The Waterbury Democrat., 1944-04-14
By the Out Easter

Ay SAbO Vub E8SWGE
 You have often heard and read of horse and buggy days" but no one in Waterbury was better acquainted with this era than Geo. H. Goodwin of 47 Grace ave- nue. whose death occurred on April 2 last. Everyone around Waterbury. at the turn of the cen- tury, heard of Goodwin'S carriage shop, located on the east side of Spring street, with long wooden ramps running from the ground to the paint and repair shops on the floors above.
 George Goodwin was the owner and manager of this business. He inherited 1t from his father, they said, who had conducted it for many years, with his son as his chief aid. Business was always brisk, just as you find or did find many auto repair shops in opera ton during the period automobiles were on the run, more than they are allowed to go today, due to gasoline rationing. There have been many automobile smash ups in past years. and repair shops have proSpered as & result of these mishapS. but in the old days, too there were hundreds of runaway horses, and as result the wagon to which they were attached, were badly damaged, as also were some innocent looking buggies hitched to horses standing in the gutter, involved as they became, by req son of no negligent act on their part. It was seldom there wasn't an accident or two following the Sunday funerals. we used to hold. Horse and buggies were popular conveyances. following the family hacks, and just as the procession broke up, non experienced drivers started on a wild ride on their way home.
 And when such buggies, busi- ness wagons, heavy trucks, and the like were damaged or lost a wheel or two. down to the Good win carriage shop were these vehi- cles taken. Goodwin's shop was more widely known than any other similar place in the city, 1t was so long in existence. Well-known old time townsmen. such as Sam- Uel w. Lowe, Brown the Halter, Tom Hayes. Dr. Thomas Bland, the Holmes family, father and sons, the Cherry street Camps, and others just like them. who owned and drove fast and sleet looking horses made Goodwin's shop their hang-out. waiting and watching that their riding buggies be made 1t as soon as possible. You often see automobile owners of the present day much put-out and disappointed when their cars are not ready to drive home in the early night. But none ever got SO mad aS the owner of a horse feeding In Q barn. and the family buggy laid up for repairs.
 We want this buggy in time for church. Sunday" was @ frequent ucU1uOO upOu MTs GOUuWlu, George simply smiled. promised nothing. but as Q rule the repairs were made in time to satisfy the owner.
 Spring street was Q busy thor oughfare in the days of the Y. Goodwin carriage shop: Woods blacksmith shop. filled to the doors with handsome driving horses. was at the other end of the street; Melgs and Trott's bakery was on the west side, around the corner from East Main street.; Orelle's pie Shop was also on tho west sidc. south of the Trott bakery, somewhere; there was always Q livery stable or two. including the popular one conducted by tho well known Hank LouckS, and other places of business which brought hundreds of people into the little highway, It certainly was e busy spot In the old town.
 George Goodwin smiled good natuEodly at Ru times. no matter