Saturday ceremony will honor the service, sacrifice of Edward Farrar
October 8, 2023 | By Lisa ScagliottiIf you pay attention to local government in Waterbury, there are often references to a public servant whose story likely goes unknown by many.
Edward Farrar’s grave marker at Hope Cemetery. Courtesy photo
Edward Farrar is the namesake for the municipal water and wastewater utility district that formed in 2018 when the village government was dissolved, leaving two key departments in its place.
The village officials at the time transitioned to the new governmental entity and chose to honor Farrar by giving the district his name that has since been widely shortened to its acronym, EFUD.
Fortunately for Farrar, former village trustees president and current EFUD Commission Chair P. Howard “Skip” Flanders is a local history buff. Flanders has led an effort to commemorate Farrar’s service and sacrifice by recounting at various utility district and other meetings the story of Farrar’s untimely demise while on the job as a sewer commissioner in 1904.
On Thursday, Oct. 13, 1904, Farrar suffered fatal injuries when a sewer line trench he was helping dig on Elm Street caved in, crushing his body. According to newspaper accounts at the time (see clippings below), he was pulled from the scene quickly but efforts by local doctors failed to save him.
Next Saturday, Oct. 14 – 119 years and a day after Farrar’s death – a special ceremony will be held starting at 1 p.m. at Hope Cemetery in downtown Waterbury to honor Farrar. A special commemorative plaque will be unveiled on his grave marker.
Organized by the utility district and the Waterbury Historical Society, it will include remarks by Flanders, Waterbury Public Works Director Bill Woodruff and a closing benediction by Rev. Peter Plagge from the Waterbury Congregational Church.
A tent and chairs will be provided for attendees.
Any questions beforehand can be directed to Flanders at wtbskip@comcast.net.
