The Waterbury Democrat., 1944-03-24
Death Flags Veteran
 Railroader; LL Cronar,
Forty-Eight Eventful Years Spent in Service Deceased Personally Acquainted With
 Historic Developments = Held
 Respect, Esteem of Associates.

ton abSut noon of each day. We can almost see the travelling men throwing their baggage checks at Bill Peters and Bill Boucher, ex- pressmen of the day, who had a pee-wee office in the center just south of where the famed Hodson restaurant once stood. Charley Haugh afterwards took 1t over, com- ing from the baggage office of the New England railroad, where he met and had the confidence of the same travelling men that once pa tronized Peters and Boucher. Many times he sat in Bill Peters express wagon for the opportunity to ride to the station and see the train pull into the depot. Around 35 years ago big railroad changes were made, and the present station con- Structed from the viewpoint of Ital- ian architecture, as we understand. But the old depot with its attractive eating establishment on the north end, and the baggage room on the other end served thousands of peo- pie coming and going from Water bury from the beginning of the New England railroad in the early part of the eighties until its re- moval.
 We met MT. Cronan on the rail- road upon many occasions. As a rule. you would find him on the Hartford train, because this had been his run for many years. That is, he would leave here in the morning, wait over awhile. and then return to Waterbury. It was seldom, if ever. one saw him on the Bridgeport train.
 As we have related, we have @ fond feeling for the railroad man. We felt that way in boyhood, and we feel the same way today. Re- member back years ago when the R. J. Costello lodge of railroad men was so active in the city; when the members held an annual ball at the old City Hall or the Audi torium, and when the dance was at tended by all or most of the fam fly of each member. It was meet ing of close and dear friends. Rather reserved and quiet in his way, MT. Cronan was not much of 8 person to discuss questions, unfamiliar to him. He was a stick Ter for doing just the work out lined for him, and was recognized as one of the careful men of the railroad; he never took a chance on account of the responsibilities of the position he held. He was a thorough and pains-taking en- ploye, fully conversant with the laws governing a common carrier.
 Tn all of his years, there was never 8 complaint lodged against MT. Cronan; on the contrary. many complimentary letters were received by the company officials concerning him. We know, too. that Supt. Herbert s. Lake, during the time he was at the helm. always had pleasant word for Johnny Cronan, as he referred to him. And in our estimation no man knew railroads and railroad employees better than MT. Lake. He was the man in- strumental in bringing two fast ex- press trains through Waterbury daily for travellers to Boston and also to New York, around 30 years ago.
 MT. Cronan was a good and sub stantial citizen. faithful and hon. est to his employer, a fine family man. and pleasant and interest ing conversationaliSt. He was not fiowery. of course. just one of the line old fashioned type of citizens