Fire sirens screeched downtown yesterday afternoon as Jim Donovan, for 37 years a member of the
Fire Bureau, answered his last alarm.
As death came to "Jim" in St. Elizabeth Hospital, where he lay critically ill for more than two
weeks, the men he worked with for years as a fireman, lieutenant, captain and finally deputy
chief, roared out of the engine houses he knew so well, in response to a bell he never will hear
again.
James J. Donovan, 63, 1634 Brinckerhoff, retired June 20, 1928, is the way he appears on the Fire
Bureau records. But to thousands of Uticans to whom he personified the Fire Bureau he was known
as "Jim" Donovan, a cheerful, rotund, hearty soul with a friendly smile and a sharp Irish wit.
While his work in recent years as chief inspector of the Fire Prevention Committee kept him busy
preventing fires before they happened rather than rushing to put them out, Donovan in his time
earned an enviable reputation as a firefighter.
His career sponsored the development of the bureau from the horse-cart days to the most modern
motorized apparatus.
In that time -- from Dec. 1, 1900 to 1938 -- Donovan had a hand in fighting all the big fires
that swept Utica before the present era of rigid fire prevention made a big blaze a rarity.
However, his rescues and the brave actions of his earlier, smoke-eating days are unchronicled
for he was as reluctant to talk about his exploits in the Fire Bureau as he was about his
experiences in the Spanish-American War. He served in Battery K. Fifth Artillery.
But he would always stop to talk about the early days in the department, of the handicaps and
the fun of the old days: and when his "boys" made a good stop, he was glad to tell of their
work.
Deputy Chief Donovan was born in this city. He was educated in the old Assumption Academy
and later learned the trade of machinist. Upon his return from Spanish-American War service, he
was appointed to the Fire Bureau and started with No. 2 Truck, then stationed in Cooper St.
When No. 7 Engine House was opened to West Utica Feb. 1, 1906, Donovan was promoted to lieutenant
and transferred to the new house. He went back to No. 2 Truck Aug. 1, 1909, as captain and later
served in No. 2 Chemical Company and at Central Fire Station. He made a deputy chief July 18,
1916. In 1925, when Saftey Commissioner Sullivan was made fire chief, Donovan was appointed
chief inspector of the Fire Prevention Bureau, continuing in that post until ill health forced
him to retire last month.
Donovan was active in the Lisourn-Wheeler Camp, Spanish-American War Veterans, serving as
commander and holding offices in the state organization. He was prominent in the Fire Bureau
Officers Association and the Fireman's Benevolent Association in which he held several offices.
He was a member of St. John's Church and of its Holy Name Society. He was a member also of
Utica Lodge 22, BPOF, and Utica Council 189, Knights of Columbus of which he was past warden.
The Knights will gather at his home tomorrow night at 7:30 to recite the rosary.
He married twice. His first wife died many years ago and in 1932 he married Miss Margaret Murphey
who survives with a daughter, Margaret Ann.
He leaves three sisters, Mrs. Mary A. Scanlon and Mrs. William Brixius, Utica; Mrs. Jesse
Armstrong, Rome; three brothers John, William and Ald. Gerald F. Donovan, Utica.
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