The Waterbury Democrat., 1941-09-19
BY THE our EASTER

Memories of the old Abrigador were recalled recently when we read of the death of Charles Lee of 272 Pine street.
 We were in no way acquainted with the man, but we remembered him, and had others aquaint us with some of his activities as Q young and active fellow.
 It's strange how names come back to those who heard them in boyhood. You see Charley Lee was Q Rose Hill" volunteer fire man. The company equipment comprised an old fashioned hand drawn Jumper, l::sAalsr to what was supplied tlA and gallant Brass Citys of G., Out East, Tn those beautiful days of the past, there was much rivalry between out East and the Abrigador, and none more keen than that between the Rose Hills and the Brass Citya. A favorite recreation of the time was the annual picnic of the fire department held in the old west end ball park. The star attraction of the event always seemed to be the ball game bee tween the rival Rose Hills and the Brass Citys. The Brass CityS had "Buck" Byrnes as their star pitch CT; Eddie Pagan held down first base: he was 50 tall no one could get n ball over his head. We for- get who caught, but we are uIl- der the impression they always "rung in" a South End catcher.
 Various ones looked after the rest of the allotted stations.
 Great Team
 The Rose Hills had a great team of amateurs, and Charley Lee was one of the number: Jim Downey was another. Punch" Phelan who had played profess sional bali, held down first base. Charley Lee if we are right, was Q catcher and on account of his good hitting, also played in the Held.
 out East sent down every kid" n the district to root for the Brass Citys; the Ahrigador had Q .umilar delegation on hand to Sroar" for the Rose Hills. Oc- 'tasionAlly, in fact very often, the kids" got into Q fight, and the eons had to separatre them. But the game went on just the same, with much betting on the part of the packers of both teams. Vol hnteer fire companies Of the early nineties had numerous friends, and especially so in the Irish sections of Out East and The Hnl. We, Out East, looked pp" with much pride to the blue uniform of the Brass Citys; the Rose Hills wore red shirts, with the name of the company in large white letters spread across fhe manly bosom of each member. With one or two exceptions, the membership of both companies was Irish. Our company out here for a number of years had a .scotchman. Joe McIlroy, as its head. And everybody liked him.
 Good Fellowship
 s@ But the good fellowship of all made a lasting impression upon our young mind. After the game, those men shook hands, and walked away to the nearby bar, with arms about each other to en- doy a cool refreshing drink of Hellmans good beer. Bars were located in the northwest section of the grounds, and there 1t was that the points of the games were discussed and belated, and the game played all over again. But no women were seen at the bar, or even with glass of beer in their hands. The law wouldn't allow 1t, and anyway, the pretty young girls present didn't even know the taste of the beverage served.
 Oh. yes, Charley Lee is dead and gone. He hadn't lived on the Hill in years. But in his thoughts he must have gone back at times to his young days. and the great fun he had as a member of the now passed out volunteer fire company. He was a quiet person, said very little; worked constantly ct his place of employment, and commanded the respect and good will of those with whom he asso- clated.
 He lived in e day when the greater lot of the Irish owned their own little homes up Bald- win street way, and when peace and friendship reAgned. True, they were morse and buggy" days, but just the same the people of the past got much merFiment and joy out of the hiring Of R rig from some one of the numerous Mvegymen Ia business in and around the ninetles. Only the ogher day we met little Tommy King. who uged to ylg up on out- at tog she eToung suulfls" ok so