WWI Veteran - US Army

Son of a Civil War Veteran
Trolley Driver (Motorman) and Bus Driver for CR&L in Norwalk Connecticut for 51 years from 1902 - 1954
Husband, Father, Grandfather
Member of the Norwalk Methodist Church



Our G Grandfather

Eugene, "Pa" to his family, served in WWI and married Ruth Ann Ralston. They had three children, two daughters Alma and Ruth, and one son Alvin B. Clark who passed away at only 17 years old.

Although devastated by the loss of their son, they were model parents and wonderful grandparents. It was Pa and Ruth Ann who stepped up and helped raise Alma's daughter and son when Alma's husband deserted the family. Alma and her children moved into the tiny little Craftsman house in Norwalk and somehow they all made it work.

Pa lived in that house until the day he died. His little corner in the living room consisted of a club chair, a smoking stand, and a little black and white TV on a table. He never complained and he always had a sweet smile for his Great Grandchildren.

Pa's granddaughter, Lois, liked to tell how Pa taught her to drive in his old Model T. It was Pa that walked her down the aisle on her wedding day. I wish I knew what he said to her on that day....

Eugene was a trolley driver in Norwalk, CT, and was a real character whose dry humor often came out at the most outrageous times. One day a reporter came to the house and interviewed Pa regarding his 50 years as a Trolley and Bus Driver. Pa never told anyone and when it appeared in the Sunday paper, we were all very surprised which gave him a good laugh. (Article Below)

Pa ate eggs and bacon every day of his life and smoked Chesterfield cigarettes until they stained his fingers --- he often chuckled at how long he was to live despite his diet.

He was terrific.



Thank you Miss Georgia for sponsoring Pa - he was a funny character and would have loved your sense of humor.


1900 CENSUS
Name: Eugene B Clark
South Norwalk city (southeast side), Fairfield, Connecticut
Birth Date: Jan 1881
Birthplace: Connecticut
Relationship to Head of Household: Son
Father's Birthplace: Canada Eng
Mother: Henrietta Clark
Mother's Birthplace: New York
Race or Color (expanded): White
Head-of-household Name: Henrietta Clark
Gender: Male
Marital Status: Single
Years Married:
Household Gender Age
Parent Henrietta Clark F
Eugene B Clark M
Jennie S Clark F


Norwalk Hour Newspaper circa 1965

Sixty-two years ago, a tall young man climbed aboard a single truck electric tolleycar with a gooseneck mechanical brake and headed out of the Woodward avenue carbarn of the Norwalk Tramway Col, for his first trip as a motorman.

His name is Eugene B. Clark who, on the day in March, 1901, was to begin 33 years of service as a motorman and to add to that 18 years service as a bus driver in this city.

Mr. Clark of 5 Lake Street is 83 years old now and has been retired since 1952 but he remembers, with great affection, the old trolley, half the size of the double truck cars which came in later in Norwalk.

"When I began," he said this week in his home, "It was only a little time since the electric trolley did away with the old horse-car. That gooseneck brake wasn't so good. It had to be wound up and it wasn't reliable."

"I operated the new yellow double truck trolleys as far east as Bridgeport, and as far west as Stamford." He said. "But we didn't go into Stamford in those early years because the line ended at the Halfway House in Darien. The passengers would get out, cross over the bridge and board the Stamford trolley."

"Later," Mr. Clark continued, "they extended the railroad railway over the bridge and I was the first from Norwalk to take a car of the bridge and into Stamford."

"In the summer time we changed from closed to open cars which were stored in the winter in the old barn on Meadow street."

Mr. Clark said he didn't think the switch to bus driving which came in 1934 made much difference to him. "I never had an accident in 51 years operating, streetcars and buses." He said "Those new brakes, especially the airbrakes made all the difference."

"I tell you," he said, "I think it's harder to drive now than back then."

Mr. Clark, a widower, has two daughters, four grandchildren and 12 great children.