The Waterbury Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1917-1946, 1940-09-25
TERRY" Pilkington
Associate Pays Tribute to Friendly Qualities of
Late Fireman, World War Veteran-Recalls
Training Instructions of Late Jimmy Nelson.

appelation. He was of rather good
build, square Shouldered, and
erect, and was smart dresser. He
always talked, 1t seemed to us, in
a way that indicated his place OF
birth, but he did 1t in way that
was most interesting and enter
tanning to his listeners.
World War Veteran
Jerry" came into the depart
ment after doing his stretch in the
service OF the army during the
World war. He had been here
only a short time when the late
James Nelson, the snappy and well
dressed Jimmy, Of physical ex-
ercise fame, was appointed phySi-
cal director of the department,
Jimmy" himself had been in the
war game, and knew army man
euvers to some extent. Not only
did he drill us in marching, but
he made us do physical stunts
every day he appeared. 1t so hap
pened that Jerry" was stationed
at Fire Headquarters, and on &C
count Of his height, he was de-
tailed as the No. man in the for
nations we made on the appar-
atus floor of Headquarters. We
walked In pairs. When Jimmy"
gave the command Attention"
and Forward march," we started
of, every man Of US, straight
ahead, or until the order was
changed to Left oblique," when
sometimes we ran plump into the
front doors Of the station, only to
switch to the order of Forward"
and then Right oblique."
Back to the rear Of the station
we marched, then returned, and
up the inside stairway to the End
floor, long and tiresome climb,
which even to this day, "gets"
many people who have occasion to
consult the administrative officers
in this part Of the building.
Crucial Test
Snap into it." Jimmy" always
commanded. as he reached the
stairway. "If you can make this
journey without your heart pump
ing too much, you are all fit to
be Firemen; we'll see when we
get up top" And then Jimmy"
would stop us, put his ear to our
breast, to note the action of the
heart, shake his head now and
then, and march us down the rear
way, and again parade us around
to once more making the trip to
the End floor. If he didn't feel just
right, he'd make us travel the
same route half a dozen times.
And then when all this was
done, we had to strip to the waist
for the floor exercise, bending
over, lying fiat on the stomach,
and then raise the belly of the
floor to his count, which went the
limit upon many occasions.
That was 20 years ago or so.
"Jerry" was In the midst of those
drills, and he carried out his part
Just like the others did. And when
it was all over, and when we
grouped together what a laugh
followed as we related the per-
sonal effect Of each order upon us
individually. It was strenuous for
the time being, but nevertheless we
all enjoyed it. no one better than
Jerry"
We thought Of this when we
learned of "Jerry's" death. We
thought Of the days Of his trans
fer to the Waterville station, and
later Of his shift from there to
Burton st.
Jerry" Pilkington made numer-
Gus friends In the department, be-
cause he was one Of the kind that
like to do things for others. We
recall the time when he called at
the home of O sick Fireman, re-
moved the summer awning, the
window screens, attached the
double windows, and made the
house snug and warm for the
coming winter. He was not asked
TO do Il, but he did II because he
knew that his associate was sick
and ailing and could not do Il
himself. That was the way he felt
throughout life: he possessed the
Fireman's Instinct OF wanting q
do shlngs for others. He was Of
good heart, good cheer and ma
turally kind and thoughtful. W.
have some high grade married
men IN the department aIic
Jerry" was one Of them. He llvoe
we'll. paid his bills promptly, aiic
liked We for what Il meant 10 nv
close and eocd family: