The Waterbury Democrat., 1936-01-30
BY THE OUT EASTER

called bus on East Main St. by the Connecticut Company, In place of the trolley system, doesn't mean that this Is the first time in the clty's history that our section of Old Out East has been provided with such service. Nothing of the kind.
 Why, my dear friends, back years ago, before we haA the trolley, and before and after the introduction of the horse car, we had horse drawn busses run. ming from Silver street to the Center, and also from the Wol- colt street intersection to the heart of the city. The fare was the customary toll of five cents, as it was later on the horse cars, and still later on tho trolley.
 But who out here now remem- bers the days when the late Dan Chfpman ran his horse driven bus from Silver street to the center, and when occasionally one of the boys inside would slip out the back door, and get out of sight Of the driver just be- fore the terminus was reached. It was an irregular service, of course, but it was supplied by the genial Dan of Town Plot for whatever worth 1t was tO the people out here. There are many of us still living out here who cannot recall it, but there are others who say thatS such was the case.
 And still, there are more of US who can recall the days when Big Jim McGrath, one of our own residents, bought . great big closed in canvass bus, seat. ing 26 or 36, and ran it for the convenience of the workers, em. ployed in the factories of the south end. Jim and his family afterwards moved to SOuthing. ton. Jlm's bus was chrlstened, and on It's sides were the words, Belle of Waterbury" And it was the Belle" of out door travel of those days. too. Mir. McGrath and his entire family were very proud of the outfit, and talked about # for months after it had been put Into scr- vice. And # you rode at all, na- turally as on Out Easter you patr0nlEed the bus that was owned by one of your own res. residents. The McGraths lived In . house located on the spot where one of the factory build ings of the Sc0vlll Company now stands, near the McEvoys, and just around the bend from where the great old sutton fam- fly once lived, with their many horse drawn trucks, and mum. erous horses.
 Besides, the Belle of Water. bury" Norton's livery had . much smaller bus, which ran to the Watch factory daily, and it was called, "Dalsy." In those days we had many out here who were employed in this great old shop, especially among our fine looking girls. They just hopped into the bus at the head of Dovs CT street and rode out to their homes. ate their mid .day meal, and were ready for the return trip at . quarter t0 one.
 4 bus of Che type of the Belle of Waterbury" was Excelsior" owned and operated by the iiv- cry firm of Partrce and Parker. The bus had no regular runs, but it was available for hire, and many persons of that time engaged it for taking them to various meetings. places where plcnlcs for our people were gen. erally held.
 Y0u may not know t, but fif- ty years ago or so, Harper'S Fer. ry wss . fav0rite spot for Sun. day school plcnics, and similar afialrs Of this kind. Harper's Ferry was entered by way of the Plank road. had numerous shady trees. with . good sized stream of water running through Che center, and numers Ous tables scattered about for the benefit of those who brought thelr lunch with them.
 And don't forget, the great plcnIcs Of the Irish Societies of Che city, in Che center of Che present Oak street above How. ard street. UninhabiteA except by . house Or two in these days, this section was commonly known among us as "The Ball Alley"
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