The Waterbury Democrat., 1937-02-11
BY THE OUT EASTER


 survivors mourn the death of Wil- liam T. Keenan, which occurred 8 day or two ago at his home, 1294 East Main street. Hardly soul of Out East, who didn't know Bill Keenan.
 And why shouldn't the people out here know him; wasn't he born in the old homestead on Dub- lin street, surrounded as the Keenan family were by such good old time ncighbors and friends as the Cases, the Tobins, the Films, the Gaffneys, the Lyons, the Claf- feys, and others, in that part of the old highway, running from a point at the end of the old St. Joseph's cemetery to the beginning of the present Idylwood avenue at the Saxe and Floto greenhouse. You will recall that one of Claf- fey boys owned the notice- able fiat roofed house that stood for so many years on the present Saxe and Floto tract of land ad- joining the original Keenan house which sloped somewhat toward the Meriden railroad tracks, in the rear. Directly next to the old St. Joseph cemetery was property known to us in cur "kid" days as "Slavin's Lots" It was here that the family COW grazed during the day or until milking time at night. As boys we remember it by reason of the fine chestnut trees that sup- piled the gang" of the neighbor- hood with meaty nuts in the proper season.
 Athlete
 Bill Keenan was a fine looking man: tall and athletic in appear ance, his long legs fairly flew along the roadway in his daily walks back and forth from his place of employment. Years ago, we used to watch him cleverly un- tangle some machinery trouble in the old Rogers & Bros. plant, and wonder in our own youthful mind, if some day, we ourselves might not, by observation and study, live to become the expert workman Bill Keenan always proved him. self to be. But our limit was the old bun wheel: and we are still there, probably to remain until the management comes along and says we are too old. The' Buff wheel was the limit to 8 great many of us, born and brought up out here in the East End. We never got an opportunity to improve, and neither church nor state ad- vised us in our young days to study hard, and keep of the street at night. And so we hung out" at the corner of Doolittle al- ley, or down near the bridge, or out at the corner near the Church of the Sacred Heart, noted for its "toughneSs" before and after the construction of the church.
 Mechanic
 But Bill Keenan improved his mind; he was Q natural mechanic, whereas many of his friends and associates were content at being just Q simple ordinary factory workman. But shop work in those days appeared easy to those about us, many of whom were members of the Big Scvens of Dublin street and the Blk Six of Niagara street, the two leading so- cial clubs of our section of the city. All good living young fel- lows, wild at times like the rest of us. but the real providers of old fashioned fun and amusement for the people out here at 8 time, when the extent of our enjoy ment was an annual visit to High rock grove or to Hanover park, on the Meriden railroad.
 Bill Keenan was 8 "woodsn,an," and loved to roam through the wilderness and loneliness of the trees. He knew every angle of proper hunting, and was always claSsed as ail expert shot. He was also a fisherman, and knew his fish as well as he did the habits and antics of the game bird.
 Other than those of Old Dublin street. however. will remember Bill best as Q member of the Brass City Fire company, that gallant lot of East End volunteer firemen whose headquarters were in city constructed building on East Main street directly opposite Wiliima street.
 Fireman What q fine appearance he and his fellow firemen made upon their assembly to the station, Just before the time for the annual l firemenS parade on the first Thursday of September of each year. Bill Keenaii, just like Tommy l Crannei, wore Q rich. and heavy l black nioustache, twirled nicely at each end. With big Eddie Cum mings and Eddie Gallagher. they \