USA > Massachusetts > Tracing the telephone in western Massachusetts, 1877-1930 > Part 17
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The Dec., 1922 Topics reported a regrettable retirement:
"Sted" Retires
"No man in the telephone business ever retired with more friends than William H. Stedman, who has been more than 43 years in the service of our Company. He retired on Nov. 1, 1922, but is still retained in an advisory capacity at the North Adams office.
"His sound business judgment, his wit and his genial per-
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sonality made him an ideal Manager for our Company. Pho- tography is his hobby."
Lovell B. Stowe, formerly District Commercial Manager at Springfield and a great admirer of "Sted," wrote the follow- ing for Topics: " 'Sted,' as he is affectionately called by every- body, is famed for his quaint wit, his emphatic speech, his resourcefulness, and his many generous and lovable qualities. To recite all his exploits would fill several large books. One amusing and typical incident happened years ago when col- lection work was largely done by a screw driver. The idea occurred to 'Sted' to send out to subscribers, in arrears, a dis- connection notice in a square plain envelope, with a heavy black border. The scheme worked bully. The subscribers were so relieved when they opened their letters and found no one was really dead, that they hustled right down to 'Sted's' office and paid their bills in full, without any hard feeling. His efforts to uplift the Williams College students by a forcible prevention of their use of cigarettes excited much admiration. For original conceptions and unique methods, 'Sted' is hard to beat."
W. S. Knox, who had been acting Manager at Palmer since the death of Manager Chamberlain, was appointed Manager at North Adams. Mr. Knox had a wide experience in the tele- phone business having served in the Traffic and Commercial Depts. for a number of years.
Miss Ida C. Allard was appointed Chief Operator at Wil- liamstown in March, 1923, succeeding Miss Agnes N. Has- tings.
In the Sept., 1923, Topics, appeared some interesting news regarding the Savoy exchange: "For more than sixteen years Savoy Center has been the site of the Telephone exchange of that little town, but it is no more. Savoy Hollow now has the honor, with Mr. Kane, the Agent, right on the job giving good service to 62 subscribers served by this little office. In 1907 when the Savoy office was opened it had four lines and 26 sub- scribers. Everyone enjoyed party line service.
"Today they have a total of 62 subscribers. Mr. Kane has been a very grateful and efficient employee and has received nothing but the best of praise from all of his subscribers. The
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old stamping ground of the exchange in Savoy Center was sold by Mr. Kane last month. Both Mr. Kane and the exchange have moved to their new quarters in Savoy Hollow, about two miles from their former location."
Orator: "And where, I ask you, is Julius Caesar? Where is Attila, the Hun? Where are Moses, Oliver Cromwell, Char- lemagne, Hannibal?"
Usher: "Stand up, boys, so the gentleman can see you." Topics
April, 1925, Topics-"Myrtle Hammond retired March 1st as Chief Operator at Adams, after serving the Company loyally and well for 35 years. Mrs. Hammond's years of service were spent at the Adams exchange, where in the early days of her employment she was the only operator, and in addition she handled the Commercial work of the office. During this period she has seen the Exchange grow from 50 subscribers to more than 1600.
"On February 26, at the Berkshire Club in North Adams, a banquet was held in honor of the retiring Chief Operator and was attended by more than 50 employees including Ralph E. Jones, District Traffic Manager; Robert D. Fuller, Pitts- field Manager; Harold B. Ransehousen, Manager at Adams and North Adams; William H. Stedman, former Manager at North Adams, and Chief Operators from Pittsfield, Dalton, North Adams and Williamstown. Mrs. Hammond was pre- sented with a mahogany davenport table by her many friends.
"Leona Dupree, who succeeds Mrs. Myrtle Hammond has been employed by the Company for the past twelve years and is regarded as a most capable operator, having worked under Mrs. Hammond's guidance as Junior Supervisor for the past eight years."
Robert M. Hodgson was transferred from Manager at West- field to North Adams as Manager in February, 1926. "Bob" joined the Company July 9, 1923, as a Collector at Greenfield. On July 26, 1924, he was transferred to the Springfield Com- mercial office for further training; and from there he received his appointment as Manager at Westfield in November, 1924.
Frederick Holden was transferred from Boston to the North Adams office as a Collector in May, 1926.
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Charlesworth K. Neilson also became a Collector at the North Adams office in November, 1926.
William H. Stedman, one of the few remaining pioneers of the telephone business, died on April 1, 1927, at North Adams. A long article was written for Topics by L. B. Stowe paying tribute to "Sted," most of which has appeared in previous pages.
The following article taken from the August, 1927, Topics, will give an idea of an important commercial project: "Word comes from the Western Division that Manager Hodgson of North Adams came through last month with a sales job, selling subscribers on unfilled two-party lines one party serv- ice, that we are certainly pleased to hear about: canvassed, 100; sold, 48; increased revenue, $432; selling percent, 48%. In addition, 21 parties have been regrouped, giving that many additional circuits for new business. Mr. Hodgson was assisted by Mr. Robert Harvie, line assigner."
What is known as the "Vermont Flood" started on Wednes- day, Nov. 2, 1927, and Telephone Topics describes the effect this inundation had on North Adams:
Results of Vermont Flood
"Telephone men in North Adams worked rapidly in re- storing local service after the waters had receded from the streets. Of the 5300 telephones in the city, about 4000 were out of service for several hours. The majority of these tele- phones were working on Sunday, and all were restored to full service on Wednesday.
"Most of the trouble was caused by the breaking of a 400 pair underground cable, crossing a new concrete bridge over the Hoosac River, which was washed away. A temporary cable was suspended with four splices, while it was still raining heavily, and the men stood in water all the time.
"Frank Viens, Testman at North Adams, worked from Thursday night until Sunday night with about eight hours sleep. All the rest of the men worked long hours. Following a preliminary survey of the damage, made by Wire Chief Mur- ray White, work progressed in an orderly way.
"Miss Minnie Austin, Chief Operator, remained in the
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office for thirty-one hours, from Thursday noon to Friday night.
"District Manager Ransehousen, unable to return to Pitts- field, worked on the local board from about six o'clock Thurs- day evening to 8 o'clock Friday morning. Commercial Repre- sentative Louis Fontain and several operators worked all night because the high water would not allow them to leave the office."
Charles H. Bauer was appointed Manager at North Adams in October, 1928, succeeding Robert M. Hodgson. Mr. Bauer joined the Company at Pittsfield Oct. 13, 1924, as a Collector, according to Topics, and became Manager at Great Barring- ton May 3, 1926. After about a half year in North Adams, "Buckie" reported to the General Sales Manager in Boston.
Margaret B. Phelps, a toll operator at North Adams, entered the employ of the Company in 1921 and made the remarkable record of perfect attendance from that time until 1929. She is well known in the community where she is esteemed both by her business associates and those whom she serves.
Another function occurred, which Topics of April, 1930, described: "On March 4th, a dinner and sales meeting was held by the North Adams local plant forces. Following a steak dinner, Wire Chief Murray White acted as toastmaster, and talks were made by General Sales Manager Richard S. Whit- comb, District Plant Chief George Wright, District Commer- cial Manager Robert D. Fuller, District Traffic Manager David H. Hall and Manager Carrol S. Parker. Good food, good talks, good music and a good time."
CHAPTER 17
Great Barrington Exchange Area
THE telephone service at Great Barrington was commended highly by the Berkshire Courier soon after the organization of the New England Telephone and Telegraph Company: "The telephonic service by which the returns of Tuesday's elections was received, and given to the public through the Courier of- fice, was admirable, both in conduct and results, and we desire to make due acknowledgments to C. G. Tompkins, Supt. of the Berkshire circuit and Mrs. Newman, his very capable and obliging Assistant, and to George F. Upham and Miss Callie Gallup, of the Great Barrington central office, for their successful efforts to serve both ourselves and the public as faithfully and promptly as they did on Tuesday afternoon and evening."
The Courier continued to express its wonder of the tele- phone: The Courier office has been in successful communica- tion for business and social purposes, during the past week, with Springfield, Holyoke, Albany, and Hudson, the conversa- tions, in every instance, being so well maintained as to be able to recognize the voice of the person with whom it was being held. It almost takes one's breath away to think of this marvel of marvels, and as we witness the wonderful achieve- ments of the telephone, we are led to ask, "What next?" A pertinent question to ask and the breath may well come slowly while waiting for an answer.
The Lee exchange is mentioned in the Republican of April 15, 1884: "The telephone office will be moved this week to Baird and Benton's Block. There are now over 60 subscribers
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and the line will soon be extended to the creamery on the Tyringham road."
Some time or other F. R. Tucker became Manager of the Lee exchange.
Dec. 31, 1884, Courier-New Marlboro, Mill River, Harts- ville and Monterey are getting ready to shout "Hello" to one another and to their neighbors. The poles are being got ready for the new line, and Landlord Tuttle, of New Marlboro, is stirring vigorously in the matter, with the prospect of having the line in speaking connection at an early day.
Dec. 31, 1884, Courier-The New England Telephone Co. and the Connecticut Telephone Co. have finally come together and have joined wires between Sheffield and Ashley Falls, and last Friday conversation was carried on between Pittsfield and Hartford. This extension will be of a great accommodation to quite a number in this vicinity, and establishes a trunk line through this State and Connecticut and in the near future we shall probably be in direct communication with New York.
Topics spoke of James H. Barry being appointed Manager at Great Barrington in 1886. He had started as an Inspector in the Pittsfield exchange but was called back to his native town.
It wasn't long before Edward S. 'Felter took Mr. Barry's place as Manager at Great Barrington, and Mr. Barry con- tinued his telephone career nearer the "Hub."
In March, 1894, the Courier announced that a competing company was being organized,-The Mutual Telephone Ex- change Company of Great Barrington. It was planned later to have connection in every town in South Berkshire, with a trunk line through the county. The promoters were confident that they could introduce a better system than the one now in use, and at a greatly reduced cost. The use of copper metallic circuits, aerial cables, and the elimination of the battery were the chief factors. The officers of the Company were: President, Henry W. Pope, of New York; Treasurer, E. S. Robeson; Sec- retary, Leslie Lupton, both of Rahway, N.J.
Canvassing was thoroughly done by E. F. Choate, a New York gentleman, and much of the $5,000 capital sold was taken by local parties. The switchboard will be on the second
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floor of the Whiting building. J. R. Cowan had charge of the construction of the exchange.
The May 10, 1894, Courier reported the New England Com- pany was placing solid-back long distance transmitters (a new style using granular carbon) in all the pay stations in Mon- terey, New Marlboro, Sheffield and Housatonic; and one will be established in the South Egremont post office, and a sum- mer pay station at the Mount Everett House. The New Marl- boro Inn is to have a long distance instrument, and J. P. Schunder & Co., of this town, to have a Blake transmitter. The total number of instruments in use is 59, the greatest number in the exchange's history.
The Courier reported that the Mutual Telephone Co. will be under the management of the recently organized electrical firm of Evans & Whitwell and will pass under their control on its completion.
D. P. Healey, for some time employed in the local office, has accepted a position as Inspector in Burlington, Vt.
The Courier announced that the new telephone exchange was put in operation June 25, 1894, and was in full working order. Miss Sadie Whitwell was the day operator. The mag- neto switchboard was the invention of H. M. Pope.
Morris Jones was appointed Chief Operator of the Great Barrington exchange. His sister, Miss Fanny Jones, and Birdie Almonte were his assistants.
The Mutual Telephone Co. found it necessary to substitute cables for the copper wires that were first strung about the town, and the change, according to the Courier, will make the local exchange one of the best equipped in the state. A list of Mutual's subscribers was given, which numbered about forty- five.
The Nov. 29, 1894, Courier reported that Pittsfield had a new telephone and telegraph company, similar to the Mutual Company in this town.
April 25, 1895, the Courier stated that the New England Company made a further reduction of $9 per year on tele- phones on grounded lines in the Great Barrington exchange, and L. C. Raifstanger was canvassing for new subscribers. It was thought that a line would be run to Alford.
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Tracing the Telephone in Western Massachusetts
May 2, 1895, the Courier said that the Mutual Company has replaced its magneto instruments with improved battery telephones that are giving very good satisfaction.
On October 1, 1895, the New England Company opened an exchange at Stockbridge. Regular subscribers at Great Barrington were allowed free service, until further notice, with subscribers of the Stockbridge exchange (public stations excepted) in place of free service with the Lee exchange, which has been discontinued.
It was a surprise to read in the February 27, 1896, Courier that there was a well-founded rumor afloat that the Mutual Telephone Co. would be controlled by the New England Com- pany, and that the negotiations would probably be far enough along by next week to be made public.
EXIT THE MUTUAL TELEPHONE
March 5, 1896, Courier-Last Friday all the property formerly belonging to the Mutual Telephone Company and owned by H. J. Mignerey, was sold to the New England Tele- phone Co. The work has been begun of removing the wires, etc., which, with the instruments, will be shipped to Boston.
Mr. Mignerey states that it was his intention when he bought the property to continue the business, and at that time he had no idea of selling to the old company. This step leaves the field entirely to the New England Company. (Mr. Mignerey's name appeared quite often in connection with business transactions.)
The New England Co. now felt it could spend some money in rewiring the town: A pole line will be established at the north end and will run down Main Street. The wires will be removed from the trees. New pole lines will be established on all of the important streets, and the wires will reenter the exchange in cables. It is expected that the service will be im- proved by the new arrangement.
The telephone office was moved to the Berkshire Build- ing early in March, 1899, where it enjoyed the company of the post office, telegraph, and a stock broker's office. Con- versation was interrupted for but 40 minutes. Seventy-five
Tracing the Telephone in Western Massachusetts 209
wires had to be connected and tested before the exchange was in working order.
July 17, 1902, the Courier reported: The New England Telephone Co. are fixing up their new quarters in the new Berkshire Block and E. S. Felter, the Manager, hopes to move in by August 1st. Their men have been stretching a special line to Housatonic and changing local wires.
July 31, 1902, Courier: The New England Telephone Co. has stretched through the village a large single lead cable con- taining 60 wires. This will do away with the net work of 30 small wires and two cross arms being placed on the new poles. The telephones on the east side of Main Street will now be connected from a cable at the rear of the blocks on that side of the streets.
There were numerous items in the Courier telling of the car barn being built on Park Street and the construction of the Berkshire Street Railway. The long awaited event arrived and was a gala affair. The Company's first passenger-carrying car arrived from Pittsfield Nov. 19, 1902, passing the Courier office on Main Street at 2:43 P.M.
About 1905 the Company installed a small switchboard in Housatonic, in the Lennon's Drug Store, now the Housatonic Pharmacy.
Mary Tracy joined the Company March 18, 1906, as an Operator, and contributed to the success of the Lee exchange.
The Telephone Topics made its debut in May, 1907, which filled a long felt need.
The Stockbridge Exchange was equipped with a three posi- tion magneto switchboard by the Construction Dept. in July, 1907, according to Topics.
Aug., 1907, Topics-The Lee Exchange has recently moved the Central Office to larger and better quarters on Main Street, and a six position magneto switchboard has been in- stalled. At the rear of the switchboard are placed the latest wool tip cables; also, an iron frame for protectors, etc. Switch- board men consider this exchange the best equipped magneto exchange the Company has at the present time.
Mary A. Boudrow has lately been promoted to the position
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of Chief Operator of the Lee Exchange, and Janet A. Voght was appointed bookkeeper and pay station attendant.
N. J. DeNault, from Springfield, took the position of Com- bination man at Lee, and T. S. Hayden, of the Construction Dept., was equipping a new Pay Station desk at the Lee office, according to the Oct., 1907, Topics.
It seems a Class F exchange had been started in Tyringham; but in January, 1908, it was abolished, the 30 subscribers being connected on two fifteen party lines with the Lee Exchange.
About 1908 the Company established a Class F, or Agency Office, in Housatonic, Mrs. Ella Rathbun being appointed the first Agent. In a couple of years, she moved from Meadow Street to Cottage Street. In a few months she went to Water- bury to live, and Alice L. Tillinghast, Mrs. Rathbun's niece, assumed the duties for nearly a year.
The Topics of January, 1909, bade adieu to Mr. and Mrs. Felter: Edward S. Felter, for many years Manager at Great Barrington, has resigned his position, and the Commercial Dept. of that place has been combined with Lee, Stockbridge and Housatonic under Manager F. P. Tucker of Lee, who will hereafter reside at Great Barrington. Mr. Felter has taken a position with the Southern New England Telephone Co. at Bridgeport, as Contract Agent.
The Lee office took over the handling of the Stockbridge toll business in June, 1909.
A new 40 line No. 1 PBX was installed at the Aspinwall Hotel, Lenox, with Miss May F. Purcell of Pittsfield as branch exchange operator. This fine summer hotel was later destroyed by fire.
Mr. Henry Levy, solicitor at Great Barrington, was trans- ferred to the Plymouth Exchange about August,-in time for the bathing season.
Oct., 1909, Topics announced that William Brooks was making a canvass for new subscribers at Sheffield with the in- tention of opening a Class F exchange there.
The canvass was evidently successful, for the November Topics reported that work had begun on the Sheffield Ex- change, 90 new subscribers having been obtained and that the
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Central Office would be located in the second floor of the building occupied by A. M. Little & Co.
Feb., 1910, Topics-Sheffield Exchange Opened
The new exchange at Sheffield was formally opened Sat- urday, Jan. 15, 1910, with 100 subscribers. After the official cutover, a dinner was served to guests of the Telephone Com- pany at the Misses Andrews. The list of invited guests in- cluded: H. E. Hughes, District Manager; C. L. Vaughn, Dist. Plant Chief; J. F. Burns, Dist. Traffic Chief; F. P. Tucker, Manager; A. S. Page, Central Office Equipment; W. P. Durant, Wire Chief; F. H. Holliday, Dist. Foreman; C. W. Gassett, Foreman; J. W. Shelly, Special Agent; K. H. Chase, Distribu- tion Engineer; J. W. Forssen, Division Foreman of Equip- ment; J. K. Curtis, Special Agent; H. L. Jones, Division Dis- tribution Engineer; H. S. Chapin, E. W. Bartholomew, and Frank Stall, Selectmen of Sheffield; A. H. Tuttle, Tree Warden; H. C. Clark, Town Clerk; W. D. French, A. M. Little, Eugene Scott, Jr., of the Pittsfield Eagle; M. F. Lester, Charles McCarthy of the Pittsfield Journal, and John M. Flynn of the Berkshire Courier.
Speeches were made after the dinner by representatives of the Telephone Company and by the townspeople present, Mr. Vaughn acting as toastmaster.
A 100 line village board was installed with the following new outside construction: 1300 chestnut poles, 10,450 feet of aerial cable, 34 miles of No. 12 iron pole line circuit, which supply Sheffield with an excellent equipment for giving good telephone service.
William J. Dunn, of the Plant Dept., has been transferred from Stockbridge to Lee, and H. Trudeau was transferred to the Plant Dept. in Pittsfield.
Aug., 1910, Topics-Owing to the rapid growth of business in the Pittsfield section of the Pittsfield District, George W. Fahey has been appointed Wire Chief in the Great Barring- ton territory to relieve Wire Chief Durant.
The following sports item appeared in the Nov., 1910, Topics: "The employees of the Plant Dept. at Great Barring- ton have organized a basket ball team with Wire Chief Fahey
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as Captain and Manager F. P. Tucker as Manager. Games will be arranged with teams at North Adams and Pittsfield."
Mrs. Alice C. Tillinghast took over the Housatonic Agency the latter part of 1910. She was the sister of the first Agent, Mrs. Rathbun, and the mother of Alice L. Tillinghast, the previous one. She occupied the house on Cottage Street, where the switchboard was in the sitting room. The operating was done by Mrs. Tillinghast and her younger daughter, Edith, who proved themselves very competent operators, and well ap- preciated by the 50 subscribers.
Raymond D. Seeley joined the Company in 1911, at Great Barrington. He went to work as a Groundman in a construc- tion gang, and soon got to climbing poles. He later became an Installer and Repairman.
A new farmers' line was constructed between Great Bar- rington and Monterey, with eight new subscribers in the latter place. This opened a territory to Great Barrington that here- tofore it was only able to reach through one pay station, lo- cated at the Langdon Store Co.
Oct., 1911, Topics-The Great Barrington Exchange had a telephone exhibit in charge of Contract Agent H. C. Board- man, at the annual Fair of the Housatonic Agricultural So- ciety held September 26th to 29th at Great Barrington. Ad- vertising matter was distributed and contracts taken.
C. S. Quinn of the Commerical Engineers office at Bos- ton, is making a survey of the Great Barrington, Sheffield and Housatonic Exchanges to determine the future growth of lines and telephones, by small sections. These long term esti- mates, about 20 years, are used by the Fundamental Plan En- gineers to figure the proper places to locate central offices, the size of the buildings and the conduit layout.
In the fall of 1911, considerable new work at Great Bar- rington occurred. The pole line between Great Barrington and Monterey was rebuilt, a new pole line from New Marl- boro to Southfield, new aerial cable, 23,285 feet, between Great Barrington and South Egrimont which gave additional circuits in that locality and did away with open wires. Fore- man Duxbury, with a large force of men, was in charge of the work.
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Miss Josie Malumphy, who was acting Chief Operator tem- porarily at Manchester, Vermont, returned to the Great Bar- rington Exchange, where she is Chief Operator, and Miss Julia F. Killfoile, of Stockbridge, took charge of the Man- chester Exchange.
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