The Waterbury Democrat., 1943-07-21
BY THE OUT EASTER

We had written about him be- fore, but the copy became lost, and so we are writing again to remind the people that when Geo. J. Corden of 29 Wales St. died short time ago, Out East lost one of its old-time residents, and one probably better versed in the his- tory of the district than anyone we know now living out here.
 George Corden was a Wall street Corden; he was born there lived there, and knew the old-time residents of that street from baby to parents. Of course, that was some years ago, and before he moved to the part of the section he had made his home for number of years past. The old Corden homestead stood on the east side of Wall St. directly op- posite Laurel St.; there were gar dens to the rear of the home, and also in a plot of ground beyond the stone wall, and running along Taylor St., also owned by the family, where vegetables of all kinds were raised for the big household the Cordens had in those days. And just north of the path in the yard were large shady trees, where the young of that day enjoyed themselves in a couple of old fashioned swings hanging from the branches of a stately old Elm. And this was really the playground of all of the children of the neighborhood. They were all welcome, too, even though now and then some occa- s1onally forgot themselves and ran through the garden. But the family never found fault; the father and mother seemed to like the presence of the children and often filled their little arms with the fruits of the garden to take home.
 That's the way George Corden was brought up. friendly to his neighbor by the good deed of his parents, and kind to all of the young.
 There was a military bearing to George Corden as he stepped along the street; tall and erect, he had the appearance of one well trained In the art of maneu vers. As to that, however, we were never informed, but we do know he was one of that gallant lot of volunteer firemen who eblonged to Brass City, No. 6. This company was formed over 50 years ago by some of the young men of the eastern part of the city. Brook lyn had one, so did the Abrigador, and then it was a demand was made for one in this section. Ob- lection was raised, they say, but nevertheless the plans went through and the organization per- fected. George became one of the members; other volunteers wore the famous red shirts, but the Brass City adopted the same blue uniform as worn by the present day f1remen. There were other tall men in the company like Tommy Crannell, Eddie Cummings, Bill Keenan, Eddie Gallagher, Tom Behan, and Eddie Pagan. These members were always out on of- ficial parade day, and were com monly known as "the pole men" That is to say they walked with a large flag like pole in front of them, pushing, as it were, with long white braided rope on either end of the pole, and held by the other members as they dragged the handsomely decorated hose cart along the street. These fellows were all a proud lot on this official day of inspection. They looked their prettiest, be- cause they were on parade, and besides had to undergo the eagle eye of the Mayor and the fire commissioners. Every fire com missioner from that day to the present has always possessed an Eagle eye, it Is claimed.
 George Corden saw Old Out East change greatly from year to year. He was around when the Meriden- Waterbury railroad was built in the late eighties; he must have seen the Sacred Heart church formally opened about the same time. and he remembered the time few outside of the old American families and the Irish constituted the family groups out here.
 It is just a similar case of an- other Out Easter going the way of many others. George will join associates who walked with him