The Waterbury Democrat., 1938-05-09
(BY THE OUT EAsTER)


 Death has again entered the home and taken away another resident of Old Out East.
 We refer to Robert T. Bowling of 24O Walnut street who died at the Waterbury hospital on Sun day.
 There is hardly one of us who have lived out here since boyhood who does not remember the DoWl- ing family from the days of old when the residence was on Will liam street, up at the top of the Hill, in and about the Keenan home. Others who lived around there were the Blackburns, the Dillons, the Coyles, the OCon- nors, the Phelans, the Cullens, the Wallaces. and the Towards,
 Ball Alley
 William street was blind" un- til Laurel street was cut through many years ago. So was Wall street until Oak street was ex- tended to allow for an outlet from this highway, and also for a pro- per passage way from the old Ball Alley to Wolcot street. Howard street allowed for entrance to the Ball Alley. And when we speak of the Ball Alley we desire to tell you that 50 and 60 years ago 1t was a favorite picnic ground, where all of the Irish met in in- nocent amusement on the Fourth of July and Memorial Day, reg ular family gatherings for the people of olden days.
 Bob" Bowling never knew the Ball Alley in times like what we have mentioned, for he was too young for the affairs mentioned. But as a boy he was of the lot who took their ball and bat and went up to that particular section to take part in a game among picked teams from the East End. Stones, plenty of them were about too, were used for bases, and very often the game was broken up by the loss of the ball in the brush land nearby. Oak street then had only a few houses, like the Gill; mores, the Lynches and the Washes.
 Just like the rest of us. Bob" went into the factory at 8 tender age. Scovill's was nearby and he got a job "stringing on," If you know what that means in the par lance of the shop empolye of the dip" room. Others of us went to the buff room, where we arc liable to remain for the rest of our lives. We have never had chance or break" to get beyond the dust flying grinding wheel. No wonder we have q "hac" in our cough.
 Welton School
 Bob" Bowling got his first schooling in the old Welton street public school. It was there he was trained by the learned Miss Matilda Hallas. the principal, strict and unafraid of the unruly, who always had to pay dearly for the disorderly acts that very often disturbed the sessions of school. The others in the lower grades, also suffered the same penalty for their misbehavior. A common occurance was dismissal from school. Nearly all of the various boy classes suffered in this way, for if we do say 1t. the Out East Kid" was probably as Fresh" as any in the city. We used to refer to them as tough eggs" But they were only fresh" in the sense that they were full of fun, and needless of their stu dies. That's the reason why so many of us were thrown into the factory so young.
 Bob" Bowling was a clever amateur ball player. He loved the game, and upon every oppor- tunity, could be found with a base ball in his hand. Like oth- CTS out here, many of his Sundays of the Nineties were spent in the old Long Hili piarsond. Sunday ball playing vas then considered a grievous sin. and you were liable to arrest. if observed by the