The Waterbury Democrat., 1936-01-06
Matthew J. Smith Popular Fraternalist, City Official Mourned by Thousands of Admirers Out Easter Views Pas
 sing With Sincerest
 Personal Regret
By THE OUT EASTER

Matt Smiths death reminds us that far back in the early Nineties he conducted . bakery in the McGrath building, now owned by Harry Carroll, and directly under where Mir. Carroll formerly lived, out here in the eastern part of the city, almost opposite Wall street. The boys of this period out here never forgot the institution. The bakery part was in the base- ment, and occasionally they sneaked in and grabbed . cruller or two; often chased by Matt, then young and active. We often told him of 1t in later years.
 The history of Mats life car- ries employment for the first few years of his residence fin Water- bury with the Mulvaney bakery over in the Abrlgador, on Bald win street. about opposite Pleas- ant street. EEulvsney's belled bake cry outfit rOamed the streets of this section, along with Kelly's and Meigs and Trotgs wagons. The women folks always went to the wagon for their wares, the drivers being afraid. to leave their pies and cakes without an attend- ant. : E ys.1e ',s
 Anyway, as we said, Matt Smith opened. his bakery in the East End, the first one that we can re- call east of old Dublin street. Just as he had done for years, he wore . heavy moustache, and held onto 1t for . long time. Nothing could induce him to part with 1t. He had 1t out here, and he had It during the days when he was prominent in the affairs of the nifty Rose Hill Social club, which had quarters somewhere in the center. A crack-a-jack baker, when he sold out his store to Kelly, he went to work for the man who made the Kelly 5-cent loaf of bread famous in Water- bury. His home he took up i'm the Brooklyn district, and there he spent the greater part of his life. Back in the nincties and over into the beginning of the new century, hardly . democratic ticket was placed in the field without the name of Matt Smith being includ- cd in the list of delegates. He was always true and most loyal to those he favored. Win or lose he was just the same. His disposi- ton was such that seldom did he ever suffer at the hands of those who opposed his ticket i'm the pri- maries. His first appointment, as we recall, was as school inspector. Then he ran and was elected city sheriff several times. His walrus- like moustache, he continued to wear, upon all such occasions. Newspaper columnists commented upon 1t at various times, but Matt just laughed 1t Off-not the mous- tache, however.
 Prominent in fraternal bodies, Matt's popularity brought him many new members. Why, back over 90 years ago, when he was strong in the Martin Hellmann order of Foresters, he brought many into that court, and his in- fluence saved them from the ter rible gruelling that generally went with initiation in those days. No one could refuse Matt; he had 2 way about him that just appealed, and you followed him into the FOresters, the Eagles, and the Moose, if he happened to ask you to fiIl out . membership blank. Hardly any new fraternal body started in Waterbury in the past 70 years without Matt Smiths name being among the charter members. Among his fraternal associations, he had Q wide ac- quaintance with the Elks.
 Upon joyous occasions, when things had ter be prepared to serve Che inner man. Matt's judgment was always sought. He could cook anything. As the manager of . clambalEe, he could not be beat en. Only last fall, he managed the annual clambakc for the Elks, and no better aifair was ever pre- pared.
 Matt smith enjoyed the friend ship and admiration of . great many people. In conversation, he was always quiet spoken, but check full of interesting incidents. No man in the city had been SO active in tho affairs of the demo- cratic party as he had been. Ev- cry demesratlc nominee for any and all offices he worked for with a win and aetermlnRfi0n that brought about good results.
 The democrats will miss him. And lt makes us out here feel we wish ws were back again t0 Mul- vamey's bakery wAg01 and keliys \ cent fnmR 4( # EfIslsE