USA > Massachusetts > Tracing the telephone in western Massachusetts, 1877-1930 > Part 30
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The first teletypewriter to be installed in Springfield was at the Springfield Union, the latter part of 1916 or early 1917. It connected this newspaper to the Associated Press service in New York, and was installed by Eugene P. Lowell, District Central Office Man, who had attended a class of instruction given by the American Telephone Co. The Bell Telephone Laboratories, according to Gene, was forced to release the in- strument sooner than planned, probably on account of the war, so that some changes confronted him in setting it up. It was a cumbersome affair and noisy, but could send 40 words per minute. Gene looked after "Old Iron Horse" about a year, before being promoted to Central Office Foreman.
Bernard A. Digan and Vertran F. Jones, repairmen, had worked some on the teletypewriter, and were delegated to look after its welfare.
The first mention of teletypewriter service noticed in Top- ics was in Mr. Vail's letter of Dec. 11, 1918, announcing the American Telephone Company's invention of the multiplex transmission of messages,-"as applied to high speed printer systems we can do eight times as much as is now done."
Jan., 1917, Topics-New 5 Story Building to be Erected.
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The addition to the Springfield central office building will be 80 feet in height with five stories. It will have a frontage of 107 feet on Worthington Street and 87 feet on Dwight Street, and will be built in such a way that sometime in the future three more stories may be added. The building will be con- structed of steel, brick and concrete, and will be as fireproof as modern skill can make it. The exterior will be of brick with marble trimmings.
The new building will contain the permanent Walnut ex- change switchboard, and practically all the power and termi- nal room equipment. The River switchboard and the toll switchboard will remain in the present building. Provision also will be made for the division and district plant dept. forces and the clerks of the division revenue supervisors, which now occupy leased quarters.
The first floor will be occupied almost entirely by the com- mercial dept., the second floor by the offices of Division Supt. of Plant Keller and District Plant Chief McAulay, the third floor by the power and terminal plant, the fourth floor by the Walnut exchange operating room, and on the fifth floor will be the sitting room and lunch room for the use of operators. It is expected the building will be ready for complete occupancy on August 1 of next year.
The Topics of August, 1917, announced that R. H. Keller, Division Plant Supt., having entered military service, H. L. Jones was appointed acting Division Plant Supt.
Nov., 1917, Topics-Lovell B. Stowe Leaves Western.
Section 1, Sheet 4 of the Contract Practices says so and so. Now did you ever stop to think what a big job it is to get these out so that they are understandable to the employees?
Well, that is the job that "L. B." is doing today, making routines for us all to follow to get the best results and he is doing a good job. Commercial Engineer Munroe decided that he wanted a man of Mr. Stowe's type on his staff, so along he came to Boston where he now holds a job that would cause the average man to get gray haired over night. One thing that impresses everyone about Mr. Stowe is his good nature. He always has a smile that is contagious.
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Tracing the Telephone in Western Massachusetts
Miss Theresa Tierney was honored by being made Chief Operator of the Camp Devens exchange, and Miss May L. Purves was made a Supervisor.
On July 22, 1918, President Woodrow Wilson placed the telegraph and the telephone under the Postmaster General, the property to be returned in an operating condition equiva- lent to that which existed on July 31, 1918.
Oct., 1918, Topics-Northrup Succeeds Daboll.
Frank G. Daboll, Commercial Supt. of the Western Divi- sion, and for substantially forty years identified with te- lephony in that division, has notified General Supt. Whitney of his desire to retire from active service on account of the condition of his eyes.
The Western Division will certainly miss the old "Super," as he was affectionately called. A nervous, brusque man, his discipline was strict, but no one ever questioned his justness, and everyone conceded the presence of a big and generous heart. Mr. Daboll's motto for the successful conduct of the telephone business is brief but comprehensive: Give Good Service.
His successor is William B. Northrup, North Suburban Manager, who has been a telephone man for nearly 21 years. He entered the employ of the Company Dec. 26, 1897, as a clerk in the Auditor's office, and was subsequently voucher clerk in the Boston Division office, Division Chief Clerk and Cashier at New Bedford, Chief Clerk at Lowell, Boston and Worcester, Commercial Chief Clerk of the Central division, Special Agent in the General Commercial Superintendent's office, and in charge of methods, efficiency, organization and employees' training work in the Commercial Engineering office.
Raymond Daboll was appointed District Plant Engineer at about the time of his father's retirement. He entered the em- ploy of the Company Jan. 7, 1909, in the Engineering depart- ment and had become Field Engineer before receiving this appointment.
Warner E. Eldridge was appointed a coin box collector Oct. 14, 1918. Warner started to work May 5, 1905, as a relief op-
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erator in the Needham, Newton and Wellesley exchanges at the age of sixteen, and soon was made a full-fledged night operator at Needham. He transferred to the Traffic Dept. in Springfield in 1910 as a service observer and in 1913 became a Clerk in the Wire Chiefs' office, where he remained until his recent appointment.
Nov., 1918, Topics-Charles N. Tasker, who has been act- ing Division Plant Supt. in the State of Maine division since January of this year, has been promoted to Division Plant Supt. of the Western division.
He first entered the telephone service as Night Operator at Dover, N. H., where he was born. In 1898 he started in the Plant Dept. as an Installer and worked up to Division Inspec- tor in 1905, serving in New Hampshire, Central Division and New Bedford. He was then engaged for a year by the Mexican Telephone and Telegraph Co. as Assistant General Manager at Mexico City. Returning to New Bedford in 1906, he was soon advanced to Division Foreman. In August, 1908, the po- sition of District Plant Chief was established for the New Bedford district, to which he was appointed and conducted successfully until January, 1918, when he received his assign- ment as Division Plant Supt. for the State of Maine.
Frank W. Spencer, who has been the Division Revenue Supervisor at Springfield for several years, was transferred to the staff of the Traveling Auditor, in August, 1918. His terri- tory was expected to be Western Mass. and Vt., so that he could continue to live in Springfield.
Philip N. Dinsmore, Division Revenue Supervisor at Ban- gor, was transferred to Springfield August, 1918, in a similar capacity.
MR. DUBBS (with newspaper): "It tells here, my dear, how a progressive Boston woman makes her social calls by tele- phone."
MRS. DUBBS: "Progressive. Huh! She's probably like me, not a decent thing to wear."
Sept., 1919, Topics-Walnut Cut-Over in New Building.
Times have changed somewhat, and we make less of cut- overs than in former days. Like other features of our business
Tracing the Telephone in Western Massachusetts 365
they have been systematized and perfected so that a successful "cut" in each instance, is now positively assured.
The cut-over of the Walnut exchange at Springfield, Satur- day, July 26, attracted a small group of people and the sub- scribers were transferred to the new board without a hitch in the proceedings.
The new exchange starts with 17 local and 8 switching posi- tions. There are approximately 5,000 Walnut subscribers com- ing into the exchange, or 2,200 lines. The new switchboard has a capacity of about 9,000 lines, or about 20,000 subscribers. The initial installation is 4,000 lines, which will care for about 7,500 subscribers. A new type of ringing key has been installed, which is much more positive in its action and cannot stick, and a new type of timing device, much after the pattern of a mile- age registering device on a speedometer. There is a dial at each position, which registers the time of day in minutes and tenths of minutes.
Up to the time of the cut-over, Walnut has been more or less of an adjunct of the River exchange. Both exchanges have oc- cupied the same quarters in the old building and the two have been handled by one force organization. Now, however, Wal- nut comes into its own in brand new quarters and with a dis- tinct and separate force organization.
At the head of the new organization is Miss Theresa Tier- ney, who has been promoted to the Chief Operatorship of so important an office in recognition of the splendid service ren- dered as Chief Operator of the Camp Devens Exchange. Miss Tierney handled many critical situations at Camp Devens with skill and diplomacy, and won both the admiration and co-operation of the army officers stationed there. Miss Tierney will have as her assistant Miss Frances O'Brien, who will act in the capacity of Desk Supervisor. The Supervisors chosen are: Miss Gladys Newell, Miss Gladys Buckleton, Miss Helen O'Connell, Miss Mary Fagan, Miss Mary Donovan and Miss Leonora Lawler.
Dec., 1919, Topics-Duncan MacLennan has been trans- ferred to Springfield as Division Plant Foreman. The promo- tion is in recognition of his work since he has been in Worces- ter. Mr. MacLennan has been employed by the Company for
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twenty-eight years, thirteen of which have been at the Worces- ter office.
E. G. Breslin, who has been in the Plant dept. at Springfield for a number of years, took the place made vacant at Worces- ter.
CHAPTER 27
Springfield Exchange Area 1920-1929
FEB., 1920, Topics-Harry L. Sanborn, Manager of the Springfield Exchange, has been appointed District Manager, taking the new position Jan. 1, 1920. He will continue as Manager until his successor is appointed.
Mr. Sanborn has been Manager at Springfield since the Reorganization twelve years ago (Aug. 1, 1908), and has seen the stations grow from 9,000 in 1908, to more than 26,000 at the present time, which necessitated the division of the local exchange into three exchanges,-River, Walnut, and Or- chard.
Much of the success of Harry Sanborn is due to the fact that he has always tried to give a "square" deal to the Company and to the subscriber.
Feb., 1920, Topics-Santa visits P. D. Dinsmore and his Force.
The conference room on the fifth floor of the new Tele- phone Building in Springfield was the scene of a very pretty Christmas party of the clerks of the Revenue Accounting Dept. on Monday evening, Dec. 22, 1919.
The entertainment committee provided some exciting and joyful games, everybody present taking part, and later, with Miss Mary C. Anthony at the piano as accompanist, the Misses Josie M. Meaney and Gladys M. Ludden entertained with vocal selections. Miss Dorothy Cameron danced and sang, and
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Tracing the Telephone in Western Massachusetts
Master Philip D. Dinsmore played a few selections on the piano which was greatly enjoyed.
Harold Giles took the part of Santa Claus, and dis- tributed the presents according to the numbers on the pack- ages, all present having drawn a number previous to the dis- tribution. The packages also bore the names of many famous moving picture actresses, and much enjoyment was had through this novel way of distribution.
Singing and dancing were enjoyed and at 11 P.M. the "eats" drew everybody's attention.
The Decorating and Refreshment Committee was: Misses Grace Darling, Sallie Darling, Winifred H. Harris, and Mrs. Linda M. Cameron. Entertainment Committee: Misses Emma S. Hoyle, Ruth Beebe, and Irene A. Dowling.
April, 1920, Topics-Every division in the Company's terri- tory will hereafter have its own Associate Editor of Telephone Topics, chosen by the functional heads in the respective divi- sions. Frederic R. White, Supervisor of Service, was selected by the three Division Supts. to be Associate Editor for the Western Division. He is well known in the Division and will be on the job to fill the pages allotted to him.
C. E. Davis was transferred to the position of Division Fore- man of Central Office work under J. W. Forssen in 1920. After serving as Chief Clerk to District Plant Chief McAulay in 1909 and 1910, he took over Central Office, PBX and block wiring supervision in June, 1910, for the Springfield District.
John H. Armstrong was assigned to the Division Plant En- gineers in 1920. He entered the service in the Central Office Construction Dept. at Boston in 1903. He came to Springfield in 1909, and was made Wire Chief at Springfield in 1911.
June, 1920, Topics-John W. Spalding, formerly Manager at Fall River, was appointed Manager of the Springfield Ex- change and its subsidiary exchanges, May 3. He will have charge of the commercial interests of the Springfield, Chico- pee, East Longmeadow, Hampden, North Wilbraham and Ludlow exchanges. He is well qualified to care for what is considered one of the largest and rapidly expanding exchanges in the state, with more than 26,000 stations.
Mr. Spalding began his telephone career in 1904, in the me-
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chanical dept. in Boston, and in two years transferred to the Traffic Dept. as a Service Inspector. A year later he became Chief Operator of the New Bedford exchange and in April, 1910, he was promoted to the Commercial Engineers in Bos- ton, working with Charles F. West on toll development. He was appointed Manager at Taunton, Feb. 3, 1917, and at Fall River in June, 1918.
Aug., 1920, Topics-Telephone Topics lost its Associate Editor for the Western Division. Fred R. White, on July 6, left for his new position in the office of A. E. Walker, Supervisor of Traffic for the New York Telephone Co., where he will be en- gaged on special study work. Since coming to Springfield in 1908, he has served as Chief Operator, Chief Clerk to G. W. Hayden,-Division Traffic Supt., then Traffic Supervisor for the Division, Division Traffic Engineer, and Division Service Supervisor. Every one in the Western Division wishes him the best of luck in his new work.
Horace S. Holt was named Associate Editor of Telephone Topics for the Western Division to take Mr. White's place.
Dec., 1920, Topics-Ralph W. Plummer has been pro- moted to the position of Division Service Supervisor to fill the place of Fred R. White. Mr. Plummer entered the employ of the Company on Aug. 6, 1904, as a student in the Boston office. In April, 1906, he was appointed Chief Operator at Bangor. In Jan., 1907, he returned to Boston as Toll Service Supervisor, and in November, 1909, he first came to Springfield, as Super- visor of Traffic, remaining until April, 1910. He next served as District Traffic Chief at Lewiston, to Feb., 1914; at Bangor, to March 1, 1920; and at Fitchburg, to his present as- signment.
Aug., 1920, Topics-Harry Oakes was coming down Bel- mont Ave. in his "little old last year's car" one morning recently on his way to work. A young lady who was walking along on the sidewalk, thinking it must be an electric car from the volume of noise, without looking around made a dash for a white post. In justice to Harry it must be admitted that he made good by offering to give the young lady a lift.
Nov., 1920, Topics-Maurice Blaisdell was tendered a sur- prise party by the employees of the Company in the Fitchburg
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Tracing the Telephone in Western Massachusetts
District in G.A.R. Hall, Fitchburg, on Sept. 21, and there pre- sented with a handsome shot gun and a fishing rod.
Mr. Blaisdell was assigned to special work September 12, in the office of the Division Supt. of Plant, at Springfield.
Charles H. Knox, Cable inspector in the District Engineers, Springfield, was transferred to the District Construction Dept. in January, 1921. Harry's first assignment in 1911 to a flying squadron, which was canvassing for regrades, lasted about six months, and he next secured work in the District Construction Dept., making private property inventories and diagrams of toll plant. From here he went to the District Engineers Oct. 1, 1919, where he became an electrolysis Inspector. When this work was transferred to the District Construction Dept., Harry was needed to look after it.
Miss Elizabeth Harkness, for the past eight years Toll Chief Operator at Springfield, was promoted to a position in the office of the District Traffic Chief in January 1921. She has been regarded as a personal friend by each and every one of her girls.
Miss Mae I. Donovan was appointed Toll Chief Operator at Springfield in place of Miss Harkness. She began her career in December, 1905, as a Messenger girl. Through the position of Operator, Supervisor, Instructor, Night Chief Operator and Day Assistant Chief Operator, Miss Donovan has demon- strated her natural ability for telephone work.
The Northampton District was established Jan. 1, 1921, tak- ing the Greenfield area from the Pittsfield District and the Northampton Area from the Springfield District. The Hol- yoke Exchange was added to the new District, probably in 1923. The Commercial Depts., however, were not affected. L. V. Gillis was made Plant Supervisor of this new District.
Charles E. Lyons, Installation Foreman at Springfield, was appointed Acting District Foreman of the Springfield District. He started as a Groundman in the Plant Dept. in April, 1903, at Springfield, where he has been ever since. He rose steadily through the positions of Lineman, Installer, Loop Team Fore- man, Testman, Head Lineman, Head Installer and Installa- tion Foreman.
Carlos N. Butler, Class A. Installer and Sub-foreman, suc-
Tracing the Telephone in Western Massachusetts 371
ceeded Mr. Lyons. He started at Greenfield in July, 1903, as a member of a floating crew engaged in inside work, remaining there until July, 1906. He worked for the New York Company at New York for six months and then returned to Springfield in December, 1906, where he has been engaged in substation, PBX, and Central Office installations.
Carl A. Smith, Clerk to the Springfield District Foreman, was transferred to Northampton with his boss, Mr. Gillis. Carl started as a Night Operator in North Brookfield May 1, 1907, and was soon transferred to Worcester as Wire Chief's Clerk. He next worked in the Worcester and Springfield Accounting Depts.
Francis Carty took Carl's place in Springfield in January, 1921. He started his telephone career here June 27, 1913, as an Installer's Helper, prewiring blocks. He soon became an In- staller, and in 1917 was transferred to the Construction Dept. In 1918 he went to France with the 301st Field Signal Battal- ion, 76th Division. Upon his return, he did installation and order board work until his recent promotion.
Frank G. Daboll, who had retired in 1918, died on March 3, 1921. His contribution to the establishment and growth of the telephone business in Western Mass. has been recorded in previous pages.
Telephone Topics, after a review of his telephone work, concluded with this paragraph: "Growing up with the art from times when a conversation of 20 miles was considered the extreme limit possible, he had at all times the greatest confi- dence in the future, and to his energy and progressive methods was due perhaps more than to any other one person, the rapid spread of farmer line installations in the rural sections of West- ern Massachusetts."
June, 1921, Topics-A New Form of Contest.
Fred Montessi, office boy, at Division headquarters in Springfield, was the winner of the Limerick Contest, and is in receipt of $21 as prize money for having correctly guessed the subject of 21 of the 23 limericks. The following are the subjects of each limerick: Anna Cummings, W. J. McLaugh- lin, Harry Cook, H. W. Dickinson, Edith Harkness, Frederick Kegler, Gus McAulay, Clarence Hill, Irene Merrill, Jimmy
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Tracing the Telephone in Western Massachusetts
Malloy, Katherine Latchford, Lou Donlon, M. S. Blaisdell, "Skim" Bacon, F. K. Ostrander, Walter Pepper, E. J. Quinn, Herman Rouillard, Donald Sawtelle, Theresa Tierney, Cliff Vaughn, "Wally" Parker, "Zeke" Colby.
In 1921 Dean Ainsworth was transferred to the test board. He started with the Company in October, 1919, and worked a little while in a line crew, Charlie Biddle being the foreman. After trying his hand at telephone installing and central office repairing, he was appointed the first full time Teletypewriter Maintenance Man at Springfield.
George H. Campbell succeeded Dean Ainsworth as Tele- typewriter Maintenance Man. George entered the Company in October, 1907, and his experience as Stock Room Clerk, and eight years in the installation and repair dept. will stand him in good stead. He spent two years with the 401st Tele- graph Battalion in the First World War installing telephone and telegraph offices in France.
Oct., 1921, Topics-Operators Make Merry.
A "Dog" roast held Sept. 7th at Congamond Lake, was at- tended by Operators in the River, Walnut, Holyoke and Chic- opee Exchanges. Upon arrival of the trucks, the fire was nice and hot, and in no time every one was enjoying the roasted "dogs" and marshmallows.
Then came the sports. The suitcase race was won by Mary Wynne. Mr. Amidon, Assistant Traffic Chief, was in the race also, and we are still wondering why he left the suit case after him. Next came the three-legged race, won by Rose Carlin and Teresa Sullivan of the River Exchange; 50 yard dash, won by Mae Connelly, River Exchange; second, Catherine Walsh, Walnut Exchange; pie plate race, won by Anna L. Sullivan of the River Exchange; one-legged race, won by Mr. Chapman. Mr. McAulay might have won but he used two legs instead of one.
The judges were Miss M. D. McCarthy, River Central Of- fice, Mr. Knox and Mr. Boyce, of the Commercial Dept. After the sports, dancing was enjoyed until 11:30 P.M. Everybody had a dandy time, thanks to the committee in charge: Hazel Barry, Chairman; Julia Lacey, Mary Gordon, Mary Wynne,
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Tracing the Telephone in Western Massachusetts
Mae Connelly, Catherine Walsh, Catherine Comer, Anna E. Sullivan and Florence Mahoney.
In 1922 Seabury R. Colby was appointed the first Plant Engineer of the new Northampton District. He joined the Springfield Plant Dept. about 1905. After taking a hand at installing, and repairing for a few months, he became an In- spector. He then was assigned to the Testboard, which meant line assigning as well, and in 1911 was appointed Line As- signer. About 1919 he went into the District Engineers office.
A Kentucky gentleman was once offered a position with a company selling spring water. He was to be paid one hundred dollars per week and the representative of the company told him he had nothing to do but go into first-class cafes and order a glass of-spring water.
"But, sah, spose they've got it sah. No, sah, I will not take the job, sah!"-Topics.
Wayne D. Wood, Commercial Representative in Westfield, was transferred to the Springfield business office as Counter Representative in June, 1922. Wayne began his telephone ca- reer in Westfield April 5, 1909, as a Collector and later was the first rural line salesman in the Springfield District.
Aug., 1922, Topics-Western Mass. Credit Union.
Heretofore, Springfield has been a branch of the Telephone Workers' Credit Union of Mass., with headquarters in Boston but because of its size, it has been deemed advisable to make it a separate Credit Union, owned, operated and managed by and for Telephone employees of the Western part of the State. This Credit Union will take in Pittsfield, Holyoke, No. Adams, Greenfield and other cities near Springfield.
At the annual meeting the following Directors were elected: P. F. Follett, W. M. Pepper, H. G. Rouillard, A. L. Dexter, Eleanor Healey, Clara Pepper, L. B. Shepherd, Anna Wilbur, C. F. Donahoe, Julia L. Finn, Catherine Canty, Teresa Lynch, Helen O'Donnell, Joseph Marr and E. S. Henderson.
The Supervisory Committee elected were: F. L. Beebe, Eva Bryson, E. T. Sheridan.
The Credit Committee elected were: E. A. Geoffrion, I. N. Kelley and E. J. Tyer. The Directors elected the following Officers: Joseph Marr, President; Mrs. Clara Pepper, E. S.
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Tracing the Telephone in Western Massachusetts
Henderson and L. B. Shepherd, Vice-Presidents; H. G. Rouil- lard, Treasurer, Helen O'Donnell, Clerk.
Mary T. O'Connell was transferred from Pittsfield to Springfield in 1922, when the Pittsfield Accounting office was moved to Springfield. After displaying her penmanship in bookkeeping a little while, she was promoted to Supervisor of Machine Billing and then to Supervisor of Reports.
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