large measure on
the income from rental OF pleasure
rigs to youths who derived great
sport from Sunday driving. In the
years that have interviewed, the soas
and grandSons of those youths have
developed liking for cars. Wheih
err they get greater pleasure out OF
their superior means of travel than
was possible in the days OF their
elders is dehatab|e, but there is no
question that they 90 faster and
farther in less time.
The Finnegan. White and James
DOYLE stables were on Main street,
while Billy Doyle's place was on
East Main, right around the corner
from Main, all handy locations.
Good horses were in the barns and
nice carriages in the sheds. The
owners always seeing to it that the
Sunday afternoon turnouts were
spick and span. 1t was common
occurrence to have every horse and
carriage in tho four stables rented
week after week. and many nights
during the week the young hloods OF
the city hired rigs 10 take them TO
dances in Pennington, Inionvllle
and surrounding places. They had
their favorite horses. too, some OF
them even making practice Of en-
caging their turnouts some time in
advance to be assured of satisfac-
ton.
Travelling statesmen who made To-
cal calls were good patrons of tn"
liyerymen. They Travelled from place
10 place ny tIdll 'llSdSll'S q ''oi'-N
and carriage for an hour or Two or
longer, depending upon the time re-
ullired to transact their business at
the stores and houses where they
called. As a rule, they ngased
small boys to accompany them pay
Ing what was considered handsome
wages to have the reins held and
thereby preclude runa"ays Will"
they We're doing business inside.
The lrerymeu Of that period
knew horsefesh and not an angle
Of the business WAS pulling TO
them. They met competition and
had their distinctive ways of hand
ling their affairs, just as the bust
ness groups of the succeeding dec
ade have done and are still doing.
None in New Britain could mention
horses without thinking Of the quar-
tet. If it was a "tWo-scatcr' for a
Sunday drive, "haci<" for a flu
neral or wedding, or a buggy"
for a dash of ten or twenty miles.
invariably the Doyles, Finnegan or
White got the call
Mr.. Finnegan remains in business
at his Main street place, having in
stalled motor service in place of
horses several years ago when the
demand for the up-to-date conve-
niences made itself felt in the liv-
cry business. lie is about his bust
ness every day, active and palms.
taking as he was in the days before
the horseless carriage proved that
it had a very definite and import
ant place in the scheme of things.