USA > Massachusetts > Tracing the telephone in western Massachusetts, 1877-1930 > Part 22
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Feb. 3, 1913, Edith H. Harkness was appointed Toll Chief Operator at Springfield. Miss Harkness had been serving as Holyoke Chief Operator since August, 1908.
Miss Alice V. Feeney was appointed Chief Operator, taking
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the place of Miss Harkness. Miss Feeney started as an Operator Oct. 1, 1902.
Miss Blanche A. Feeney, a sister of Alice, had been working as an Operator since about 1906, and Irene L. Feeney, another sister, later chose the Commercial Dept. to show there was no favoritism.
Herbert Willis Emerson was appointed Manager at Holyoke during July, 1913. He was reared in Lynn and took a course in electrical science with the Thompson-Houston Co., a firm afterwards merged with the General Electric Co. Mr. Emerson came to the New England Telephone Co. in 1902 and special- ized in PBX construction with George W. Conway, taking full charge of the entire New England territory outside of Boston. Later he had the Western Division in his charge and made many important contracts with subscribers, one of the earliest being a PBX for the Springfield Republican which hitherto had had single telephone lines.
A party was described by Topics of Jan., 1914: "A private dance and social was given at the Hotel Hamilton ball room by Holyoke telephone employees. During the intermission, a concert was given by the young ladies. A quintette composed of the Misses Savoy, Finn, O'Donnell, Rohan and Brown, Operators in the local exchange, sang 'Carmena' and the 'Boat Song'. A violin selection was rendered by Miss Elizabeth Anderson, a reading by Miss Ruth Crowley, a vocal solo by Miss Anna Savoy and a dance solo by Miss Leonore Fitz- gerald."
Patrick J. Begley was appointed Wire Chief of the Holyoke Exchange in 1915.
Mrs. Margaret E. Grady entered the Company in April, 1917, at Holyoke. She later held the various positions of Opera- tor, Junior Supervisor, Supervisor, Central Office Instructor and Acting Chief Operator in the Holyoke office, before being transferred to Springfield.
Robert E. Wiggin was appointed Testman in 1918. Soon after "Bob" came to Holyoke in 1907, John Armstrong, who was Central Office Repairman, went to Springfield. "Bob" took over this work and continued with it until his recent appointment.
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The Telephone Company lost a valued employee; from Topics of June, 1920: "George W. Learned, popularly and affectionately known as 'Pop' Learned, died May 8, at his home, 62 Pearl Street, Holyoke.
"Mr. Learned entered the telephone business in 1902, at which time he engaged in contract work at Boston, and main- tained an unbroken record of service for eighteen years. In 1906 he was transferred to the Western Division at Springfield and later moved to Holyoke, where he lived and worked for twelve years. He was loved by all who knew him. Mr. Learned possessed a genial, kindly disposition. His son, George, is located with the Company at Boston as Office Manager of the North Suburban District."
Miss Alice V. Feeney, Holyoke Chief Operator, was given a surprise party on Oct. 1, 1922, in honor of the completion of twenty consecutive years of service. Miss Feeney entered the employment of the Telephone Company on Oct. 1, 1902, as an Operator. The entertainment committee was in charge of Miss Mary McCearn and Miss Anna Dowd. Miss Beatrice Beauregard had charge of the decorations.
Miss Cecilia I. O'Donnell reported for duty in the Holyoke Business office April 16, 1923. Her sister Mary was Assistant Chief Operator, but "Ceil" chose the commercial office be- cause her friend, Irene Feeney, worked there, and once, when she stopped to see "Rena," Manager Emerson, detecting a likely prospect, asked her if she wouldn't like to work there. She first learned the clerical work and then was made a ste- nographer.
Miss Julia Finn, of the Holyoke Traffic Force, was appointed Division Instructor succeeding Miss Marguerite F. Parker, ap- pointed District Chief Operator of the Vermont District. Miss Finn entered the employ of the Company in Holyoke in June, 1913, and has held the positions of Clerk, Supervisor, and Central Office Instructor.
About 1923 the Holyoke Exchange was taken into the Northampton District, which had been organized Jan. 1, 1921, to include the Northampton and Greenfield areas. The Com- mercial Departments were not included in the District Organ- ization.
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One of the liveliest service committees in the Western Divi- sion, according to Topics of November, 1924, is located at Holyoke and since they were appointed they have been on the job every minute improving public relations. Many subscrib- ers have visited the office through the efforts of the committee and now have an entirely different impression as the result of their visit. When a service committee functions as Holyoke's does, many fine results are accomplished. Miss Mary A. O'Don- nell is Chairman of the Committee.
Another diversion from the cares of business was depicted by Topics of Sept., 1905, under the title-Hail, Hail, the Gang's all Here! "Not one of the Northampton and Holyoke Commercial Employees was absent from their party held a short time ago at Lafayette Lodge, Worthington. "Dinner, amid a profusion of color from streamers and balloons, was served at 8 P.M.
"Headliners on the entertainment program included Helene Goerner, of Northampton, at the piano, and Maude Willis, of Northampton, with a witty poem in which everyone came in for a good-natured rub. Mable Reid, of Holyoke, gave a novelty dance in costume, and was followed by a selection from the Silent Quartet of Holyoke."
The Northampton District was discontinued Sept. 1, 1926, and the Holyoke and Northampton areas reverted to the Springfield District.
Mary A. O'Donnell, Chief Operator of the Holyoke Ex- change, was transferred to the Northampton Exchange, Feb. 6, 1927, as Chief Operator. Mary started locally as an Operator Sept. 2, 1912, and had advanced to the position of Assistant Chief Operator April 11, 1920. She was promoted to Chief Operator on April 25, 1926, and now leaves her native town with the best wishes of her many friends.
Robert E. Wiggin, Testman at Holyoke, was transferred to the Central Office Equipment Engineers in the Division office at Springfield in 1927.
Russell E. Chase was appointed Testman Feb. 12, 1928. He was employed by the Company July 7, 1915, preferring a tele- phone career to one in the prevailing paper industry. Under the supervision of Patrick J. Begley, Wire Chief, "Russ" soon
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learned the method of cross wiring on the main frame,-where all telephones are connected.
This was when the old No. 1 common battery switchboard was in the building at the corner of Maple and Suffolk streets. "Russ" was next moved to Switchboard Repairman, where his telephone skill was again improved. June 17, 1922, he was transferred to the Engineering Dept. in Boston, and April 14, 1924, he returned to Holyoke as Service Foreman.
Joseph E. Griffin, Collector at Holyoke for many years, was transferred to Springfield in August, 1929, as Supervisor of the Coin Box Dept. "Joe" was elected an Alderman in Holyoke in 1911, and served on that board 42 years. He was President of the Board of Aldermen 15 years.
About 1923 "Joe" started on sales for the first yellow pages of the telephone directory. He was then Commercial Repre- sentative. About that time, he was engaged in getting rid of party lines and wall sets. Most of the subscribers were on party lines. Sometimes, in removing wall sets for non-payment, a large piece of the wall came off with the set.
Cecilia I. O'Donnell was appointed Springfield District Commercial Instructor Sept. 2, 1929. She recently had been appointed Cashier of the Holyoke business office.
Bertha Woods was appointed a bookkeeper in the Wire Chief's office in 1930.
CHAPTER 21
Northampton Exchange Area
SOON after the New England Telephone and Telegraph Co. was formed (October 19, 1883), the Republican reported the following: "Manager A. E. Cross, who has been connected with the Northampton Telephone Exchange about three years, has resigned his position to remove to New York. A peti- tion is in circulation among the subscribers that W. H. Cole- man be appointed Manager."
The wishes of the subscribers appeared agreeable to the management, the Republican of Feb. 25, 1884, stating; "W. H. Coleman, telegraph operator at the Florence depot for several years, has been appointed Manager of the Northampton tele- phone exchange, taking charge March 1st."
Two new switchboards were put in the central office, and the wires were run into the building through a large cable, which was expected to improve the service.
The next month, night operator Woodruff went to Streeter, Vermont, and was succeeded by A. B. Norton of Westfield.
An endeavor to improve the telephone service was mani- fested by the new company: "The Company ran more lines to Florence to reduce the number of subscribers on a line, and the new poles were from 30 to 50 feet high, which kept the wires out of the way of trees. The Company is also moving the lines away from the trees and into the open spaces wherever such a change is possible."
An item relative to furnishing new telephone service to a distant community appeared: "In order to get telephone con-
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nections with Northampton, the Westhampton people furnish the poles all set up and turn them over to the Company."
A move of the telephone office was contemplated, according to the Gazette of May 26, 1885: "The telephone office is soon to be moved to new quarters over Cook's Jewelry Store, 110 Main Street (later the E. J. Gare & Son Jewelry). A large pole will be set up close by the walk in front of the store and the wires carried into the building through a tube. A 65-foot chestnut pole will be set near the Northampton bank building on Center street, and the wires strung on it, passing over the elm tree in front of the First Church. The bank people some- time ago asked the Company to take the 19 wires off the roof of their building, as they thought the weight of them too great for it to bear."
A general increase in rates was now promulgated by the Company, and the situation resulting in Northampton was described in the Sept. 1, 1885, Hampshire Gazette :- "Today the recently ordered rise in the rent of telephones in the state of Massachusetts takes effect. In the center of this town the in- crease in rent to business places is from $40 to $42 and to private residences from $36 to $40 a year. For instruments out of the center in the outlying villages the residence is much greater, and in Williamsburg and Hatfield a telephone will cost about $60 a year. The New England Telephone Co. which orders this rise claims that it has not paid a dividend for about two years, that its stock is 70% below par, and that it must either get more for its instruments or shut up shop. The Bell Company, of whom it leases instruments and privileges, is claimed to take so much of the cow's milk that the dependent calf is skin poor. In Williamsburg the telephone takers are Guilford's Meat Market, Hill's Grist Mill, Hampshire House, H. L. James' Mill and L. D. James' Store, and they all say that they will take the machines no longer for the sum asked.
"In Haydenville, the takers are 5 in number, The Brass Company, Savings Bank, L. D. James, Pierce Larkin, and the Hotel. We are told by two of them that they and the others will not pay the increase. Hatfield has 7 subscribers. The num- ber of takers in Northampton is about 118, 11 in Easthampton,
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23 in Florence, 5 in Leeds, and 1 in Hadley and Westhamp- ton."
The upshot of the controversy was that five subscribers in Hatfield gave up their telephones, two in Williamsburg, three in Haydenville and eight in Northampton. It was necessary to reduce expenses by the dismissal of one of the day operators.
Another sport indulged in at this time was chronicled in the Republican: "The Center and Florence croquet players will begin a series of nine games tomorrow afternoon for the local championship. Dr. J. W. Davenport, E. S. Barrett and F. L. Tower will represent the Center, with L. P. Bryant, G. A. Beals and E. Kirby from Florence."
Lest the mode of living in 1885 be forgotten, an item from the November 3rd Republican is quoted: "The horse-railroad company began yesterday running on the winter time table, with 20 trips each way daily and 2 additional trips Saturday nights. A number of changes have been made to meet the trains from Springfield."
Another improvement was recorded in the Republican: "Manager Coleman, of the telephone exchange, is connecting subscribers' instruments with rubber-covered wire."
Frank G. Messenger, who had been a popular Manager of the Westfield Exchange, succeeded W. H. Coleman as Mana- ger of the Northampton Exchange in 1887.
The extension of the Central Mass. Railroad from Amherst to Northampton was completed on Dec. 19, 1887. In October, the stock of this Company had fallen to $14 a share, despite the brighter outlook occasioned by this extension. However, a ceremony was conducted to celebrate the momentous event, and the Gazette reported the first run: "The first regular passenger train on the Central Massachusetts came in at 8:40 A.M. yesterday. Fifty or sixty people greeted the 125 passen- gers from Ware and intervening stations."
Walter F. Tetro, who later was appointed Telephone Agent of the Williamsburg Exchange, provided some first hand in- formation about the Northampton Exchange of these days. Addie Tetro, his older sister, was one of the early operators. A brother, Nelson, was a night operator, from 6 P.M. to 7 A.M. The switchboard was a small two position affair located on the
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third floor of the E. J. Gare Jewelry Store Building. Walter used to help his brother Nelson, and he said the streets were lighted by arc lights, and it was almost impossible to speak to Williamsburg or any surrounding towns after dark. Nelson used to get the baseball scores at Springfield by telephone and give them to some stores in Northampton and surrounding towns. Addie married Edward Lancore, and their two sons, Edward and Howard, worked for the Telephone Company at Springfield.
An idea of how the telephone wires adorned Main Street is given in the Hampshire Gazette of Oct. 31, 1893: "Ninety one telephone wires converge on the pole at the corner of Main and South Streets. It is the meeting of all the wires in the city. It makes a huge network of wires, and, as the stranger said of our Main Street, 'it really looks as though we did something here.' Well, we do. We are a big place, and going to grow right along."
About 1894, the telephone office was moved from the Gare Jewelry Store Bldg., 110 Main Street, to the Columbian Block, 160 Main Street, corner of Old South Street.
Chesterfield is mentioned in the Hampshire Gazette of July 16, 1895: "The Chesterfield telephone business is progressing finely and will soon be completed. The central office will be at Wm. Baker's Store and branch offices at West Chesterfield, F. A. Bryants, the new summer home of Mr. Williams of Northampton, Dr. A. M. Belden and Horatio Bisbee." Ches- terfield was getting its first telephone line from Northampton, with a telephone at Baker's Store, for the use of the public, and at four other premises.
The opening of the Amherst Exchange occurred on Oct. 18, 1895, which was described in the Gazette: "The local office of the New England Telephone Exchange at J. W. Kellogg's store is now in running order. Miss Nellie White is the opera- tor in charge and the following is the present list of sub- scribers connected." There followed a list of 37 names.
Easthampton was the next town in the Northampton Area to be provided with a central office. The Gazette of Dec. 5, 1895, enlightened its readers as follows: "The contractors for the local circuit of the New England Telephone Exchange
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were made at L. N. Baldwin's Store, 33 Main Street, Wednes- day. (This was later Donovan's Shoe Shop.) There are nearly 30 subscribers. It is expected that instruments will be tested and everything be in working order in a short time."
Dec. 7, 1895, is the date of the opening of the Easthampton Exchange. It was reported that the service was from 7 o'clock in the morning until 6 at night and gave a list of 28 subscrib- ers. The Northampton city business directory listed Lyman N. Baldwin as an insurance, boot and shoe dealer and to add to his versatility he was also listed as telephone Manager. The Gazette later referred to this first exchange as follows: "The board wasn't larger than a woman's bread board. A few cords ran to and from it, and Mrs. Baldwin's pleasant voice and that of her sister, Mrs. Richardson, will always be remembered with their constant courtesies and favors. Henry Partridge and his quick deftness in locating trouble, and his eager readiness to serve you, are recalled with them."
More news appeared in the Gazette of Dec. 13, 1895, regard- ing the Amherst Exchange: "The telephone Exchange will soon be moved to a room in Dickinson's Block. Mrs. Nella B. Root will be the operator in place of Miss Nellie White, re- signed. The telephone wires are to be so arranged that there will be no difficulty in the night service because of induction by electric wires."
An item in the Gazette says that people in our sister towns don't see how Worthington gets along without the telephone and that an effort will soon be made to get it. Then on May 5, 1896, it was reported that the telephone line had been staked out from West Chesterfield to Worthington Center. On May 25, the next year, an extension from Worthington Center to South Worthington was staked out and on June 15 there re- mained but 15 poles to be set.
Chemistry Teacher-"Now what can you tell me about nitrates?"
Student-"Please, sir, they are cheaper than day rates."
A tiny box switchboard was installed in Belchertown Jan. 21, 1896. Mrs. Harry Sessions, whose husband became the Agent of the Belchertown Exchange in 1913, said that this branch switchboard was placed in a hotel belonging to Louis
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W. Dillon, which was situated just beyond the end of the Common, going towards Amherst. It was connected to the Amherst central office, which handled its toll business. Mr. Dillon's daughter, Emma, attended the board from 7 in the morning till 9 at night. The Exchange was in the nature of a branch office, Mr. Fay being in charge of the Amherst office.
About the time that Alexander Proctor was promoted to the managership of the Northampton Exchange, succeeding Frank G. Messenger, the following item appeared in the April 7, 1896, Hampshire Gazette: "A petition to the New England Telephone Co. has been signed by over 100 subscribers, asking that the Easthampton and Amherst Exchanges be connected with the Northampton Exchange and that no toll charge be made for service between these exchanges. People of Spring- field are allowed to talk with Chicopee and Holyoke free of charge." The toll charge referred to was 15 cents.
The Company's reply to this petition was published in the May 5, 1896, issue: "Jasper N. Keller, Manager of the Bell Telephone Co. in New England, refuses to grant the request of Mayor Field and others that Amherst and Easthampton may be communicated with free by Northampton telephone users. He writes to Mayor Field that the Company has established local exchanges at Amherst and Easthampton at "low rates", and this low rate prevents the free interchange of messages. He concludes, "It will, I trust, be understood that I regret not being able to comply with the request of yourself and other subscribers."
May 26, 1896, the Gazette paid quite a compliment to Manager Proctor: "The telephone exchange has nearly 230 instruments, and the increase is about 2 a month. Manager Proctor is an excellent man for the Company, and no Manager was more pleasing to the subscribers. He keeps the lines and instruments in good order, and is very pleasant in a position which offers many opportunities for the display of impatience. Williamsburg is asking for a home exchange, under the $24 a year rate and pay for all messages sent out of the villages."
The courteous reply of President Keller to Mayor Field did not seem to end the rate dispute, as far as Amherst was con- cerned. A later Republican resumed the story: "Overtures
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were soon made by the dissatisfied Amherst patrons to the Company operating an exchange in Northfield.
"The Northfield Telephone Co. finally agreed to furnish them service if 50 subscribers were first secured. They were obtained, a franchise secured from the Amherst selectmen and the work of putting up the poles and wires began in October, 1896. The Exchange was opened in November, the prices charged being $15 a year or $25 if a subscriber had two instru- ments, one each in his house and office.
"The New England Company reduced its rate to $12 a year for all its instruments in town. The bills are made out at the rate of $33. a year and a rebate of $1.75 per month allowed. Continuous service was soon added. The New England Com- pany got more subscribers-150 by January, 1898. It was fortu- nate in having for its local manager Mrs. Nella B. Root. The Northfield Company had 75 subscribers, a decrease from the previous month. Their service has not been all that could be wished; but as good as that of the New England Company in the early history of its local exchange."
It was with some surprise that Amherst people read in the Daily Hampshire Gazette of Jan. 25, 1898: "E. S. Bardwell, Treasurer of the Northfield Telephone Co., notified the Am- herst Company Monday that they had sold the Amherst Ex- change to the New England Telephone Co. for $3500." The Amherst Co., spoken of, was formed two weeks previously to buy the plant for $4,000, and 88 subscribers had bought stock amounting to nearly $3,000.
The final article about this episode is from the June 15, 1898, Republican: "Representatives of the New England Tele- phone Co. are in town (Amherst) and have announced that the rates of the instruments after July 1 will be $33 for residences and $36 for offices and stores. This is a reduction from the rates charged before the present low rates went into operation, when $39 and $42 was charged."
A telephone booth was installed in the Enfield Hotel in 1897, with a direct wire connection with the Northampton Exchange. A few months later this telephone was transferred to the E. H. Howe General Store, where a Class F exchange was opened later, with Mr. Howe as Agent.
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William H. Shea started his telephone career in Northamp- ton March 1, 1900, as a night operator.
Leroy F. Rodimon was employed as night operator of the Easthampton Exchange in 1901.
The Easthampton Exchange was moved to upstairs in the Newkirk block Nov. 26, 1901. Night service was instituted Dec. 1st. It was advantageous in fire protection, there being a telephone at the engine house, and a fireman there nights.
An instrument was placed in the Half-way house on Mt. Holyoke, and the people of Hockanum have established a private line between there and the house of Hiram Barrus, who will deliver messages.
About 1905 the New England Co. started to establish cen- tral offices in towns previously dependent on rural lines. These Class F exchanges were conducted by Telephone Agents.
Williamsburg appeared to be the first such exchange in the Northampton Area. An item in the Daily Gazette of Jan. 3, 1905, told of telephone wires being strung along South Street that week, and that instruments were to be set up in the houses.
Frank A. Brooks was engaged to be the telephone Agent of this exchange. He came from Pittsfield about 1887, and at first was a mail clerk on the New Haven and Northampton Railroad, which had its terminus at Williamsburg. In 1894 he started an express business between Williamsburg and North- ampton. The switchboard was placed in his house on North Street, the second house on the right from Main Street.
On Jan. 11, 1905, the Daily Gazette continued with this item: "Those hiring telephones with a central office at Larkins in Haydenville have been connected with the line having its central office at F. A. Brooks." R. F. Burke, an old time resident of Williamsburg, said that a small switchboard had been installed in this store in the early 1880's to serve both Haydenville and Williamsburg. It had three lines, one of which connected with the Northampton central office. This store was on South Main Street, the second building south of the fire station, and this switchboard was, no doubt, a branch system connected to Northampton. .
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