Anne McLean

HOMES: Brooklyn, New York until her marriage, then Watertown,Connecticut until she died at the age of 88

BIOGRAPHICAL DATA: She lived a very interesting life in Brooklyn, NewYork as a child and young adult, her father being a fascinating manwith friends far and wide and of an eclectic variety. He apparentlyentertained many people at their home, not the least of which werepolitical types which gave her a strong interest in affairs ofgovernment and unbending convictions about most things in life. Shewas considered the grand dame of Watertown for decades, living in thebig white house on the green most of her life. Her home was thecenter of town for most residents and activity was constant at theirhome. She was extremely energetic with her civic duties as well andhad many friends in the surrounding counties. She was famous for herall night bridge games in her later years with her cronies. Hergrandchildren remember her as very opinionated and strong, but lovingand solicitious to them without fail. You can just see the sparkle inher eyes in most photographs taken of her.

Always highly spoken of by Watertown people was Conductor ClarenceCook, whose friendly ways and willingness to do such favors as holdingthe train for late arriving passengers, won him many friends in histhirty-one years of service. Mr. Cook retired on pension about 1910after being injured in a fall from a defective freight car ladder. Hehad been in charge of the first train to reach Oakville from Waterburyafter the great blizzard of 1888. Conductor Frederick Dickerman was incharge of the train that opened the line from Watertown to Oakvillethat same day. Also pleasantly remembered by former passengers wasConductor Charles W. Munson, who served the Naugatuck and New HavenRailroads for fifty-nine years until his retirement in 1940. He beganservice on the Watertown Branch in 1906, held the passenger runregularly after the retirement of Clarence Cook, and was in charge ofthe last passenger train to operate on the line in 1924.

MOST DISTINGUISHED PASSENGER

Probably the most distinguished passenger carried by the railroad wasPresident William Howard Taft, who made several trips over the line tovisit his brother, Horace D. Taft, Headmaster of the Taft School. ThePresident's trip in 1909, for the purpose of attending the funeral ofMrs. Horace D. Taft, was recalled by many. Leaving Washington late inthe afternoon of December 17, the President's private car, "Colonial"arrived in Waterbury at 8:30 A.M. the following day, and wasimmediately switched to the regular Watertown train, in charge ofConductor Cook, with Engineer Tom Fray at the throttle. ConductorCook, when asked how it felt to be carrying the President of theUnited States, replied; "Well, this isn't the first time the Presidenthas ridden my train. The last time he came up here, when he wasGovernor of the Philippines, he rode in the passenger coach just likean ordinary person." First to board the train at Watertown was thePresident's twelve year old son, Charles Phelps Taft, who, accordingto one account, bounded up the steps, only to be collared by asuspicious Secret Service agent. According to the newspaper account,however, the boy was immediately recognized and admitted to the car.After visiting with his son for a few minutes, the President emergedwith two Secret Service agents, his aide Captain Archibald Butt, andAssistant Secretary Mischler. Mrs. John Buckingham's closed carriagewas waiting, and the President delighted the coachman, WilliamHanning, by shaking hands with him. Mr. Hanning is said to haveproudly declared he would never was his hands again! Difficulties wereencountered when the President, who weighed over three hundred pounds,tried to squeeze through the carriage door and became stuck. Avigorous shove from behind by Capt. Butt, however, solved the problem.The crowd at the station included about half the population of thetown, but, because of the sadness of the occasion, there were nocheers or other demonstrations.

The President's return trip started that night at 10:50, the privatecar being attached to a special train which was handled by EngineerHarry Gates and Conductor William Barnes. The train ran without stopto Bridgeport, where the "Colonial" was attached to the FederalExpress for Washington.

FROM: http://www.watertown-ct.org/Historical_Soc/Wtn._RR.htm