The Waterbury Democrat., 1936-04-08
Edward F. Bowling Late Resident of Beacon St., Old Time Callman of Fire Force, Was Asso- ciate of North Ends Old Guard of DemOc-
 racy - Had Many
 Friends
(BY OLD BURNT HILL)


 The death of Edward F. DoWl- ing of Beacon street carries away a man who was widely known in these parts of Waterbury, and who knew the history of our sec- tion probably as well as any per- son now living.
 "Nedgy," we used to call him; everybody knew him by that name, the short for Edward. The days of the past when he was young and active up here, and when he associated with such old friends as Dan Dalton, a great fellow, still around, and we hope for many years to come; the late Tim Brennan, who was able in his day to "lihe us up" as a solid delegation for the particular can didate he favored, fine fellow was Tim; the late Tom Coyle, the late John Millerick, the late Eddie Hardie, the late John O'Brien, the late John $. Neagle, the late John w. Burns, the late Kitty" Flanagan and the living Johnny Lawlor.
 What a bunch; like the old and loyal friends of yesterday, these men were so banded together that one could actually speak for the other, so well did they know the minds of each other. They spent most of their spare time together; they talked on subjects of the day, and listened with much interest when others hap pened to be in their company for the time being. If loyalty ever existed among crowd of men, it certainly did among those fel- lows we have mentioned above. We had some great old political battles up here many years ago. Our section was part of the sec ond ward, in which the republi- cans prevailed. But we had vari- ous politicians and fighters, too, dmong our great old democratic families of Bishop, Cooke, Beacon, Sarsfield, Burton, Hawkins, George street, Barnes, Hill and North Main street, part of Old Burnt Hill, as the section was called by the people of the city years ago. Ed. Bowling was employed by the Waterbury Clock company for many years. He was there in its "hey-day," when 1t was prosper ous, and when the weekly earn ings of the employees were such that it allowed for some real en- joyment on the part of those who were employed there. We don't know what it is today, for like the late Eddie, we have been unable to work for number of years now, and SO know little about the inside of our manufacturing plants.
 But Eddie's death makes me think of the old and dingy fire station that still stands in Bur ton street, commonly known as the North End Fire station. It never has burned light, and we guess 1t never will; it was dark there when 1t was first opened nearly 40 years ago, and it is practically the same at this late date. Only for the electric light across the street, no one would know there was fire station in the neighborhood.
 For a great many nights, the second floor of the fire station was the sleeping abode for Eddie, for back when the station was formally occupied for the first time, he was among the lot of 25 or 30 appointed to the call force. Eddie Bowling, Frank Keeley, Jack Ash and John OKeefe were assigned to the engine side Of the station to which Tim Brennan himself had just been assigned as a permanent member. But 1t was no job for Tim, and he threw 1t up after a short ex- perience; Billy Riley was also there, with Gene Rowley as call engineer of the steamer.
 Great old days for the callmen or the Burton street station, sup posed to be in bed at II, they came and went as they liked. Frank Keeley kept the place in roars of laughter. Somewhat Of an actor and prominent in the amateur productions of St. Jo- seph's Temperance society. Frank mimicked many, and brought on much fun for the firemen when they were together, the callmen and the regulars.
 Eddie Bowling made many friends in his activities up this way. But old time acquaintances have keen gone thsee many years, and we suspect he has been somewhat lonesome at times.
 Now he has left to ioin them.