RETIRED FIREMEN HONORED — At the Norwood fire station last Thursday night, two of Norwood’s firefighters, Bertram Sparrow and William Travers, who have retired, were given a testimonial banquet. Among those seated at the head table were (left to right) Mr. and Mrs. Bertram Sparrow, Gene Charron, toastmaster; the Rev. Christopher P. Griffin, Mr. and Mrs. William Travers and their daughter Mary.
Two veteran members of the Norwood Fire Department, William Travers and Bertram Sparrow, who have retired from active duty with the department, were given a joint testimonial banquet in the Norwood fire station last Thursday night with close to 300 of their friends and members of their families in attendance.
The apparatus was moved out onto Central Street to make way for the affair with a Holman-catered chicken pie dinner being served.
Senior fireman Francis Hayes, on behalf of the gathering, presented firemen Travers and Sparrow with purses of money, and Fire Chief Alonzo N. Earle gave each a gold fireman’s badge.
Genial Gene Charron was toastmaster and his witty repartee kept the large audience in a gay mood.
An orchestral group from the Norwood high school supplied music, and entertainment was furnished by Hazel Grennan and Gail Riley, singers, and Bobby Pearl, a miniature song and dance man. John Griffin and William Travers, Jr., also sang songs, and Tom Rice played several selections on the “sweet potato.”
The Rev. Christopher Griffin, Bishop-Designate Jeremiah F, Minihan, Alec Abdallah, Harry Butters, and Town Clerk Walter Blasenak all spoke words of praise for the retired firefighters.
Two members of the Travers family were unable to be present. Mrs. Jean Mogk, their daughter, is living in Puerto Rico, and their son, Teddy, is with the armed forces in Korea.
(All articles were originally published in the Norwood Messenger unless otherwise noted)
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