USA > Massachusetts > Tracing the telephone in western Massachusetts, 1877-1930 > Part 35
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A pleasant afternoon made conditions ideal for the Tele-
WESTERN DIVISION COMMERCIAL CONFERENCE AT GREENFIELD
Front row, left to right: C. Parker, C. Foley, A. Nelligan, M. Anthony, C. O'Donnell, C. Barry, M. Allen, W. Dunn, H. Wilson. Second row: G. Shea, C. Hopkins, H. Pratt, P. McMorran, H. Fasick, J. Griffin, R. Woodcock, J. Carraher. Third row: E. Beebe. J. Donoghue, J. Dick, F. Holden, B. Miller, H. Chenerey, J. Morse, J. Harrell, L. Johnson, F. Pierce, A. Danforth, E. Eldridge, A. Burrows, C. Weston. Fourth row: G. Gowdy. J. Fair, G. Hinckley, G. Morley, J. Weinheimer, R. Hodgson, R. Nichols, E. Sidley, E. Smith. Fifth row: E. Lowell, H. Brock, W. Mclaughlin, W. Barker, R. Inglis, F. Kegler, R. Fuller, R. Hoit, P. Thompson, R. Jones. Sixth row: E. Wagner, R. Murdick, B. Patten, unknown. Top: R. Bradbury.
LOCAL No. 4, I. B. T. W. INITIATION OF LOCAL OFFICERS
Seated: George Carty, Frank Rattman, Ralph Hatheway, Steve O'Connor (President of Local No. 4), John Kuehn, George Bresnahan, Howard Johnson, Stanley Nye. Standing: Eddie Garvey, Francis Croken, Eddie Shea, Sabby Napolitan, Jerry Coughlin (President of the I.B.T.W., Boston), Joseph Sheehan, John Prendergast, Tom Wright, Bernie Monahan, Dan Coulson, Raymond Kelly.
SPRINGFIELD BUSINESS OFFICE-1929
First row, left to right: J. Griffin, S. Spencer, T. Hanford, F. Poole, J. Cavanaugh, B. Dwyer, G. Bresnahan. Second row: D. LaFond, E. Bunnell, M. Blodgett, C. Pepper, E. Mclaughlin, Manager; E. Flagg, E. Healey, E. Moriarty, B. Lindsay. Third row: M. O'Connell, M. Sundquist, C. Isham, H. Reilly, F. Ksionzek, E. Lyman, M. Anthony, M. Maloney, E. Hederman, E. Hynes. Top row: N. Ward, M. Benoit, K. Brennan, E. Williams, E. Scullane, K. McGrath, A. Sheldon, J. Cramer, D. LaFlamme.
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A SERVICE ANNIVERSARY LUNCHEON
Front row, seated: Eleanor Cronin, Terry Griffin, Lib Rogers, Ralph Hatheway, Merrill Steere, Henry Phillips, George deLys. Center row: Leonard Nystedt, Paul Ducharme, George Hebert, Cecilia O'Donnell, Martha Maloney, Barbara Elliot, Mary Humphrey, Robert Murdick, Eunice Sullivan, Pierce McMorran, Marion Allen. Back row, standing: Allen Morton, Elmer Wagner, Pearl Brough- am, Etta Jones, Henry Hagen, Inez Kavanaugh, Otto Fahlbusch, Clark Wilson, Mary Cooney, Leonard Hutchinson, Charles Weeter.
Tracing the Telephone in Western Massachusetts 421
phone Championship baseball game on Saturday, October 5. The day found both contending teams in tip-top shape at Ferryway Green, Malden.
Springfield, the cream of the Western Division, invaded the bailiwick of the All-Stars of Boston, in the final and deciding game of all Telephone ball players. The rivalry was keen, after the decisive manner in which each of these teams dis- posed of its league opponents.
Although Boston played an alert ball game they were forced to bow in defeat before the inevitable champions from Spring- field. The Springfield Club showed co-ordination and team work that spelled long practice together. Their men were young, and they played "heads-up" baseball from the start.
Throughout the entire game "Babe" Steere, of Springfield, distinguished himself as the outstanding star. The intelligent work of the snappy little catcher, MacDonnell, as well as the short-stopping of Captain Trauschke, are deserving of praise. The good center-fielding and second-base work of Kennedy and Donovan, respectively, was not lost on the spectators, who ate it up. Pete Mclaughlin, the big "Ump," furnished no small amount of humor for the crowd.
P. N. Dinsmore is leaving the Springfield Revenue Account- ing office to join the staff of the Assistant Auditor of Receipts.
Charlotte Gregg, former Western Division Cashier, who retired recently, surprised her many friends with the an- nouncement of her engagement. She will be married in the spring and reside in the Nutmeg State as Mrs. Frank Coombs.
Dec., 1929, Topics-In connection with the plan for con- solidating the positions of Field Financing Cashiers, the Treas- urer has appointed three Division Cashiers, one in the Eastern, Western and Southern Divisions, who will report to him.
Exie E. Geoffrion is the acting Cashier of Western Division. Prior to this appointment he has held several supervisory po- sitions, and at one time was Cashier in the Fitchburg District.
Jeannie M. Gaugh was appointed Assistant Division Cash- ier. She entered the employ of the Company in 1908, at Fitch- burg, and was transferred to Springfield in 1925 as Assistant and then Division Plant Cashier.
E. R. Mckay was appointed new Toll Supervisor in the
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Western Division in Nov., 1929, succeeding to the position held by Linwood L. Ross.
Carl W. Proctor, at the same time, was appointed Division Traffic Engineer, taking the place of Arthur W. Horton.
Arthur W. Horton and Linwood L. Ross, popular Western Division Traffic men, who were transferred to other fields, were honored on their departure by their associates.
George T. Fahey, Wire Chief of the Greenfield Area, was transferred to the staff of the Division Plant Supervisor on Nov. 26, 1929. Mr. Fahey has been employed continuously in the Pittsfield District since 1906, and was for many years Wire Chief of the Great Barrington Area. In 1924 he was transferred to Greenfield where he has been very successful and made many friends.
Dec., 1929, Topics-Ralph Woodcock, the new Results Supervisor in the Commercial Dept., started his telephone career in New York City in 1923, with the Plant Dept. In 1924, he came to Boston and worked in the Engineering Dept. until 1927, when he transferred to the General Commercial office. In the fall he was a Commercial Representative in Worcester and in May, 1929, he was appointed Commercial Engineer for the Worcester District. On September 30 he came to Spring- field to take up his latest assignment.
Martha Geissler has been appointed Division Training Supervisor to take the place of Mrs. Dunbar who is transferred to the Springfield District office. Miss Geissler has been em- ployed in Holyoke as Commercial Representative since June, 1920.
Jan., 1930, Topics-Springfield Goes 100 per cent Dial.
Promptly at the scheduled hour of midnight on Nov. 23, 17,000 manual subscribers at Springfield were cut over to the step-by-step dial system-Units 6 and 7. Joseph Morgan of Worcester, acted as cut-over supervisor.
Most of the new equipment is located on the sixth floor of the new building at 295 Worthington Street. Many new fea- tures are included in the new Dial equipment among which may be mentioned two-party message rate lines, level hunting connectors, automatic coin box trunks, 51-C automatic dial
Tracing the Telephone in Western Massachusetts 423
testers, and, of course, line finders are used instead of line switches as in the older offices.
During the past year, the Springfield Dial office has been an experimental laboratory, so to speak, where tests have been made relative to the possibility of combining the handling of Toll Traffic and Dial "A" board traffic on one switchboard.
This experimental work has shown that such a combination of two totally different types of traffic is practicable. The result is that with the cut-over of the remaining 17,000 manual sta- tions at midnight on Nov. 23, 1929, Springfield became the only Dial office of its kind in the entire territory from the standpoint of traffic operation. This cut-over marks the be- ginning of a new era in the simplification of the placing of toll calls for subscribers and in the handling of toll calls and assist- ance traffic by dial operators.
Among those responsible for the success of the cut-over are the following:
Ralph L. Sheppard, in charge of co-ordinating the activities of the various departments; Herbert Montague, in charge of the traffic functions; Messrs. Roukes and Woodcock, repre- senting the Division Commercial Dept., Frank Wrisley, In- side Wire Chief in charge of the maintenance of the old and the new dial office equipment; Frank Buck, Outside Wire Chief in charge of the station changes, test desk activities and line and cable plant; Messrs. Thieson and Kinnard, of the Western Electric Co., in charge of the installation of the new equipment; Messrs. Better and Noel of the Division Plant Dept., in charge of the testing and acceptance of the apparatus.
District Traffic Supt. Dee has an able corps of assitants in charge of the various units at Springfield. John G. Andrews is Traffic Manager in charge of the Dial and Toll offices. Mary P. Mason continues as Chief Operator of the Toll Office and Rose A. Carlin is Chief Operator of the Dial Office. Charles H. Anderson is in charge of the Auxiliary Unit and is respon- sible for the Dial results, Dial assignments and subscriber in- structions work.
Fred W. Williams was appointed a Switchman soon after the Springfield cut-over. Joining the Company in 1906, Fred has worked himself up through the grades of Installer, Combi-
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Tracing the Telephone in Western Massachusetts
nation man, Class A Sub-station Repairman, Powerman and Central Office Repairman.
Walter W. Farrington was transferred to the Division Plant Engineers about 1930. After being appointed Wire Chief at Westfield in April, 1916, and serving in the World War two years, he has been at Springfield in Central Office mainte- nance, line assigning, routine plans, and power maintenance.
Feb., 1930, Topics-Plant Employment Supervisors.
A new position of Division Employment Supervisor in the Plant Dept. has been created in each of the three divisions of the Northern Area. W. S. Mason was selected for the Western Division. He will report directly to his Division Plant Supt., and will have under his supervision the Division Training Supervisor and the Division Safety Supervisor. He will have general supervision over employment matters, training, force analysis, practices pertaining to examinations, accident pre- vention and first aid.
Mr. Mason has been in the service since 1910. He was a charter member of the Worcester Credit Union and served as its first President. He also served as President of the Worcester Local I.B.T.W. at one time. He came to Springfield as Divi- sion Toll Wire Chief in 1924.
John F. Manning, formerly Plant Accountant of the West- ern Division was transferred to the staff of the General Dis- bursements Accountant in February, 1930.
Edward C. Michaud, formerly Current Flow Supervisor in the Southern Division, was transferred to the Western as Re- ports Supervisor.
April, 1930, Topics-On Feb. 24, Marion Cray was ap- pointed to the position of Supervisor of the Toll Sorting Sec- tion in the Springfield Revenue Accounting office. Entering the employ of the Company in November 1923, Miss Cray's progress has been steady and her experience in the various branches of the work comprehensive. Miss Cray has been prominently identified with the social and athletic activities of the office, particularly as a member for several seasons of the bowling team.
John L. Crosby came to Springfield from Worcester June 29, 1930, as District Traffic Supervisor. John first reported for
Tracing the Telephone in Western Massachusetts 425
work in Aug. 1910, as a student in the General Traffic Dept., and in May, 1912, was appointed Assistant Traffic Chief, Salem District, which position he also held in the Portland and Quincy Districts. In August, 1918, he was assigned to force studies for the Metropolitan Division. After adding further to his traffic experiences, he was transferred to Worcester April 15, 1927, as District Traffic Supervisor, where he remained until his Springfield appointment.
Mary E. Toomey was appointed Chief Clerk of the Division Plant Engineers office. Mary was engaged for four months on Inventory as a temporary clerk, June 1, 1925, and her dili- gence and ability earned her a regular place on the pay roll. She continued as a Combination Clerk and Stenographer in the Engineers, until she worked herself right into her present position.
Aug., 1930, Topics-Catherine Griffin was recently ap- pointed Supervisor of the Toll Billing Section of the Spring- field Revenue Accounting office. Miss Griffin has made re- markable progress since she entered the employment of the Company in October, 1924. Her first assignment was in the Toll Section. Being capable, she was transferred to the Ma- chine Billing Section as Revenue Proof Clerk and later be- came Assignment Clerk. She has been active in all social events and has won the friendship of her co-workers.
Sept., 1930, Topics-On Aug. 6, Anna E. McCarthy, of the Springfield Revenue Accounting office, completed twenty-five years of service with the Company. She has a commendable record for accurate work and punctuality in attendance, quali- ties which have won for her a supervisory position in the Ac- counting Section.
Sept., 1930, Topics-Theresa Boden was a green clerk just ten years ago. She worked successively and successfully for the Pennsylvania Company in the office of the Benefit Committee, the American Company with the Benefit and Medical Dept., and the New England Company. In the Western Division, where she was Division Employment Supervisor in the Traffic Dept., she was admired and loved for the graceful way in which she handled the duties of that job. Today she holds the title of General Health Course Supervisor for the entire Bell
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Tracing the Telephone in Western Massachusetts
System, the highest position of its kind in the system. Her ap- pointment took effect on August 1.
Oct., 1930, Topics-Russell L. Norton, formerly Western Division Force Supervisor, succeeds Mr. Berry in the Framing- ham Area as Traffic Manager.
C. H. Tozier succeeded Mr. Norton, becoming the Division Force Supervisor on Aug. 18. Claude first entered the employ of the Company in Sept., 1925 and in Oct., 1926, became Traf- fic Manager at Worcester; in a year he was transferred to Fitch- burg as Traffic Manager and in April, 1929, served Vermont in the same capacity, assisting Mr. Roby. In Oct., 1929, he re- turned to Worcester as District Force Supervisor where he participated in the cut to Dial.
Cecilia I. O'Donnell was appointed District Commercial Instructor Sept. 2, 1929. "Ceil" joined the Holyoke Business office force April 16, 1923, and had advanced to the position of Cashier.
B. M. Kelloway was transferred from Commercial Repre- sentative at Bangor, to the Springfield District on Sept. 8. "Max" entered the Company's ranks in Boston last November as a student. On completion of a six weeks' course of instruc- tion, he was assigned to Bangor where he established himself as a concientious and willing worker.
"Did you hear the stepladder slip, mother?"
"Yes; I hope your father didn't fall."
"Not yet; he's still hanging onto the curtain rod."
Annual Outing of Local No. 4, I.B.T.W.
On Sept. 6, 1930, 300-odd members and guests of Local No. 4 gathered at Riverside Park, and with the help of Old Sol made it a day never to be forgotten.
Promptly at one o'clock the obstacle golf course opened up with an exhibition of trick shots by Eddie Garvey, with the assistance of Francis A. Carty. Several foursomes played the course during the afternoon. Ray Snow and F. Ostrander proved to the satisfaction of Frank Buckley and Harry Dickin- son which was the best team. The feature of the course was Frank Rogers-(hole in one shot).
Tracing the Telephone in Western Massachusetts 427
Report was sent to the dining hall that the party was com- plete and the battle was on. Clams and turkey disappear. The ability of the Outing Committee, H. E. Oakes, Chairman; T. J. McDonald, G. W. Carty, R. Bolewine and R. Chase was clearly demonstrated in requesting Dr. D. L. Lynch, Medical Director, to be present.
The high spot of the entire program was the honoring of six of the organization's members, who have been retired from active duty by the Company. These six members-Frank Wyatt, Charles Newton, "Bud" Fisher, John R. Cotter, John Munley and Reuben C. Mehderian, were presented suitable remembrances by the President of Local No. 4, E. T. Sheridan, showing the esteem in which these brothers are held by their organization.
After dinner the games were on again. Barnyard golf was demonstrated in its best form by "Babe" Steere and Maurice Blaisdell. The N. E. T. & T. Co. champion baseball team were the guests of the Local No. 4, and Manager McDonnell at- tempted to show the team his other games, such as bridge and pinochle, but not with much success, as far as victories go.
A wrestling bout of two hours' duration between Joe Rob- inson and J. Walker, was the big "meat" of the day. Boxing, William Conley vs. J. Ryan, was enjoyed by all.
The party was voted the best yet and closed with a real old fashioned Connecticut Valley thunderstorm.
Edward C. Michaud, Reports Supervisor in the Disburse- ments Accounting office was transferred to Portland in the same capacity Oct. 1, 1930. "Eddie" started with the New York Telephone Co. on June 30, 1918, and on July 7, 1924, en- tered the New England Co. and worked at New Bedford in the Plant Accounting office. In Sept., 1925, he was transferred to Providence, and in Feb., 1930, was welcomed in Springfield.
Nov., 1930, Topics-Thomas F. Maguire retired on Oct. 8. A dinner was given at the Hotel Highland, Springfield, in Tom's honor, who retires after 42 years' service. Among those present were F. Rockhold, Division Plant Supt .; C. J. Curtis, Division Plant Engineer, Springfield; Philip H. Howell, En- gineer of Outside Plant, Boston; W. S. Mason, Division Em- ployment Supervisor; H. H. Gallup and Augustus McAulay.
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The remarks made by these and other guests were of a nature to convey to Mr. Maguire a great deal of satisfaction.
"Tom" was born at Lowell, Mass., Aug. 18, 1865, entering the employ of the Telephone Co. at Lowell in March, 1888. "Tom" went to the Boston Division for a time. He came back to Lowell in 1900 and was appointed Assistant Division Fore- man under A. L. King. He went to New Bedford in 1903 as Division Foreman. In Dec., 1904, "Tom" went to Mexico City as General Manager of the Mexican Telephone Co. In 1905 he assumed the duties of Plant Supt. with the Hudson River Telephone Co., with headquarters at Plattsburg, N.Y. He returned to the Western Division in 1911, where he has since been associated with the Engineering Dept. on the Toll, Pole and Cable Construction program.
Harry Gallup acted as toastmaster and presented "Tom" with a beautiful electric clock. After fitting words of apprecia- tion each one present was served a piece of the guest cake bear- ing "Tom's" name. "Tom" is Secretary-Treasurer of the Wil- liam J. Denver Chapter No. 20, Pioneers of America, and left for California Oct. 10 to attend the Pioneers' Convention there.
A. B. McClure, former Traffic Manager at Portsmouth, N.H., was tranferred to Springfield and was succeeded in Portsmouth by J. G. Andrews.
Dec., 1930, Topics-"Al" Starr of Springfield retired re- cently after thirty-three years and five months of service. Mr. Starr entered the service in 1897, in the Commercial Dept. Some time ago he was transferred to the Directory Dept., when that phase of work was separated from the Commercial.
Mr. Starr was one of the pioneers in the field of classified advertising. His many years of service with the Telephone Company brought him into contact with hundreds of Spring- field business men among whom he has always been popular.
Ralph L. Sheppard, Division Machine Switching Supervisor at Springfield, was transferred to the General Plant Super- visor's office at Boston on November 1.
Bernard A. Dwyer succeeded Fred P. Holden as Commercial Representative at Portland. Mr. Dwyer, who entered the Com-
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pany in 1928, has been in the Commercial Dept. at Northamp- ton and Springfield.
James W. S. Mears reported for work at Springfield and was assigned to the General Sales office. His telephone career be- gan in 1929, when he was employed by the Directory Dept. at Salem, selling advertising. "Jim's" success in selling and, later, foretelling the future telephone growth, may be attributed to the be-witch-ing charms he acquired in Salem.
Jan., 1931, Topics-John J. Reddy, newly appointed Di- vision Commercial Supervisor succeeding Chester E. Roukes, who has been appointed Results Supervisor for the Northern Area, was formerly District Manager of the New Hampshire District.
Mr. Reddy, who entered the Company in 1924, has had wide experience in the Commercial Dept. After finishing his stud- ent training course he worked as a student engineer. In Decem- ber, 1924, he went to Lowell as Commercial Representative. In March, 1925, John was appointed Commercial Training Supervisor attached to the General Office. He was appointed General Sales Supervisor in 1929, and later in the same year went to Manchester as New Hampshire District Manager.
Feb., 1931, Topics-Springfield Central Office Mainte- nance.
Gene Flagg was re-elected President, and Charles Rogers, Jr., was re-elected Secretary-Treasurer of the C. O. M. Asso- ciation at a meeting held at the Highland Hotel on December 18. The Executive Committee elected at that time includes: President, Gene Flagg; Charles Rogers, Jr., T. A. Welch, Carl Donovan, Leroy Rodimon, Earl Williams and L. R. Nicker- son.
Carl Donovan was selected by the President to act as Chair- man of the entertainment committee, who selected W. F. Sponberg and L. F. Rodimon to serve with him.
Items such as the following were frequent in Topics: Chris- tine Clow was not to be outdone by others in the sales work of the Division Traffic office and her efforts won for her one of the coveted pen and pencil sets. Margaret Reed was one of the Division Traffic girls whose excellent sales work won for her a pen and pencil set.
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Prof: "Robert Burns wrote 'To a Fieldmouse.'"
Voice (from rear of room): "Did he get an answer?"
The names of the editorial staff of Topics were: R. C. Farn- ham, Editor; J. P. Neville, Assistant Editor; and the Associate Editors for the Western Division were: M. S. Blaisdell, Plant; G. H. Parker, Vermont Plant, and Loretta L. Kennedy, Traf- fic.
The date for the "closing" has, at last, arrived. As for errors and omissions, "please excuse it." Best wishes and "Good-by."
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