The Waterbury Democrat., 1944-02-18
BY THE OUT EASTER


 If we were a member or in any way identified with the church of the Sacred Heart, we think we might have suggested a fitting eulogy to the late Mrs. Georginna G. Wolff of 37 Laurel street whose funeral was held on last Monday morning. No one did more in the years gone by for the success of the parish than did Mrs. Wolff. We who have spent all of the years of our life out here know this; the history of the church, as compiled from year to year, must contain or show it. Surely, this data must be available, at all times, from the church historian. Perhaps we have no standing in offering even a suggestion.
 The Choir Members
 But we knew Mrs. Wolff; we know what she did, even if we were on the outside, because we mixed with the boys of the neigh borhood, and ran errands not only for the organist herself, but for all of the choir members. Mrs. Wolff was the conductor of the great choir from the very beginning, un- der the pastorship of the late Rev. Hugh Treanor, who knew everyone out here in his day, whether a member or not. Father Treanor himself loved music, and never hesitated to pay for the services rendered. Apparently, he believed in first class music, for in the years he was at the helm, his church was noted for the high class soloiSts it possessed, along with a substantial chorus. Every new mass composition was secured at the start, and the choir trained weekly in its rehearsals for it's rem dition. We shall never, forget the Sundays or the Easter and Christ mas music when Hallam'S or Der gins orchestras joined with the choir in the rendition of the musi- {. cal program of the day. Every seat in the church was filled, hundreds of non Catholics, were there fol- lowers of music from all parts of the city, and men and women of prominence. We could give names, if we cared, for we joined with the Catholic boys of the church, In securing this information, and transmitting it to the pastor. Of course we didn't know these people personally or what their business was: all we had to do was to find out who these people were, some of these names we can still recall. We remember the leading figures of the choir, too, for in our day around, we seemed delighted Ill taking messages to their places of business or to their homes. For instance, there was big M. J. Daly, head of the firm of M. J. Daily and Sons, singer of note, and who never missed any of the many re- hearsals held. The rides in the back of his horse and wagon are remembrances of boy-hood days. The silk gowns of the handsome soprano soloists Miss Margaret Farrell, we can recall, for the number of times she called upon us to carry messages to her home in and about Scovill street. And then Mrs. Wm. Bergin, who was always the soloist at the services held for the dead. Many times, It was our custom to relay a message to the Bergin home around Ridge street to inform her of the mass to be celebrated the following morn- ing. MT. James Strong was another we saw, but had little contact with: we hardly remember him. But we knew the late Michael J. McEvoy very well; we met him In after years, or when we had grown out of boy-hood, to have him re- late some of the times he saw us running here and there for his as- sociateS in the choir. MT. Cornelius Maloney, head of the Waterbury Democrat, was also associated with the choir, and very often 1t was our lot to transmit copy from the church rectory to his office. And such kindness; MT. Maloney never let us lcdVC WAG1lOuV O AAV"AS SN~AA pensation for our long walk from Out East to the Democrat office.
 The Annual Fair
 The old parish had 8 mighty struggle in its early days. The debt was heavy by reason of the cost of the handsome little church, and ways and means had to be found to meet the annual obligations. One of the annual events was the regular church fair always held some time in the month of Mo- vember for a week or ten days, Every family attended at least once during the period. including all able to walk.
 In those days, homemade en- tertainment was provided, ana every would-be tumbler, or aero bat. or singer was heard on the program. We used to think 1t wonderful to watch the perform X CTS from in front of the gas lights on the front of the old City Hall stage, and see them bend back < Y,nfu,aav, t,wn. chairs and pick up