The Waterbury Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1917-1946, 1943-12-29
BY THE OUT EASTER

Years ago, everybody In the city
dotted their hats to a city uniformed
fireman. That was in the days when
the horses were in the service of the
fire department, and when the few
permanent men employed were ex-
pert drivers, and had their charges
SO we'll trained that all of the grown
up, boys and girls who visited the
old Scovill street station, thought
there was no one in town like q
uniformed fireman.
We wonder today just what the
public thinks about the present per-
sonnet of the department, but it is
our belief that the people really rec
ognizes the real worth of our good
and faithful firemen, and have a
fond feeling for them every time
they see them ON the street or
fighting fire. Our firemen today,
we feel, are a fine lot of men, alert,
active, and smart, and well tutored
through the combined efforts of
Chief Thomas Cavanaugh, his depu-
ties, Martin j. Campion and Stephen
j. Bloomfield, and the acting deputy
and drillmaster, Joseph j. Kelley.
We write this because it is in
line with what we are going to say
about Captain Dennis F. Dunn, re-
tired, whose funeral took place
Tuesday morning. Captain Dunn
was one of the last of THE Old
Guard" He came into the depart
ment in 1899 when the tote of paid
men numbered Is. But there were
lots of volunteers and callmen, to
aid the regular force in time of
serious trouble. But fighting fire
then was different from what we
observe today. And in addition, Wa
terbury has more fires now than 1t
had 40 years ago.
On Old Canal Line
Denny" Dunn was born in King
ston, New York state. In his early
days, he was a ''tow-boy" on the
old canal boats piled along the banks
OF the Hudson river as it narrowed
down from the main stream. From
there, he eventually came to Wa
terbury, and in time became q MEM
Der of the Waterbury fire depart
ment.
His first assignment was to Hook
and Ladder company No. l, of Scovill
street; then he was switched to the
Engine company, No. 2 in the same
station as driver. And from here ne
went to the Brooklyn station, or
Engine company, No. 3, year or
two later. There he stayed until he
was transferred to the Bureau of
Fire Alarm, as a signal operator.
Like all of the men assigned as
driver, Denny Dunn knew his horse;
he knew the animals whims, traits,
and makeup. These horses were all
big dapple grays, bought most of the
time from the big Bainey stables In
Newark, N. j. After being installed
here, 1t required little time on the
part OF Mr.. Dunn and the others to
properly train the horses to respond
to the signal alarm, and take their
place underneath the falling harness.
Thousands of people, in Waterbury,
IN the old days, stood on the STAIR
way, and watched the horses come
OUT when 1t was the custom to
sound the signal daily at 8 D. m.
And to the many Of the younger
lot, this was the most thrilling ex-
perience Of their life. Every Wa
terbury kid" of 40 years ago was
taken to the Scovill street station to
see the eight horses rush from their
stalls, and take their position at
the head of 1.-The steamer, the long
hook and ladder truck and the hose
wagon. Mr.. Dunn was always OBJ
served and identified with his I'M
portant part Of the daily program,
and to many of the young COOKERS
on" was the hero of the hour.
Friendly Nature
This was mainly due to his pleas
ant ways, his kindly feeling toward
the little Ones" including his own
children, and their little friends in
and all about the city. He was kind
and generous to them because he
answered each and every question
without a snarl, and loved to do so.
Many times, he brought them up to
within a short distance of the horse,
so that they might pat the animals
head. One doesn't forget these
things as the years roll around.
The young Of yesterday are today
what he was then, and in time. they,
too, will reach the age probably
that carried Mr.. Dunn off this face
of the earth. Time does this to all
of us, yet there are people, who
think they are so young today that
old age will never reach them.
Twenty years from now they will
wonder about all Of the years of the
past.
Captain Dunn had a good life:
he reared a fine family; he was
good and kind father, and was so
recognized by all of the members
OF the household. He dressed well.
lived well, and saw to it that the
larder was never empty. He en-