USA > Massachusetts > Tracing the telephone in western Massachusetts, 1877-1930 > Part 27
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Miss Emma Pease was the first Westfield Chief Operator, being appointed by Manager Church in November, 1901. She was to supervise the operating, see that calls were answered promptly, and investigate complaints. There were 9 girls and nearly 400 patrons.
Ina Holcomb became the new Clerk in the Westfield office in July, 1907.
Harry A. Fowler, according to Mr. Ring, served a short time as Westfield's Wire Chief after the reorganization, and was succeeded by Frank Rogers, who had come from Boston with Frank Wilkins, to oversee the installation of the common bat- tery office. Mr. Fowler then resumed his work as Test-man and looked after the line assigning as well.
May, 1909, Topics tells of a sleet storm in the Berkshire Hills which put the Middlefield exchange out of commission. Ten poles were knocked down by the weight of the sleet, and the high wind. The estimated size of the sleet loaded wires was 21/2 inches in diameter. The Blandford exchange also suffered damage and Wire Chief Rogers had men at work Saturday and Sunday, May 1st and 2nd, repairing it.
Wayne D. Wood was employed April 5, 1909, as a Collector in the Westfield business office. In 1910 he became the first Springfield District rural telephone salesman. After covering the district, with the aid of a horse and buggy, he settled down again in Westfield as Collector.
Miss Lillian Cosby, Senior Operator at the Westfield Ex- change, won a $400 piano given by a firm to the most popular young woman in Westfield, according to Topics.
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Tracing the Telephone in Western Massachusetts
The flying squadron, in charge of F. B. Watson, made a house to house canvass in Westfield in August, 1910, and se- cured 33 new subscribers.
In the early part of 1911, Manager Church was elected Mas- ter of the Westfield Grange and was reported as cultivating an extensive acquaintance among the farmers.
Miss Catherine Martin accepted the position of Clerk in the Westfield office in January, 1911, recently made vacant by the resignation of Miss Josephine Moore.
The Huntington Exchange was highlighted by Topics of Oct., 1912: The Company has leased two rooms in the Cross Block at Huntington, and has moved the Central office from the rear of the building to these front rooms. There are now 140 subscribers in this exchange, having grown from 12 sub- scribers in the past 10 years, and the former one-position switchboard has been replaced by a two-position board of 70 local and 20 trunk lines, giving ample facilities for the steadily increasing business. Mary Brennan, Nellie Brennan and Horace Alvord comprise the operating force.
Topics reported that in 1914 the Southwick magneto ex- change was located in the home of Mr. and Mrs. Jasper Vining. Miss Jane Sathory, sister of Mary Sathory (later Chief Operator at Westfield), lived at the Vining home and very naturally worked into the operator's position. Southwick's board then had 45 lines. Mrs. Agnes Drummond became the next Agent.
A Westfield telephone party was described in the April, 1915, Topics: The first annual banquet of the Westfield ex- change was held Monday evening, February 22, at the new Park Square Hotel, with an attendance of about forty people. George Washington hats were worn and hatchets were pro- vided as favors. Harry A. Fowler, of the Plant Dept., acted as toastmaster. Interesting remarks were made by District Traffic Chief Chapman of Springfield, Manager Emerson of Holyoke, and Manager Church of Westfield. The entertainment of the evening consisted of solos by Chief Operator Bertha M. Dodge and Wire Chief Harry H. Pettibone. Belle J. Merill and Frank Rogers of Springfield gave a very fine demonstration of modern dances. Dancing was then enjoyed and it was unani- mously voted to make the banquet an annual event.
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Tracing the Telephone in Western Massachusetts
In April, 1916, District Inspector Walter W. Farrington, of the Springfield District, was promoted to Wire Chief of the Westfield exchange in place of H. H. Pettibone, resigned. After serving in the war, "Hap" resumed his telephone career in Springfield.
William P. Ring was appointed Wire Chief at Westfield Oct. 15, 1917, and was associated with the exchange for many years. He first joined the Company June 22, 1903, in Springfield as a "Ground Hog," which euphonious name, "Pitt" said, referred to a man who dug holes for telephone poles. After a little train- ing in line work, he was transferred to Westfield in January, 1905, as a Combination Man. After becoming a Line Repair- man and filling a few other positions, he was appointed Wire Chief.
The Westfield exchange area, "Pitt" recalled, included Mid- dlefield and Becket in those days. After the horse and buggy era, came the motorcycle period which lasted a few years be- fore the Model T became standard equipment. These me- chanical devices, however, had to give way to snowshoes after a snow storm. A casual opening of a diary, which "Pitt" kept for many years, revealed that on Dec. 30, 1917, the temperature was 22 degrees below zero all day, but it moderated the next day, rising to 21 below.
The Valley Echo of Dec. 13, 1918, a Westfield Weekly news- paper, gave first page prominence to Manager Church: George B. Church for the past 19 years Manager of the telephone com- pany in this district, has resigned his position to take effect as soon as the company can choose his successor. Mr. Church has accepted a responsible position in Springfield in an entirely different line of business. Mr. Church is President of the Board of Trade and has been active in all public matters in Westfield, and a very general regret will be felt at his leaving town.
John F. Shaw was appointed Manager at Westfield in Jan- uary, 1919, succeeding George B. Church. John was formerly Manager at Great Barrington. He went to work for the Tele- phone Company in Worcester in 1916 and, on March 10, 1918, was appointed Manager at Great Barrington.
There was a small picture of the Westfield Telephone build-
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Tracing the Telephone in Western Massachusetts
ing on School Street in the Nov., 1919, Topics, which showed the employees seated and standing on the front steps. It was the 250th Anniversary of the town and the building was orna- mented with flags and bunting. It was also the 12th anniversary of the present building, it being that time since they moved from their old quarters with the magneto system to the present location with the common battery. The employees, who were not shown very clearly, were:
Front row, Cashier C. M. Martin, Operator S. M. Delsky, Chief Operator B. M. Dodge, Supervisor L. C. Fairbrother, Operator R. E. Bell.
Second row, Operators M. I. Ferriter, A. T. Quimper, O. M. Sundberg, B. Ekholm.
Third row, Operators B. J. Merrill, H. L. Leonard.
Fourth row, Operator B. B. Schurman, Lineman J. Baker, Operators A. M. Cleary, E. G. Davidson.
Fifth row, Wire Chief W. P. Ring, Collector W. D. Wood, Operator T. Sullivan, Test-man H. A. Fowler.
Sixth row, Manager J. F. Shaw.
Topics reported that Cecelia Ripley took over the Bland- ford Agency in 1919, and continued its supervision for twenty years, assisted by Mary Brennan.
On Dec. 1, 1919, John Shaw, after officiating as Manager of the Westfield exchange a little less than a year, was transferred to Northampton as Manager.
Robert D. Fuller, of the Commercial force at Springfield, was advanced to the Managership at Westfield. "Bob" started his telephone career in Worcester, March 17, 1912. He was appointed Manager at Great Barrington March, 1916, Com- mercial Representative at Springfield June, 1919, and then came to Westfield.
On April 29, 1920, Mr. Fuller stated that since becoming Manager in December, 1919, he had not received a single com- plaint of Westfield Exchange service,-which was quite a feather in the employees' caps.
Another excerpt, regarding "Bob," appeared in the Sept., 1920, Topics: "The effects of a severe thunder shower on tele- phone service were effectively impressed upon the citizens of
WESTFIELD EXCHANGE AREA DEPARTMENT HEADS-1920
Left to right: Robert D. Fuller, Manager; Bertha M. Dodge, Chief Operator; William P. Ring, Wire Chief.
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Tracing the Telephone in Western Massachusetts
Westfield by Manager Fuller. Through the courtesy of Wil- liams & Harden, druggists, Manager Fuller was enabled to dis- play many samples of damaged material in the window of their store.
"That this proved a successful publicity move is borne out by the receipt of only three complaints, although the extent of the damage necessitated four days' work on the part of the Plant, and Manager Fuller is kind enough to say a mighty fine job was done at that."
Wayne D. Wood was appointed Commercial Representative May 3, 1920, and in June, 1922, he was transferred to the Springfield business office as Counter Representative.
Hugh A. Lamb joined the Company at Westfield August 9, 1920, as an Installer, and soon became a Combination Man, doing installation and repair work. After some work on the Central Office switchboard and customers' PBXs, he was as- signed to the test board. Harry Fowler, who was Testman at that time, also looked after the line assigning. When this latter function increased to greater proportions, Hugh Lamb was ap- pointed the official Line Assigner.
Laura E. Whitney was transferred from the Palmer Business office to the Westfield office June 17, 1922, having started with the Company in Palmer, Nov. 8, 1920. The Westfield Business office then qualified for only one girl and Laura took in the payments, treated the accounts, took applications, wrote serv- ice orders, and figured adjustments. Later she was appointed Cashier and Service Representative.
On Dec. 3, 1923, George F. Cheney was appointed Manager at Westfield to succeed Robert D. Fuller, transferred to the Managership of the Northampton Exchange. Mr. Cheney had served in various positions in Pittsfield, North Adams, and Palmer before his assignment to Westfield.
Conductor (after stumbling over obstacle in aisle): "Madam, you must not leave your valise in the aisle."
Colored Lady: "Fo' de land sakes, Mistah Conductah, dat ain't no valise. Dat's mah foot!"
Bertha M. Dodge was transferred to the Division Traffic office in January, 1925, her position as Chief Operator at West-
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Tracing the Telephone in Western Massachusetts
field being assigned to Lillian C. Fairbrother on March 1, 1925.
Mrs. Fairbrother entered the employ of the Company June 17, 1906, as an Operator in the Westfield office and received promotion to the grade of Junior Supervisor March 14, 1910. Nov. 6, 1911, she was advanced to Supervisor and served effi- ciently in that capacity until March 4, 1923, when she was transferred to the District Training Department.
Robert M. Hodgson was made Manager of the Westfield Ex- change in November, 1925. "Bob" entered the employ of the Company in July, 1923, as Collector at Greenfield, and a year later he was transferred to the Springfield Commercial office.
In February, 1926, Howard W. Reed succeeded Mr. Hodg- son as Manager at Westfield, Mr. Hodgson being transferred to North Adams. Mr. Reed entered the Company on Nov. 13, 1923, in the Plant Dept. at Greenfield. June 29, 1925, he trans- ferred to the Commercial Dept. as a Commercial Representa- tive at Holyoke and since then has had experience in various capacities in several commercial offices.
Miss Mary A. Sathory was employed Aug. 11, 1926, as a local Operator, and, remaining in Westfield, she attained to the po- sition of Chief Operator.
Edward P. Warner, according to Dec., 1926, Topics, was appointed Manager of the Westfield Exchange area to fill the vacancy made by Howard W. Reed, who left the employ of the Company to enter the chain store business in Boston.
Allen Drury, of the Boston Office, in October, 1927, was assigned to the Managership at Westfield in the place of E. P. Warner, who was transferred to Northampton.
Dec., 1929, Topics-Huntington Automatic Office.
The first installation in the New England Company terri- tory of the community-type step-by-step dial office was cut over at Huntington on Dec. 7, 1929. On the evening preceding the cut-over, about 200 town and telephone people gathered in the Town Hall for a demonstration and moving pictures on the use of the dial telephone. Manager Allan L. Drury extended a brief greeting to the people.
This office is entirely unattended and 100% automatic. It serves the entire community of Huntington which now has approximately 175 lines. Subscribers of Huntington are able
SPRINGFIELD COUNCIL. PIONEERS, DINNER-1944
Table for Committee, left to right: Mary L. Purves, dinner; Etta L. Jones, publicity; Winifred E. Daly, program; Mary A. O'Don- nell, Council Chairman and master of ceremonies; Margaret E. Grady, entertainment; Elizabeth A. Lyons (not a member) tickets; C. Harry Knox, general chairman, at end of next table, E. Warner Eldridge.
SPRINGFIELD COUNCIL, PIONEERS, DINNER-1944
Table in foreground, left to right: Mrs. and Mr. William F. Langan, Mrs. and Mr. Martin F. Kelly, Miss Theresa A. Tierney, Miss Loretta L. Kennedy, Mr. and Mrs. Charles E. Lyons.
Tracing the Telephone in Western Massachusetts 329
to dial one another mechanically and without any outside con- nections whatsoever. Moreover, Worthington, Becket, West- field and Chester calls come into the Huntington frame in call- ing Huntington subscribers or in dialing one another.
Customers by dialing "O" for the toll or information opera- tor will find that their service is not suffering for lack of per- sonal contact. Emergency alarms will ring into the parent mas- ter office at Westfield; but the only human attendance will be the periodic visits for battery care and general routine tests.
Huntington is one of the field-planned jobs, and was planned by Foreman Walter McDonald, who is now directly in charge of Installation, reporting to Supervising Foreman, C. E. Davis.
District Supt., W. J. Reid, and Supervisor of Installation, H. J. Hebert, are rather proud of their new "toy," and justly so, if this little 21 x 21 office will perform the functions ex- pected of it. In fact, it is probably the birth of a new and most practicable series of community "hearts" in telephone service, being at once efficient, serviceable and economical.
CHAPTER 25
William J. Denver Chapter, Telephone Pioneers of America
THE Telephone Pioneers of America was organized on Novem- ber 2, 1911, at a meeting of over 200 men and women, who had been connected with the telephone industry prior to 1891. It was deemed fitting to meet in Boston, the birthplace of the telephone, and those present had the pleasure of hearing an address by Alexander Graham Bell.
The purpose of the Society is stated in Section 2 of Article I, of the Constitution:
"The Association is formed for the purpose of recalling and perpetuating the facts, traditions and memories attaching to the early history of the telephone system; preserving the names and records of the participants in the establishment and ex- tension of this great system of electrical intercommunication; the promotion, renewal and continuance of the friendships made during the progress of the telephone industry between those interested therein; and the encouragement of such other meritorious objects consistent with the foregoing as may be desirable."
Excerpts from the Dec., 1921, Topics follow:
"Telephone Pioneers of America celebrated the organiza- tion's tenth birthday at the St. Louis convention on October 24th and 25th, when it adopted a new constitution that greatly enlarges its activities. President H. B. Thayer, of the American
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Tracing the Telephone in Western Massachusetts
Telephone and Telegraph Co., elected head of the Pioneers last year, opened the St. Louis convention, which was attended by more than 700, including Pioneers and their families.
"Suggestions had been made at the meeting of Pioneers in Montreal last year that the constitution should allow for the organization of local chapters of Pioneers.
"Mr. E. K. Hall supported the plan for local chapters, saying that in the past, the Pioneers' activities have consisted solely of one annual pilgrimage to visit some of the telephone family in some relatively distant part of the country. This year we have the largest convention we have ever had, and we have less than one-fifth of the membership present."
The Thomas Sherwin Chapter of the Telephone Pioneers of America was organized July 31, 1922, in keeping with the new plan. Thomas Sherwin, a former President of the New Eng- land Telephone and Telegraph Co., was always actively inter- ested in Pioneer affairs. This Chapter, being the first formed in New England, covered all of the Company's territory, and wel- comed all Telephone Employees or those of its associated in- terests, who had to their credit twenty-one years of service.
The William J. Denver Chapter was the next Chapter to be inaugurated in the Company's territory, and the Nov., 1922, Topics gave an account of this meeting: "A large gathering of the Telephone Pioneers of America, employees of our Com- pany in Springfield and adjacent cities and towns, organized on Sept. 5, 1922, the William J. Denver Chapter of the Telephone Pioneers of America. The meeting was held in Springfield and the following officers were elected: President, Charles N. Tas- ker; Vice-President, S. F. Parker; Secretary-Treasurer, T. F. Maguire.
"The petition for a Charter together with a proposed set of the constitution and by-laws was forwarded through the New England Correspondent, Howard B. Emery.
"The name of the Chapter was selected in honor of Mr. William J. Denver who started the telephone business in Springfield and was a pioneer in the true meaning of the word."
The petition for the Charter was signed by the following:
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Tracing the Telephone in Western Massachusetts
G. W. Hayden
A. L. Morrill
Miss C. Gregg
F. G. Kegler
T. F. Maguire
J. L. McElholm
G. H. Spelman
C. H. Durant A. McAulay
H. P. Greenwood
D. L. Toomey
W. H. French
F. A. Watson
C. E. Williams
H. E. Hughes
E. H. Averill
M. H. Hammond
H. L. Jones
W. B. Northrup
G. H. Towey
F. C. Buck
A. S. Caverly G. H. Garfield
W. H. Parker
A. E. Stone
Charter Number 20 was granted Dec. 26, 1922, to the Wil- liam J. Denver Chapter of the Telephone Pioneers of America at a meeting of the Executive Committee, held in New York.
All employees in Central and Western Massachusetts, South- Western New Hampshire and Vermont, who have been with the Company twenty-one years or more are eligible for mem- bership.
June, 1923, Topics-The William J. Denver Chapter of the Telephone Pioneers held its first annual meeting in Spring- field on the evening of April 27. There were present members from all parts of the Western Division and Vermont. General Plant Supt. Tasker, the first President of the Chapter, pre- sided. The following officers were elected for the ensuing year: President, S. F. Parker of Rutland, Vt .; Vice-President, F. E. Buck of Springfield; Secretary-Treasurer, T. F. McGuire, of Springfield; Delegate to Convention, T. F. McGuire; Alter- nate, F. G. Kegler of Gardner.
A committee composed of W. B. Northrup, R. C. Marden and E. T. Breslin was appointed to confer with other chapters in the territory of the New England Co. regarding the bound- aries of each Chapter.
Oct., 1927, Topics-The annual meeting of the William J. Denver Chapter No. 20 was held on September 10, at Lake Chargogg ... Webster Lake. Pioneers and members of their families, numbering one hundred thirty, assembled at the
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Tracing the Telephone in Western Massachusetts
banquet hall and enjoyed a chicken dinner. After the dinner the various Pioneers swapped reminiscences of the old Tele- phone Days and Albert T. Aldrich of Fitchburg was present and gave an account of running the first pair of wires from Boston to Worcester and spoke first over them.
Later a group picture was taken of 13 Pioneers whose service ranged from 30 to 47 years; among these were William H. French, Samuel Parker, William S. Shaw, Charles Newton, John Blair, T. F. Maguire and A. McAulay, all of Springfield, and also L. V. Gillis of Boston, Abbott Stone, John Wilkins and Charles H. Tenney of Worcester and Col. H. E. Hughes of Pittsfield.
An enjoyable boat ride was taken about the lake. F. K. Ken- ney of Worcester giving a diving and swimming exhibition. The outing was pronounced one of the best that was ever held under the auspices of the Chapter.
The Committee in charge of the outing was composed of H. E. Oakes, chairman; W. M. Pepper, James S. Gross, Wil- liam H. Kavanaugh, M. H. Kenney, Edward F. Norton, George H. Spelman, Frank J. Rogers, L. H. Streeter, Fred A. Watson, Harry McIntyre, H. P. Murray, Eleanor Healey, W. Durant, C. Durant, Tom Hyland and Charlotte Gregg.
The following Pioneers have served the William J. Denver Chapter, Telephone Pioneers of America, as President, and Secretary-Treasurer.
President
1922-1923 Charles N. Tasker
Springfield
1923-1924
Samuel F. Parker
Rutland, Vt.
1924-1925 Harry E. Oakes
Springfield
1925-1926 John Blair
Worcester
1926-1927 Miss Loretta L. Kennedy Springfield
1927-1928 John T. Mclaughlin
Springfield
1928-1929
Thomas W. Hyland
Springfield
1929-1930
Springfield
1930-1931
Augustus McAulay Frederick Rockhold Springfield
1931-1932 John W. Forssen
Springfield
1932-1933 Harry H. Gallup
Springfield
1933-1934 Harry W. Dickinson
Springfield
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Tracing the Telephone in Western Massachusetts
1934-1935 Deane O. Howland Worcester
1935-1936
Michael H. Kenney
Springfield
1936-1937 Michael H. Kenney
Springfield
1937-1938 George T. Fahey Springfield
1938-1939
Thomas F. Kane
Worcester
1939-1940
C. Harry Knox
Springfield
1940-1941
Earl A. Kimberley
Pittsfield
1941-1942
Thomas J. Healey
Worcester
1942-1943
Peter F. Follett
Pittsfield
1943-1944
George A. Morley
Springfield
1944-1945 Carl A. Hiland
Springfield
1945-1946
Casimir A. Marcou
Springfield
1946-1947
Joel L. Hodges
Worcester
1947-1948
Katherine M. Colombo
Montpelier, Vt.
1948-1949
William H. Stirling
Fitchburg
1949-1950
Fred S. Bassett
Pittsfield
1950-1951
George W. Lowney
Worcester
1951-1952
Michael F. Coyne
Springfield
1952-1953
Percy E. Thompson
St. Albans, Vt.
1953-1954
Alton W. Clark
Gardner
1954-1955 John E. M. Wright
Pittsfield
1955-1956
Ralph M. Warren
Worcester
1956-1957
Martha H. Maloney
Springfield
1957-1958
Allan S. Morton
Burlington, Vt.
1958-1959
H. Scott Oleson
Fitchburg
Secretary-Treasurer
1922-1936
Thomas F. Maguire
Springfield
1936-1944
Walter P. Durant
Springfield
1944-1948
Rufus E. Davis
Springfield
1948-1958
Inez E. Kavanaugh
Springfield
1958-
Olympia H. Del Dotto
Springfield
1958-
Louise D. Wilson
Springfield
As the William J. Denver Chapter continued to grow it be- came quite a problem for a large number of members to get to Springfield, or any substitute city. In 1930 the establishment, within Chapters, of subdivisions known as Councils had been sanctioned. This permitted meetings in locations convenient for more members and the privilege of conducting business
Tracing the Telephone in Western Massachusetts 335
and social features according to local desires. It was not until 1942 that four such councils were established with headquar- ters at Pittsfield, Springfield, Worcester and Montpelier, Ver- mont, the territory of each conforming to its telephone district. The Council in Vermont chose to be named after one of the great Telephone Pioneers, Matt B. Jones. The other Councils at first were called the Pittsfield, Springfield and Worcester Councils. Later the name of the Springfield Council was changed to that of the Pioneer Valley Council, and the Pitts- field Council assumed the more inclusive name of the Berk- shire Council. At the request of the Worcester Council on March 12, 1946, the formation of the Fitchburg Council was approved, which was composed of the Fitchburg, Leominster and Gardner Exchange Areas. Later the name of this Council was changed to that of the Monachusett Council.
CHAPTER 26
Springfield Exchange Area
UPON the formation of the New England Telephone and Tele- graph Co. on October 19, 1883, six divisions were established, one of which was the Western Division. Frank G. Daboll, who was formerly Superintendent of the Springfield Division of the Bay State Telephone Co., was appointed Superintendent of this Western Division, which included the territory from the Palmer Exchange Area west to the state line, but did not take in the Greenfield Area, which was made the headquarters of the Northern Division. Guy Carleton continued as Manager of the Springfield Exchange. The telephone quarters were still on the third floor of the Kinsman's block, corner of Main and Bridge Streets, where the Kresge 5 & 10 Cent Store Building is now located.
A news item pertaining to Longmeadow was noted in the Jan. 17, 1884, Springfield Daily Union: "Longmeadow wants telephonic connection with Springfield and some of its citizens are already moving in the matter. It is said that one of the diffi- culties in the way is the objection which might be made to running the wires across private property in the south part of the city."
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