The Waterbury Democrat., 1940-03-04
"En1" Bloomfield
Passing of Old Time Volunteer Fireman, Silver Shop Worker Recalls Memories of Yester. Years "Out East"-Many Familiar Faces Missing

street. Rogers & Bros's. spoon shop was then one Of the flouriShine Mfg. concerns of the city. We all worked there at various times. Hardly a family, out East that at some time or other did not have a representative employed in that factory. Jim was there, so was Steve for few years after he left school, and just before he became a member of the Fire Dept.
 Volunteer
 Jim Bloomfield was also a fire man, not an active member, but a volunteer. He was one of the gallant members of the old and now defunct Brass Citys, for years housed in a small and narrow two story brick building on East Main street, opposite William street. Although of goodly size, Jim BloomfBleld ran 10 fires. dragging the old hose reel of 25O feet, along with such other stall warts as the living Pat. Hackctt, Eddie Pagan, Joe McIlroy, Jack Hackett, still around, Eddie Fa- gan, Eddie Cummings, Jack Ca sey, Jack Cunningham Jim Eus- tace, Eddie Cullen, and others, What great lot of fellows, all Out Easters, young good looking, and snappy dreSSerS, all of them. And. my, how particular they were on parade day in September when all of the companies had to march behind good playing brass bands, that cost each or ganization a good sized sum fol the band hired to lead them. Each volunteer company had to have band of at least 25 mem- bers. The American band of Wa tcrbury, as rule, always headed the Brass Citys. And then, after the parade, the reception in the old fire house, where all of the firemen met, ate, drank and made merry for the rest of the day. Jim Bloomfield never missed a parade during his long member ship. No one looked better than he did. Well built. but not so heavy in those days, he prided himself on the well fitting and expensive suit of blue he had for the occasion. For every parade, Jim provided himself with d brand new uniform. Others did. too, in many instances, all of which made such occasions rath- CT expensive for the rank and file of our out East volunteers.
 Hero Worship
 Strange, what Time does to va rious sections of a locality. Nearly all of the young men of the Eighties and Nineties who con- prised the membership of the old Brass City, are now dead. They were fellows who were born out here, worked among us, and with whom we had contact almost daily. They used to tell the, boys of the neighborhood their thrill ling experience in fighting fire; their heroic deeds, their dash through flame and fire with the aged or sick in their arms. Of course, some times they told fairy tales, but the young didn't mind 1t; they believed it to such an .ex- tent that many of them listened so attenetively that their mouths were wide open in wonder.
 Jim Bloomfield was of the quiet type; he was not of the kind that could be clasSed as a talker. Pleasant to meet, and friendly in his every action, he naturally fit- ted in well with all of the other members, and the big and little fellows who occasionally dropped into their favorite engine house.
 For years there was no other Bloomfield family in Waterbury than the one Jim was with on Silver stret. Now there are one or two besides this family in the city.
 Old Out East knew Jim Bloom field well as it does others of the Bloomfield family. The section liked and admired Jim and na- turaily felt grieved at his death. But after all he went only the way that other members of his outfit had gone long before him.
 Reunion Some Day
 We presume that some day when the entire living roster k depleted. there will Do Q reunion of ali Of the old members where the fire happenings of old Out East will be discliAsed and dee bated, that is if VIC believe the teaching of those who from dag t0 day cite las the immortality Of man,
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