“Bernard F. McCormick, a well known merchant tailor in this city for a number of years and chief of the Ithaca Fire Department In 1897 and 1898, died last evening at the residence of his sister, Mrs. George Gordon, 1?9 South Meadow street. He was 54 years old and had been in poor health for the last 16 years.
Mr. McCormick was born June 20, 1868, in this city, and had lived here all of his life. In about 1890 he took a clerkship in Benjamin Rich’s clothing store on East State street and remained with that concern for about five years after which he opened a merchant tailoring shop over the jewelry store of A. B. Kennedy also on East State street.
After being there a short time he went into partnership with Harry Michaelson and they opened a store at 222 East State street. Later he purchased Mr. Michaelson’s interest in the business. About 16 years ago Mr. McCormick retired from business because of ill health and sold his merchant tailoring establishment to the firm of Kohm & Brunne, which now occupies the original location at 222 East State street.
In his younger days, Mr. McCormick was an ardent volunteer fireman, being a member of Hose Company No. 1. In 1896 he was elected first assistant chief of the Ithaca Fire Department and was chief during the two succeeding years. His staff of assistant in 1897 consisted of Adam Emig and Charles A. Ives and in 1898 of Dr. Ives and James A. Sullivan, both of whom later became chiefs.
Mr. McCormick was a member of the A?un council of the Knights of Columbus. His wife died August 13, 1922.
He leaves a brother, John McCormick, and two sisters, Miss Mary McCormic [sic] and Mrs. George Gordon, all of the city.
The funeral will be held from the Gordon residence at 8:30 o’clock tomorrow morning and at 9 o’clock from the Church of the Immaculate Conception.”
“B. F. McCormick Dies Following Long Illness,” Ithaca Journal-News, November 20, 1922, 5.