The Waterbury Democrat., 1943-10-28

MT. Pickett expects that the ifli- tial meeting of the promoters of the movement will be held in the near future and following e general dis cussion of the plan some definite program of action may be formu- lated. MT. Piokett's views are out- lined in the following letter:
 Orly two classes of people lived in Waterbury in early times, the Irish and the socalled Yankees.
 The Irish people owned all the property on the north, east, south and west sides of Pine Hill then known as the Abrigador and now called Washington Hill.
 In those days groups of pine trees grew on the summit of Pine Hill from which 1t is named together with other trees of every description. Long thick grass, flowers and sing ing birds of every species made @ pleasant atmosphere.
 "Ducks' Pond"
 On the lower levels us kids played ball, marbles, chase and numerous other games. On the upper levels known as Keefe'S lots the big fel- lows known as the Films and the Goodwills played baseball, football and other outdoor sports.
 On the extreme top of the hill is a large rock basin which contained rain water and was known as the Ducks Pond. In summer we made rafts from logs and waded in 1t. In winter us kids and many grown-up people used 1t to skate on. We al- ways kept large fire and were told to pick our license which meant to go and gather wood for the right to stand near the fire. Dan Parker wht is now a successful New York newspaperman was always one of our number.
 In those days the winters in this section of the country were longer and more severe than at present. The streets around the hill were steep and rough and the horse being the only mode of transportation it was hard to get coal and wood.
 The neighbors began to cut down the trees for fuel and Mrs. William Bergin who owned an interest in the land on the site near my home was kept busy entreating the men not to destroy the hill. When all the trees were gone there was noth- iug to retain the water and gradu- ally bare rock and gravel appeared and the hill now looks like an ugly formation after a beautiful build- ing has been removed.
 A short time ago @ cousin of mine from Boston came here on visit. Before her marriage she was a school teacher and spent many of her summer vacations here at my home. She was very fond of Pine Hill and many mornings would go up there to see the sunrise and. said it was more beautiful there than looking at 1t from a boat on the ocean. She was always picking up little stones to show the children in tho classroom.
 About the first things she did after reaching here was to have me accompany her Up on the hill.
 First Trip
 It was my first trip up there in about forty years. When as a boy I looked over at Town Plot, Willow St. section, Burnt Hill out-east and Simonsville there were only one or two houses in each direction. Now you gaze ct streets and avenues lined with houses in large circle which is the shape Of our city. From our position we gazcd down the slop- ing sides of the hill and it is like being on top of a funnel placed in the centcS of a large saucer. We were surprised to learn as a good many more may be that the top of Pine Hiil Is the actual center Of the city of Waterbury.
 We talked about reVivlng its former beauty by planting trees getting some from every state in the Union and from different countries ln the world llke they have up ln Roainn Common. Central Park and