The Waterbury Democrat., 1934-02-17
Chase Co. Veterans
 To Be Feted Tonight
Many to Be Guests at Foremen's Association Annual Banquet William Nichols, 55 Years in Service

veteran employees of the Chase Companies will be guests of honor at the annual banquet of the Chase Foremen's Association at the Elton tonight at 6:30. Among those to be honored for their years of ser-. vice are William Nichols, Bernard Keegan, Thomas vickers, James Wigmore and John Neagle.
 The principal speaker at the banquet will be John B. Daniels. general counsel for the Associated Industries of Massachusetts. Mayor Frank Hayes will also be speaker. Frederick 8. Chase, president of the Chase companies will act as t0astmaster.
 William Graham heads the com. mittee on arrangements. He Is as- sisted by Timothy r. Ferris, Carl Gulliver, Martin Miller, John Sul- livan. Harold Slater, John Lawlor and Ernest Stance.
 The records of the veteran em- ployees, as described by the associa- tion, are as follows:
 The Waterbury Mfg.. Co., being the oldest of our plant, of course has some fifty year men. The employee having the largest num- ber of years of service is William (Billy) Nichols, Dept. 65, Wat. Mfg. Co.,, who was seventy years old February End and who, on July 6, 1884. will have completed 55 years service in the Shipping Dept, where he Is still employed. He started to work when fifteen years of age under R. J. Ashworth, who was the foreman of that de- partment. Mir Pope was Factory Superintendent. The plant consisted of brick and wooden building, and power was furnished by water wheels. As many. of the employees then drove horses and buggies to work, hitching posts were numerous tied up during the working hours. The manufactured arts were bur- nished in those days with blood stone rather than buffed. There were fifty to one hundred em- ployees working there, and a big bell was rung every hour during the working day and at the close of the day instead of a whistle. MT Nichols is married, and has one child and two grandchildren.
 The next from point of service is Bernard (Benny) Keegan, who is sixty-five years old and. who, on March 25, 1884, will have com pleted 64 years of service. He be- gan work when twelve. He ob- tained his permit to go to work from T. I. Driggs, who was then school commissioner. In those days. anyone seeking work just walked into the plant and asked for the job from whenever he happened to mee, because there were no 11xsx AfHAAQ Keegan first worked under MT employees, and his first job was putting eyes on button backs. He worked on hairpins and did odd jobs, and later operated all kinds of foot and power presses. He learned tooisetting, and spent twenty to thirty years setting tools on presses in Dept. 5e. Since 1924. he has been employed in Dept. S3. He Is married, and has one daughter and one grandchild.
 Next comes Thomas (Tom) Vic- kers. seventy-three years old, born in Ireland, . widower and has nc children. He will have completed fifty-three years 0e service on July 20, 134. He started in as 6 power press operator and bench helper in Dept. 73, and has de- voted his entire service to Depts 73 and 66. He first worked under a foreman named Madden, and later operated an edging lathe Later, he became toolsetter, when Mir. Mitchell was foreman.
 James (Jim) Wigmore has jus! passed his seventieth birthday. He was born in. Portland, Conn.,. is married, and has two children and four grandchildren. ,. On August Sth. he will have completed fifty one years. He was hired by R. | Ashworth, after having completed ono year of high school. He start ed working in the Shipping Room under Billy Hawkins. He next worked under Royal Hawhins, and later was made shipping clerk him- self. He had remarkable ser- yice record. inasmuch as he has never missed e day from work un. tIl thIs past winter when, due tc the severity Of the weather he has been out two days with Q coid.s He recalls the plant as being small win af attractive yard. white ulcket fence and hitching posts. North Main street was sraany ex- cept for the Futs and was lined with walnut trees. Mr A9hworsh, who was asslntant to popos the au- parintsndent used to take freiEhi