USA > Massachusetts > Tracing the telephone in western Massachusetts, 1877-1930 > Part 7
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It is not surprising that some curtailment in expenses was deemed advisable by the management. On Nov. 11, 1880, it was reported that the telephone office has been moved to the telegraph office at the depot as a matter of convenience and economy. However, the new year brought better times: "The following new connections have been made to the telephone exchange not included in the published list: L. L. Brown Paper Co., B. F. Phillip's residence, Colony and Bowen, Ains- ley and Isabel, Smith, Mole & Co., Allen Iron Works, A. B. Mole's residence."
Officials of the cheese producing town smelt a rat, to the chagrin of some telephone linemen, of which the Republican got wind. "A number of telephone poles which were placed too far out in the highway at Cheshire have been ordered back by the authorities."
Business between Pittsfield, Adams and North Adams had increased to the point where more circuits were needed, and the Republican mentions that the poles from Pittsfield to the Adams House will have insulators for six wires.
In the meantime, the telephone outlook in Adams had brightened considerably, which was related in the Transcript of Dec. 8, 1881: "The Telephone Company have now 50 sub- scribers here. The telephone exchange has been removed from the telegraph office to rooms on the third floor of the Bank block on Main St., with Charles L. Flint of Northampton in charge, and the work of the exchange can now probably be attended to with satisfaction to its subscribers."
May 3, 1882, the Republican announced: "The new West- field Telephone Manager is to be Charles L. Flint of the Adams exchange, and he will assume control today. Edmund G. Flint, who has been night operator at the Westfield ex- change, is promoted to the management of the Adams office."
Adams was a town of 5,593 at the beginning of 1880, having been reduced in numbers by the incorporation of North Adams as a separate township in April, 1878. Adams was favored by important textile and paper mills, so that its
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Tracing the Telephone in Western Massachusetts
financial stability did not appear threatened as a result of this separation.
A description of the industrial situation in Adams was given in the Transcript of Aug. 14, 1879: "Adams was never so busy before. The Blackington Woolen Mill at Maple Grove, re- cently leased by the North Adams Woolen Co., is the last to start up. The Renfrew Mfg. Co. are just completing their sec- ond one-story weave shop and their establishment may now be truly called an immense one. The settlement that has grown up around the mills, and dependent upon them for support, is large enough, almost, to be a town by itself, and there are yet a good many more tenement houses to be built. The success of the Renfrew Co. is something remarkable, and the people of Adams are justly proud of two such enterprising, successful and widely known manufacturing corporations as the Ren- frew Gingham and L. L. Brown Paper Cos. There is a great scarcity of tenements in town, and the business men generally are of the opinion that it would be a profitable investment for somebody who has the money and enterprise to put up a block with tenements that could be rented for about $150 or $200 a year." ($12.50 or $16.66 per month.)
Cheshire, which adjoins Adams on the south, was plying its art of cheese making in those days, which was described in the Transcript of Feb. 24, 1881: "The Greylock Cheese Co. made last year 103,928 lbs. of cheese and paid the farmers $10.20 a hundred. It took about 1012 lbs. of milk for one cheese and the cost of making was $1.40 a hundred. The company paid a dividend of 9 per cent and the old officers have been re-elected."
Adams had its inventors, too; Charles E. Allen being men- tioned as having invented and patented an individual call box for telephone lines, which prevented the bells on a line being rung except the one wanted.
The esteemed editors of the Transcript appeared to ques- tion the wisdom of some of Adams' financial schemes: "A horse-railway, an electric light company, and other improb- able prospects are being agitated. There may be something in the electric light story, as it would not be very expensive; but when a horse-railway of three miles costs $60,000, as it did in
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Northampton, the chances for its construction are small, not- withstanding the benefit such a road would be running from Adams to Briggsville."
Besides the theatrical performances available in North Adams, Adams also had the benefit of the Father Mathew Dramatic Association.
The Bay State Telephone Co. acquired the Western Mass. Tel. Co. on Sept. 13, 1882, and further information regarding the Adams exchange under this new company is contained in Chapter 12.
CHAPTER 6
Western Massachusetts Telephone Company Northampton - Westfield - Greenfield Exchanges
NORTHAMPTON EXCHANGE
NORTHAMPTON was the first community in Western Massachu- setts to be visited by Alexander Graham Bell. This occurred before his invention of the telephone, and while he was intro- ducing his father's system of "visible speech" to the United States.
The Clarke Institute of Northampton, having been char- tered by the state, was incorporated July 15, 1867. The leader in this movement was Gardiner G. Hubbard, whose sympathy for the deaf and dumb was aroused by the plight of his young daughter, Mabel. Mr. Hubbard later played a prominent part in the development of the telephone, and his daughter Mabel became the young inventor's wife.
An account of A. G. Bell's visit to the Clarke Institute was given in the school's fifth annual report, year ending Sept. 1, 1872: "Mr. Bell spent the months of March and April in our school devoting four hours each week day to instruction. One hour was given to our teachers collectively, another hour was devoted to the peculiarities of individual pupils, and to de- veloping the possibilities of his system with respect to them. The remaining two hours were spent in the several class rooms, in superintending the application of his system by the differ- ent teachers, making suggestions and rendering personal as-
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Tracing the Telephone in Western Massachusetts
sistance." A later reference in the same report stated: "Its use so far has been exceedingly encouraging and promises well for the future." Dr. Bell became a trustee of the Clarke School in 1898 and was elected president of the Corporation in 1917, both of which positions he held until his death, Aug. 21, 1922.
Northampton's first experience in telephony was reported by the Republican of Aug. 26, 1879: "As far as known there are no Edison or Bell telephones in Northampton. Dr. Highbee constructed one or two for his own use very early in the his- tory of the invention and his method of making them has been copied by some of his friends. There are some others in use that are constructed in the simplest way but which work well for short distances." This latter kind may have been what was known as the "lovers' telegraph," which consisted of a little tin box connected by a string to another tin box. It was said that its name induced many to purchase them.
The first reference to private lines was given in the Feb. 28, 1880, Republican: "A telephonic transmitter is to be placed in the Congregational Church of Enfield to day and connected with the houses of several who are unable to attend the serv- ice."
The Hampshire Gazette and Northampton Courier, better known as the Hampshire Gazette, or Gazette, on March 2nd gave this news: "Mr. George H. Cary of Pittsfield was in town last week representing the interests of the Western Mass. Tel. Co. Its interests in Northampton are represented by Lewis Warner and Frank Edwards who will give information and take subscriptions for stock." Mr. Warner was cashier in the Hampshire County National Bank and Treasurer of the Hampshire Savings Bank.
Mr. Cary's visit evidently produced results, for the Repub- lican reported on March 13th: "Some 15 prominent business men met at the Hampshire County bank yesterday to talk up having the telephone introduced. Mr. Tobey, of Pittsfield, was present to explain matters and subscription papers were left. Something more tangible will be done in a few days."
It will be noted that considerable emphasis was placed on obtaining subscriptions for the stock of the new company. Finally, enough investors in Western Mass. signed on the
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dotted line to warrant proceeding with its organization, and the Western Mass. Tel. Co. was incorporated April 14, 1880, with headquarters at Pittsfield.
The first step in establishing an exchange in Northampton was soon taken, according to the Republican of June 1st: "The canvassers at work getting subscribers for the new telephone company have thus far met with good success. Wires will be run to Florence and Leeds, and a good patronage is anticipated from the outside districts, Easthampton, Haydenville and Williamsburg. The exchange will open with 100 subscribers. The Central Office will be located on the third floor of the Parsons block, 92 Main Street." Later it was disclosed that James H. Cary, brother of George H. Cary, the General Man- ager of the Company, was named local manager. The Parsons Block, recently destroyed by fire, has been part of the F. W. Woolworth property for some time.
On August 6th, the Republican related, "the telephone poles are being set up at the rate of three quarters of a mile a day, so that it will be in running order by September 1st. Probably Northampton will, for the present, talk with Spring- field by way of Westfield."
By September 10th, 13 telephone wires had been strung across Main Street from the central office, and on October 15th the Republican provided this news: "Work on the telephone lines progresses very slowly, some 25 subscribers being now connected with the central office. The wires are up as far as Smith's Ferry and connection will probably be made with Holyoke next week. Poles have been distributed from Mt. Tom station to Williston Mills, Easthampton, thereby putting Easthampton in connection with the main lines to Spring- field."
It would appear from the above article that the Northamp- ton exchange was opened in October, 1880. This is confirmed by the same paper on October 25th: "The Northampton com- pany have already put up some 40 miles of wire and will get up 20 more before winter sets in. Forty phones are now con- nected with the central office, and 60 more connections will be made as soon as the instruments arrive."
The practicability of the telephone was immediately dem-
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onstrated. Quoting the Gazette of November 9th: "The tele- phone proved very useful election evening at the town hall. An instrument was placed in the hall at the rear of the stage, and being directly connected with the Connecticut River R. R. station, returns reached the hall from the telegraph office much sooner and with less trouble than would have been possible otherwise."
Installments of telephones arrived now and then, so that by November 30th, 76 subscribers had been connected. A mis- understanding with the Bell Telephone Co. caused a delay in getting the line through to Holyoke, so that this important event did not occur until about December 10th.
The Hampshire Gazette kindly acquainted the public with the telephone rates: "Each subscriber is charged $3 per month. Non subscribers can make use of the telephone for local com- munications at the store of the Parsons and Wells Co. at the center or the store of W. H. Riley at Florence, ten cents being charged for the privilege. The rates to Holyoke, Westfield and Springfield are 15 cents to local subscribers and to non sub- scribers 25 cents for five minutes."
The latter part of November, 1880, poles were put up from Florence to Bay State, and connection with Easthampton was expected the middle of December.
A Gazette reporter turned out this lively bit of information for the December 14th issue: "Last week communication was opened with Springfield, Worcester and Westfield and the manager gave a few friends a "free ride," so to speak, over the wires. Doctors sit in their wide-arm chairs and prescribe for patients over the phone, suburban factories do business in town without coming in, bank officers save their clerks many steps, and even lawyers talk civilly at the end of telephone wires."
On Feb. 1, 1881, the Hampshire Gazette published a list of the subscribers connected to the Northampton exchange. This list shows 66 names under Northampton, 11 in Florence, 4 in Leeds, 6 in Williamsburg, 6 in Haydenville, 8 in East- hampton and 3 in Bay State-a total of 104. This list was taken from the telephone directory and it will be noted that no tele- phone numbers are shown, and the names are not in alpha-
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betical order. One, making a call in those days, asked for the desired party by name.
Northampton
February 1, 1881
Fire Engine House Gazette Printing Co.'s Office
L. S. Davis, house
N. H. & N. Freight Depot
M. L. & M. W. Graves
J. A. Sullivan
French & Kimball
Dr. Knowlton, house Lewis Warner, house
E. N. Foote & Co.
Dr. A. W. Thompson, house
Conn. R. R. Freight depot
Conn. R. R. Passenger depot
Western Union Tel. Company
L. Bodman, house George D. Jewett F. H. Stoddard
Hampshire House
Northampton National Bank
Clapp & Johnson Daniel's Stable
N. B. Hussey & Co.
E. C. Barr
Dewey & Loomis
W. F. Prindle
Carr's Bakery
Woods Stable
E. P. Copeland
T. Shea's Market
Washburn & Banks
Mansion House
Boston Branch
Jackson's Market P. H. Dewey
C. H. Pierce
Journal Office
H. L. James, house George D. Sherwin, house Dr. Davenport Oliver Walker
First National Bank
Metcalf & Company Delano & Hammond
Parsons & Wells*
Dr. Dunlap Williams Mfg. Co. John Metcalf, house
Dr. Seymour, house
Dr. Parkhurst, house
Henry R. Hinckley, house Clarke Institution
Clark's Stable
Maynard & Brooks Eames & Sprague
American Express Co.
John Parnell Thomas Raftry
George S. Whitbeck O. Edwards & Co. Bond Bros. & Bottum Dr. R. W. Higbee Hampshire Co. Bank E. N. Foote, house Holley's Stable
Nonotuck House E. H. Brainard, Florist
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Tracing the Telephone in Western Massachusetts
Florence
Arthur G. Hill, house
Dr. Gaylord, office
Greenville Mfg. Co.
Col. J. L. Otis, house
Jackson's Slaughter House
Florence Hotel
J. H. Cary, house
Florence Machine Co.
O. L. Woodward*
Leeds
E. S. Ross*
Mill River Button Co.
Emery Wheel Co. Nonotuck Silk Co.
Williamsburg
H. G. Hill, Mill
L. D. James* Orcutt House
H. L. James, Mill Williamsburg Depot Woodward & Lyman
Haydenville
Smith & Fay B. Loomis Hotel Haydenville Depot
P. Larkin L. D. James Hayden Co.
Easthampton
Williston Mills Telegraph Office C. J. Smith* First National Bank
W. F. Alvord
Mt. Tom Thread Co. Nashawannuck Mills
Valley Machine Co.
Bay State
E. J. Towne W. T. Clement Cutlery Co.
Northampton Cutlery Co.
= For Public Use
March 14th, the Republican reported 120 subscribers on the list, and two weeks later announced that 11 Bliss individual
Nonotuck Silk Co.
Luther J. Warner
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Tracing the Telephone in Western Massachusetts
call clocks were being tried out on one line. In April, an en- larged and improved switch-board with a capacity of 50 wires was installed. The Bliss individual call clocks cut out the bells on a line, except the one wanted.
Another testimonial to the efficacy of Alexander Graham Bell's invention is given in the Hampshire Gazette: "Hayden- ville. How handy that telephone is. A general office is accessible at the post office, and also at L. D. James' store. Last week Wesley Pierce received a telephone dispatch through Smith and Fay, that he was wanted at Ludlow. Going down he struck a soft job overseeing of the laying of 1,500,000 bricks. The Ludlow Company to put up four large brick shops of about 400 feet each in length. He receives $3 a day and house rent."
Following the resignation of General Manager George H. Cary, R. H. W. Dwight had been appointed to take his place. The Republican of July 11th, 1881, told of other changes. "Manager Dwight of Pittsfield was in town Saturday trans- ferring the management of the Northampton office from James H. Cary, who resigns, to George D. Sherwin. Mr. Sherwin built up the Westfield exchange and put up most of the local wires." It was reported on September 29th that James H. Cary, late manager of the Northampton telephone exchange, has taken a position with the Boston Electric Co., at the Worcester branch office. The next year he organized "The Cary Tele- phone Signal Co.," capital $35,000, at Boston, to make his in- dividual call device. George D. Sherwin first worked as a line- man in Springfield for the District Telephone and Automatic Signal Co. in 1879.
The advance in the business rates from $36 to $40 a year on July 1, 1881, provoked an incident, which was later described quite dramatically in the Northampton Graphic: "Sixty-five years ago a Northampton man was informed that his tele- phone bill was to be increased to $40 a year. In a fit of anger, he ran to the instrument and hacked the wires with a knife. In doing this he unwittingly cut off all communication on his circuit."
The slashing and the grumbling having ceased, the company scraped together enough funds to purchase a new switchboard. Its installation was described in the Republican of Aug. 10,
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Tracing the Telephone in Western Massachusetts
1881: "Mr. Cross, operator at the Central telephone office, and his lineman worked all Monday night getting their new switchboard with the Snell jacks in working order and were already for business at 6 o'clock yesterday morning. The new board works perfectly, the old trouble about the wires not being sufficiently grounded having been done away with. There is room for 50 circuits in the new board and the ex- change has over 30." This board was invented by A. G. Snell of New Haven and George F. Perkins, the Holyoke tele- phone manager, and is described in Chapter 2.
Manager Sherwin now began casting his eyes about for new lands to conquer. This item appeared under the Republican's Amherst column of Aug. 30, 1881: "Manager Sherwin was in town Saturday looking over the ground with a view to extend- ing the circuit to Amherst, and some 15 parties pledged them- selves to have telephones put in their houses or offices. Mr. Sherwin will report at headquarters, and, if there is sufficient encouragement, the line is likely to be built."
A week later it was reported that Manager Sherwin was canvassing Amherst for the purpose of opening a telephone service in that town in connection with the Northampton ex- change, and that 20 subscribers had been obtained.
The Northampton exchange on Sept. 21, 1881, put up its 27th line, which connected residences on Elm and Green Streets. At the beginning of 1882, the exchange had 130 sub- scribers, and about 30 connections were being made to Spring- field daily. In March, the necessary number of subscribers had been secured in Hatfield, and it was planned to connect that thriving town as soon as the frost was out of the ground. In May there were 14 subscribers on the Easthampton "branch."
The last Northampton item to be reported during the life of the Western Mass. Tel. Co. was from the Aug. 21, 1882, Republican, and, fortunately, it provides a happy ending:
"Operator Cross, of the telephone exchange, is off for a two weeks trip in New York state."
Northampton, the county seat of Hampshire County, had a population of 12,172 in 1880. It did not adopt the city form
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Tracing the Telephone in Western Massachusetts
of government until June 23, 1883, Benjamin E. Cook, Jr., a democrat, being elected the first mayor.
The town and suburbs possessed quite a few industries at that time, the silk industry being most prominent. The Beld- ing Bros., which became the largest silk manufacturers in the world, had a mill here. The Nonotuck Silk Co. contributed greatly towards building up the village of Florence, and there were the silk works of L. J. Warner and the Leonards.
The Williams Manufacturing Co. conducted a large basket business. Other concerns were: the Florence Tack Co., Emery Wheel Co., Leeds; Florence Machine Co .; Lee Cutlery Shop, Bay State; Mill River Button Co., Leeds; Williston Mills, Easthampton; Mt. Tom Thread Co .; Northampton Cutlery Co. and W. T. Clement Cutlery Co.
The New Haven & Northampton R.R. ran as far as Wil- liamsburg, and was called the "Canal Railroad." There used to be a canal running from Northampton to New Haven, traces of which can be seen at Avon and Farmington. This railroad is now a part of the New York, New Haven & Hart- ford system and is operated as a freight line. The Connecticut River Railroad of those days is now owned by the Boston & Maine R.R.
A reference to local transportation was given in the Novem- ber 10th paper: "The horse-railroad company are having a car built to run on runners this winter, in place of the well-known vehicle used in winter popularly known as 'Noah's Ark.' " The idea of the runners probably developed from winter experi- ences like the following: "The horse-railroad company have dug for their tracks again, and will start out with the cars today."
Northampton was also noted as a seat of learning. Smith College was dedicated July 14, 1875. There were several pri- vate schools for girls and an admirable public school system. On Nov. 2, 1880, the Republican gave the Smith College en- rollment: "The new Smith College catalogue shows 227 stu- dents in the collegiate department of whom 30 are seniors, 50 are juniors, 72 are sophomores and 75 of the entering class. Also 25 in the school of music and 2 in the school of art mak- ing the whole number in the college 254." Forbes Library
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Tracing the Telephone in Western Massachusetts
was built in 1890 and has been a great adjunct to these schools of learning.
Round Hill played an important role in the social and cul- tural life of the town. Its sightly crest, commanding a superb view of the fields, river and mountains, induced some of Northampton's distinguished residents to build homes there. Jenny Lind "the Swedish Nightingale" gave a concert in Northampton in July, 1851. She was so impressed by the charm of Round Hill that the next year, after her marriage to her Concert Manager, Otto Goldschmidt, they spent their three months' honeymoon at the Round Hill Hotel.
A continuation of Northampton's telephone activities will be found in Chapter 11.
WESTFIELD EXCHANGE
The introduction of the electric speaking telephone to West- field occurred on May 12, 1877, in connection with the three point program given by Alexander Graham Bell. An account of what happened in Westfield that evening is given in the weekly copy of the Western Hampden Times and Westfield News-Letter:
The Telephone
Springfield and Pittsfield made a bridge of Westfield's nose on Saturday evening, as a means of investigating and enjoying the new mode of audible communication which reduces mag- nificent distances to a conversational capacity. The telephone annihilates space and brings people at a distance, ear to ear. T. A. Watson was master of ceremonies here, Prof. Bell at Springfield and "Mr. Gower" at Pittsfield. G. H. Southland, of Springfield, played two cornet solos for the benefit of the Springfield and Pittsfield audiences. H. B. Stevens sang "The Morning Light is Breaking" and "Hold The Fort," both of which were distinctly heard in all parts of the hall at Spring- field and Pittsfield. The office of the Western Union Tele- graph Co. was filled by about thirty of our best citizens to witness the entertainment. All that they were permitted to hear was a cornet solo played in Springfield, the sound of which was barely audible. The repeated calls of the operator
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Tracing the Telephone in Western Massachusetts
for "Mr. Gower"! "Mr. Gower"! was a treat to the ears of the guests. Mr. Dawes of Pittsfield, called for Mr. Gillett, but Mr. Gillett being indisposed was not present. After Messrs. Tits- worth and Hopkins had retired, they were both called for from Springfield.
Over two years elapsed before any further news regarding the telephone in Westfield appeared in the papers. On July 7, 1879, the Westfield Times and News-Letter announced that "Westfield is about to enjoy the advantages of the telephone. Not only will our business men be able to intercommunicate with it but conections will be made with Springfield." And on August 6th the same paper continued: "The Telephone Company will proceed to construct their lines as soon as pre- liminaries are settled and it will probably be in operation in less than a month."
The Springfield Daily Republican on August 19, 1879, presented a more cynical view: "The telephone project, which started off with such vim two or three weeks ago, has been little heard of for some time. The trouble seems to be that the canvassing agent is willing to let whichever of the rival companies (Springfield Telephone Company, and the District Telephone and Automatic Signal Company) pays the most for it have the list, and the number of subscribers is not large enough to be much of a temptation to either. Undoubtedly, were the wires up and in use, the 40 subscribers could soon be doubled in number."
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