USA > Massachusetts > Tracing the telephone in western Massachusetts, 1877-1930 > Part 34
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Jan., 1928, Topics-Horace S. Holt, Division Plant Engi- neer, recently resigned to accept a position as Plant Engineer of the International Telephone Co. in Chile, South America, after twenty years of service with our Company. Horace will handle the engineering for the whole country of Chile. His many friends wish him success in his new venture which takes him thousands of miles from New England.
To Place 1818-Pair Cable.
The first underground telephone cable in New England containing 3,636 wires will be placed in service in Springfield early in 1928. It will run from a manhole in front of the Cen- tral Office on Stearns Park to Bridge Street and down Barnes Ave., a total distance of 441 feet, and will serve a part of the business section of the city. Until recently the largest tele- phone cable in use in the United States contained 2,424 wires. Development and perfection of the 50 percent larger cable has resulted from years of study and experimenting by Bell System engineers.
Jan., 1928, Topics-Fred W. Mckinnon, Division Plant En- gineer, Central Division, was transferred to Springfield as Division Plant Engineer of the Western Division, taking Horace Holt's place.
Robert T. Westermark was appointed Division Plant Ac- countant at Springfield, Dec. 2, 1927. He entered the New England Co. in July, 1923. Mr. Westermark had been engaged for his entire length of service, previous to his recent appoint- ment, in the Methods Dept. of the General Accounting where his work as examiner of methods has kept him in close contact with Plant accounting work.
Hilmer Ackerman was appointed Plant Estimate Engineer Jan. 30, 1928. "Ack" joined the Company May 25, 1922, as a
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Tracing the Telephone in Western Massachusetts
Draftsman in the Division Engineering office. His first field assignment was plotting on 600 foot to the inch maps about everything visible to the eye, telephonically speaking,-pole lines, cables, terminals, open wire, cross arms and drop wires. These maps were indispensable to the Wire Chiefs, Line As- signers and Engineers. In 1926, he was brought into the office to figure the costs of plant estimates, which were prepared by the District Engineers to provide cable relief.
Feb., 1928, Topics-Franklin V. Moulton has been ap- pointed Assistant Traffic Manager in Springfield Suburban, reporting to D. C. Hall, Traffic Manager.
Perry C. Maynard has been named Traffic Manager, Spring- field, in charge of Dial Switching office, reporting to R. J. Dee, District Traffic Supt.
John G. Andrews has been appointed Assistant Traffic Manager in Worcester Cedar, Park and Maple reporting to L. F. Shurtleff, Traffic Manager.
Thomas F. Williams, of the Traffic Dept., has been trans- ferred to Boston.
Carl P. Mixer, recently appointed Division Supt. of Sup- plies, Buildings and Motor Vehicles, entered the employ of the Company as Substation Installer at Gardner and later went to Clinton as Testman and then Wire Chief. Leaving Clinton, Carl was appointed Wire Chief at Leominster, and then the same at Fitchburg.
In Sept., 1923, he was appointed District Plant Chief of the Fitchburg District, where he remained until the Fitchburg and Worcester Districts were consolidated in August 1926, when he came to Springfield as Division Plant Supervisor.
Feb., 1928, Topics-Deane Howland, new Division Plant Supervisor for the Western Division, started with our Com- pany as Night Operator at Windsor, Vt., in September, 1910, and in August, 1913, was sent to White River Junction, where he remained until March, 1922, going through the various grades of Installing and Central Office repair work.
In 1922 Deane was transferred to Boston as Supervisor of Toll Plant, working on routine transmission, noise and cross- talk tests, and in May, 1925, he returned to the Western Divi- sion as Transmission Engineer.
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Howard W. Ellis, who has been a member of the Western Division family since 1913, has recently been appointed Divi- sion Supervisor of Rights of Way for the Metropolitan Divi- sion. Mr. Ellis was Division Supt. of Supplies, Buildings and Motor Vehicles until his recent promotion.
March, 1928, Topics-Max D. Holmes, Sales Supervisor in the Springfield office, has been transferred to the Southwest District, Boston, as District Sales Supervisor.
Stanley C. Bigda has been transferred to the Worcester Commercial office as Commercial Representative. Stanley was promoted from Collector to Commercial Representative at Springfield in October, 1927.
Mrs. Maydell D. Blodgett has been promoted to Collection Supervisor in place of Eleanor F. Healey, who has been ap- pointed District Training Supervisor in place of Maude E. Willis. Miss Willis has returned to Amherst as Cashier, at her own request.
Eva B. Flagg succeeds Mrs. Blodgett as Cashier in the Springfield Business office. Eva joined the Telephone Co. March 20, 1911, as a Clerk at Springfield.
Herbert J. Montague was transferred to the Western Divi- sion in January, 1928, as Traffic Manager in charge of Spring- field Manual. He entered the employ of the Company in July, 1914, in the Plant Dept. in Providence. For twelve years he worked in that area, gaining experience as he progressed step- by-step as Wire Chief, Maintenance Supervisor and other posts.
May, 1928, Topics-Springfield Bowling Season Ends.
One of the most interesting winter activities of the Spring- field telephone family was the program of the Telephone Bowling League made up of six teams, representing Plant Ac- counting, Revenue Accounting, Traffic, Commercial, Line Assigners and Construction Clerks. Since the League was or- ganized with the intention of promoting good fellowship, the Directors feel that they have more than made a success of it, particularly since this was the first year.
The Plant Accounting team was the winner, but only after a close battle with Revenue Accounting and the Line Assign- ers who finished second and third.
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Tracing the Telephone in Western Massachusetts
Directors of the League are; President, P. N. Dinsmore; Sec- retary, H. N. Woods; Samuel Black, Russell Norton, C. Hutchinson, E. Garvey and J. McLaughlin.
Averages of the leaders, Dinsmore, R. A. 95; Kennedy, C. C. 93; Buckley, P. A. 93; Woods, P. A. 90; Jones, P. A. 90.
May, 1928, Topics-Indian Orchard "Satellite."
Foreman Oscar Colsen and a crew of installers are just draw- ing to the end of the largest job of the 700 C or step-by-step type machine switching PBX to be installed by New England Company installers.
The new Orchard office will be a "satellite," unattended suburban type, requiring no operators or permanent mainte- nance force. Circuits are provided which will route into one of the other and larger Springfield offices all calls, alarm signals etc., which would ordinarily require the attention of an Op- erator or Maintenance Man.
The Indian Orchard Office consists of a combination main and intermediate distributing frame, two line finder frames with terminal equipment for eleven hundred subscribers, three connector frames, four bays of selectors, five of miscel- laneous relays, an office alarm rack, an automatic power plant and all the associated apparatus that go to make up a complete office.
A notable point in connection with this office is that it jumps a step in graduating from magneto to dial, without even having been common battery.
"Always show prospective tenants the telephone booth first," directed the landlord.
"All right," said the janitor. "But why?"
"Then they'll think the rooms ain't so small."
June, 1928, Topics-Margaret V. O'Connell and Helen M. Reilly, who were with the Revenue Accounting Dept., were transferred as Commercial Representatives in Springfield.
Maude T. Benoit former Chief Operator at Indian Orchard has been assigned to the Springfield Business office as Teller.
The Springfield Revenue Accounting girls' bowling team captured a match from the Pittsfield Traffic girls' team at Pittsfield. The three string totals follow :-
Tracing the Telephone in Western Massachusetts 413
Pittsfield Traffic-M. Gaylord 245; M. McDonnell 232; M. Dellert 238; M. Behan 238; S. Williams 236; Total 1189.
Springfield Revenue Accounting-A. Wilber 233; J. Shea 240; E. Murphy 219; Y. LeBlanc 261; M. Cray 257; Total 1210.
June 11, 1928, Freeman K. Ostrander was appointed Senior Toll Testman. "Free" started in the Commercial, Nov. 16, 1909, as office boy and pay station attendant, in the Bridge Street building. He transferred to Plant Jan. 1, 1911, as an Installer, becoming a Combination Man in 1915. He served in the 401st Telegraph Battalion during the World War. He rejoined the Company as Local Testman and in 1922 became Toll Testman.
July, 1928, Topics-Casimir Marcou, on June 11, was trans- ferred from Methods work in the Boston Revenue Accounting office to the position of Chief Accounts Supervisor in the Springfield Revenue Accounting office. His many friends in Boston wish him good luck.
J. Howard Marshall, Chief Accounts Supervisor at Spring- field Revenue Accounting, has been appointed to the staff of the Auditor of Receipts, Boston. He entered the employ of the Company Aug. 16, 1920, as a Bookkeeper in the Boston Revenue Accounting office and was transferred to Springfield April 19, 1924, to assist in the consolidation of the Worcester and Springfield Accounting Offices.
Sept. 1928, Topics-John H. Kirby, for the past five years employed as Central Office Man at the Worcester exchange, has been transferred to transmission work, and after three months' intensive training in the Company's transmission school will take up his duties in that line under Division Super- visor of Transmission, Paul Kellogg, of Springfield.
Eugene F. Goggin was transferred to the Installation and Maintenance Dept., July 1, 1928. "Gene" went to work for the Company Nov. 5, 1924. At first he was Time Keeper in the Cable Dept., and then worked as a Helper there until this transfer.
Ruth Edwards was appointed Division Traffic Instructor Aug. 19, 1928. Ruth learned the art of operating in Westerly, R.I., where she was employed in 1918. A transfer to Spring-
414 Tracing the Telephone in Western Massachusetts
field took place in Nov., 1924, where she reported to Miss Mae I. Donovan, Chief Operator. After several promotions she received her present assignment.
Oct., 1928, Topics-John F. Shaw, Springfield Manager, has been moved to Rhode Island to take over the Managership of the Newport Office.
Frank W. Rising, Commercial Representative in the Spring- field office, has resigned. He has made many real friends dur- ing his fourteen years' employment both among those with whom he has worked and also while carrying on his duties among the business men of this city. Everybody who came in contact with him and learned to know Frank, could always feel sure of a smile and a cheerful word.
Stephen M. Whitney was first employed June 16, 1924, and was assigned to the General Commercial Engineering Dept. at Boston. He has had varied experience in Commercial Engi- neering, particularly on major and modified commercial sur- veys. "Steve" comes to the Division well qualified to assume the duties as Assistant Division Commercial Survey Engineer.
We are glad to welcome Sydney F. Spencer to the Spring- field Business office of the Commercial Dept., who is to be a Commercial Representative.
R. L. Sheppard has been named Machine Switching Super- visor; Arthur D. Hamilton, new Maintenance Supervisor for the Springfield District; F. K. Wrisley just appointed Chief Switchman, Springfield Machine.
Isabel Leslie of the Springfield Revenue Accounting office, recently returned from a month's vacation spent in Canada, visiting relatives in Winnepeg, Montreal, Saskatchewan and Regina. She says that Canada is very much up-to-date in tele- phone methods and that the dial system has been in effect for quite some time.
Nov., 1928, Topics-Margaret E. Connelly has just been ap- pointed Division Chief Clerk in the Plant Dept. Margaret started work as a Stenographer in the Division Plant Office Jan. 2, 1909, a year after the functional set-up, and has served under all the Plant Supts. from R. H. Keller, the first, C. N. Tasker, R. C. Marden, J. H. Dodge, to Fred Rockhold.
On Oct. 1, 1928, Eugene R. Mclaughlin was promoted
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Tracing the Telephone in Western Massachusetts
from Office Manager at Springfield to Manager of the Spring- field Exchange.
Robert M. Hodgson was transferred on Oct. Ist from Man- ager at North Adams to Office Manager at Springfield.
C. S. Stebbins has just been made Division Supervisor of Supply Service.
Mary A. O'Donnell, who has been Chief Operator at North- ampton since Feb. 6, 1927, was transferred to the Division Traffic office as Division Instructor. Mary started as an Opera- tor in Holyoke Sept. 2, 1912, and advanced to the post of Chief Operator April 25, 1926. On Feb. 6, 1927, she was transferred to Northampton as Chief Operator.
Dec., 1928, Topics-Philip N. Howell was appointed Divi- sion Plant Engineer of the Western Division Oct., 15, 1928. "Phil" joined the Company in Vermont May 29, 1914, and came to Springfield as an Engineer in 1925.
Howard D. Bailey was transferred to the Western Division as Central Office Equipment Engineer.
Arthur W. Horton became the new Western Division Traf- fic Engineer, and Joseph H. MacNeil and Fred A. Holt were assigned to Mr. Horton's staff as Manual Traffic Engineers.
H. J. Montague was appointed Dial System Supervisor with direct supervision over all dial conversions in the Division.
Feb., 1929, Topics-On Jan. 1, 1929, a new department made its debut. Hereafter we will have associated with each Division an Auditor of Disbursements.
R. T. Westermark was appointed Auditor of Disburse- ments for the Western Division, reporting to Mr. Fred W. Tucker, General Auditor of Disbursements.
Jan., 1929, Topics-Northern and Southern Areas.
The important organization change, which took effect Jan- uary 1st, resulting in the formation of two new operating areas to cover the entire Company,-the Northern and South- ern Areas,-brought about several changes of personnel in the Western Division. Clinton B. Allsopp, the new General Com- mercial Manager of the Southern Area, included on his staff Charles W. Dufresne as Division Manager of the Metropolitan Division, thus depriving the Western Division of an esteemed Division Manager.
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Tracing the Telephone in Western Massachusetts
Andrew Schultz, General Manager of the Northern Area, appointed W. A. McCoy,-formerly District Manager, North- west District, Metropolitan,-Western Division Manager, re- porting to B. T. Miller, General Commercial Manager, Northern Area.
C. W. Baier, Western Division Traffic Supt., was transferred to the staff of J. E. Harrell, who had been named General Supervisor of Traffic in the Northern Area.
Fred Rockhold, Western Division Plant Supt., was selected by C. N. Tasker, General Plant Manager, Northern Area, for his staff, but was not moved from Springfield.
Inez E. Kavanaugh, Western Division Supervisor in charge of other Departmental Disbursement Accounting, reports to the Division Auditor of Disbursements, Mr. Westermark.
All Plant, Traffic and Commercial accounting work will now be transferred to the jurisdiction of the General Auditor.
Mrs. Inez E. Kavanaugh started her telephone career March 7, 1910, as an Operator in the Springfield office. Inez advanced through the various operating stages to become Assistant Chief Operator. From here she was transferred to the Division Cash- ier's office as a Supervisor of Pay Rolls for the Traffic, Com- mercial and Revenue Accounting Depts., reporting to Miss Catherine Trent, who was Division Cashier. Upon Miss Trent's resignation, Mrs. Kavanaugh was appointed Division Cashier. She remained here until her recent transfer to the newly formed Division Disbursements Accounting Dept.
Alfreda D. Sinclair, who was Assistant Division Cashier, was transferred to the Division Traffic office Jan. 1, 1929, as Super- visor, and soon was appointed Assistant to the Chief Clerk, Miss Loretta Kennedy. Alfreda, an excellent Comptometrist, was first employed on some special work for the Division Traf- fic for three weeks. Her visit afforded mutual satisfaction, for she has been with the Company ever since. Her service record started Sept. 24, 1923, being assigned to the Division Cashier's office, on payroll work, and in a few years progressed to the post of Assistant Division Cashier.
Henry G. Hagen was transferred to the Western Division Jan. 1, 1929. Henry later recalled the following events: He joined the Company Oct. 22, 1917, being assigned to the Cen-
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Tracing the Telephone in Western Massachusetts
tral Office Equipment Engineering in the Central Division. In 1919 he was transferred to the Equipment and Buildings Dept., of the Engineering Dept. in Boston. When the Northern and Southern Areas were organized, most of this Department's work was transferred to the Divisions. Howard D. Bailey was appointed Division Central Office Equipment Engineer at Springfield, reporting to the Division Plant Engineer.
The members of Howard Bailey's force were: Walter Burr, "Sam" Chambers, Miles Cogan, Henry Hagen, John Marion, "Bill" Proctor, Dave Roach and Charles Slack, all from Bos- ton; John Armstrong and "Bob" Wiggin from Springfield; and George H. Spelman from Worcester. This group carried on the engineering of Common Battery and Magneto Central offices, and special station equipment, for the Western Divi- sion, which then included the Worcester, Springfield, Pitts- field and Vermont Districts.
About 1931 or 1932, when the business depression had re- duced the need of central office engineering, the work of this department was returned to Boston, except the engineering of special station equipment, magneto central offices and dial PBXs, which were handled by Henry Hagen, Central Office Engineer, assisted by John Armstrong and Charlie Slack. Howard Bailey and John Marion returned to Boston, David Roach went to Worcester as Testman, "Bob" Wiggin returned to Holyoke as Testman, Miles Cogan and "Sam" Chambers went into the House Servicing group in Worcester and Spring- field, respectively. George Spelman had retired.
An earlier Topics gave this item regarding Mr. Spelman: On August 1, 1923, Central Office Foreman George H. Spel- man, of Worcester, rounded out 25 years of telephone service with the New England Co. He started in switchboard construc- tion work in the Haymarket Exchange in Boston Aug. 1, 1898.
Jan., 1929, Topics-Charlotte Gregg, the well-known Cash- ier in the Western Division Plant Accounting office, severed her connection with the Company the first of the year, and is placed on the retired list at her own request, after serving the Company faithfully and well for 32 years.
Miss Gregg has a record of which anyone might well be proud. No matter what the weather, she was always at her desk
418 Tracing the Telephone in Western Massachusetts
each day and there never was an error she could not find. She has seen the Accounting Dept. grow from a small beginning to its present size. Her co-workers regret to see her go; and pre- sented her with a beautiful sapphire ring as a token of their esteem.
In January, 1929, Michael F. Coyne was named Supervisor of Plant Accounting. "Mike" entered the Company in 1907 at Manchester, N.H. as Clerk for the Foreman of Maintenance, Angus Bailey, who reported to Manager Ralph Mandell. The next year he became XA Clerk for District Plant Chief Mar- den. During the World War, he attended the Machine Gun Officers School at Fort Hancock, Georgia, and was commis- sioned Second Lieutenant. In 1923 he rejoined the Company at Fitchburg in the Plant Accounting, and in September, 1925, he was transferred to Springfield as Verifying Clerk. This com- position is not complete without mention of Mike's inimitable gift of storytelling, enjoyed both near and far.
E. E. Geoffrion, formerly Assistant Supervisor of Plant Ac- counting, was designated Supervisor of Estimates and Special Reports.
On May 1, Mrs. Louisa Dunbar, Division Commercial Cashier since March, 1926, assumed her new duties as Division Training Supervisor.
S. Elizabeth Bunnell was transferred from the Plant Ac- counting Dept., where she was recently transferred, to the Commercial Dept. as Division Commercial Cashier.
June, 1929, Topics-New Association Formed.
An association known as "The Central Office Maintenance Association" has been formed at Springfield and is made up of all Inside Maintenance Men in the Springfield Exchange. The Association was formed for the purpose of remembering mem- bers in case of sickness, etc., and to handle the social work of the department.
Tom Welch, the father of the organization, has been chosen President and is assisted by a general committee consisting of E. F. Jenness, R. E. Kingsbury, W. E. Sanderson and F. W. Williams; an entertainment committee consisting of F. Wil- liams, W. Sponberg, C. Young, R. McGillvary and Eugene
Tracing the Telephone in Western Massachusetts 419
Flagg; and a publicity committee consisting of C. Donovan, C. Rogers, R. E. Kingsbury, J. Collins and E. Bray.
Improvements at Chicopee
A good piece of work has been completed by the Spring- field Equipment forces in raising the roof, installing addi- tional equipment, and remodeling the switchboard at Chico- pee.
The artistic work of painters and decorators inside and out- side the Chicopee Telephone Building is noticeable and grati- fying. Combine this with the hundred per cent service ren- dered by the Chicopee Operators guided by Edith M. Mc- Carthy, Chief Operator, and one may easily conceive that the Chicopee Exchange has improved in effect as well as in appear- ance.
The Chicopee office has been inscribed on the silver cup that the Traffic Dept. offers to the exchange in the district that has the best service rating for three months. Edith McCarthy was hostess at a party given in honor of the event.
July, 1929, Topics-On May 3, the Long Lines Dept., A. T. & T. Co., held a First Aid contest at Poughkeepsie, N.Y., and for the fourth time in the past year our Division Safety Super- visor, Ralph A. Tyler, was invited to act as Chief Judge to handle the contest.
C. E. Curtis was appointed Division Plant Engineer at Springfield Sept. 1, 1929. "Cliff" started to work for the Com- pany in January, 1906, as an Engineer on development studies in the General Engineering office. During January, 1910, he was transferred to Portland, Maine, as District Engineer. Jan- uary, 1920, he returned to the General Engineering office as Facilities Engineer, where he remained until coming to Springfield.
Philip H. Howell, who has been Division Plant Engineer at Springfield, was appointed Engineer of Outside Plant for the Northern Area.
Roger Lappin has been appointed Division Transmission Engineer. He joined the Company in 1923 and served at Bos- ton in the Division Plant Engineers, and in the offices of the
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Tracing the Telephone in Western Massachusetts
General Plant Supervisor and of the General Toll Plant Supervisor.
Paul Kellogg, who has been doing Transmission work in the Western Division since 1926, was promoted to Pittsfield District Plant Engineer. He started with the Engineers in Bos- ton in 1923.
Donald W. Jackson is another Transmission Expert. He started as a Draftsman in 1923 and later had two years in sur- vey work on high tension line and power problems. He also had four years under the Division Transmission Engineer at Springfield.
Aug. 1929, Topics-Allen E. Brickett, assistant to John J. O'Brien, Chief Accounts Supervisor of the Boston Revenue Accounting office, was transferred to the Springfield Revenue Accounting office as Chief Accounts Supervisor on August 1. During his brief stay at the Boston office, Allen made many friends, who presented him with a golf bag and set of clubs, together with their best wishes for his future in the telephone business and at Golf.
Laurence B. Shepherd, Division Toll Tester, was appointed Division Toll Plant Supervisor Sept. 17, 1929.
Sept., 1929, Topics-Eleanor F. Healey, District Training Instructress of the Springfield District since Jan. 23, 1928, has been transferred to the Springfield Commercial Office as Office Supervisor, filling the vacancy caused by the transfer of Robert M. Hodgson to the Springfield District office on special work.
E. Warner Eldridge was transferred to the Palmer Exchange as Manager Sept. 23, 1929. Mr. and Mrs. Eldridge have con- ducted the North Wilbraham Agency office since 1916, suc- ceeding "Joe" Hart, who took it in 1912, when the switch- board was moved to the Collins Inn, opposite the Post Office. After Proprietor Hart's withdrawal, the Company leased a newly remodeled house situated near the B & A depot, which became the residence of Mr. and Mrs. Eldridge. David Dun- ham is appointed the new Agent.
Nov., 1929, Topics-Springfield defeats Boston to win Com- pany Championship.
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