-
Although it was on March 10, 1876 that Alexander Graham Bell
and his assistant Thomas A. Watson transmitted the first understandable
sentence over their experimental telephone, it was only thirty one years
later, in 1907 that in Gosfield North, Mr. Dewhirst addressed Council on a
proposed Municipal Telephone System.
-
In 1907, a by-law was passed to begin. A telephone board was selected ,
including James Sheppard, R.H. Millen, Isaac Jackson, W.H. Neville, D. Hess,
R. Osborne and E. Scratch to look after construction of the telephone lines.
The first telephone office was in a building owned by W.H. Neville and
Hamilton Orton, situated on the corner of Talbot Road and the McCain Side
road (Now Belle River Road South). The Operators were Emma Neville, Alma
Jackson and Weltha Neville. At this time there were only five phones and
they were of great importance.
-
In 1909, it was proposed that the Telephone System pay Bell
Telephone Company $75.00 a year for night service to Essex. Mr. Millen
offered to move the switchboard to his office and do the call switching from
7:00 am to 10:00 PM. Remuneration was $2.00 per subscriber - 20% commission
for making our bills and 10% on all calls to Woodslee.
-
By 1911, the Telephone Company received many requests to
extend lines into different parts of the Township. At this time the
subscriber paid part of or all of the upkeep of the lines. In this year the
first phone was installed in the parsonage. A free exchange was arranged
with Essex.
-
Mr. W.H. Noble took over the switchboard duties at $25.00
per year - $2.00 a year for each subscriber for day services and $3.00 a
year for continuous service. In the same year, W.R. Neville was hired as
Manager.
-
In 1914, because some subscribers refused to install new
batteries in their phones, service became poor. It was decided that the
Telephone Company would install new batteries at the expense of the company.
-
In 1918, Mr. George Adair of Woodstock was hired as linesman
at $85.00 per month, after 9 applications were received for the position.
In the same year, a new switchboard was ordered with 15 single supervisions,
2 way cord sets, 35 combined jacks and drops for push button rings.
-
1919 was a year of many decisions. The Telephone Company
purchased the building owned by Mr. Noble for Telephone for $2,200.00. Mr.
Adair's offer of $3.00 per subscriber for 24 hour service was accepted. It
was decided that a subscriber meeting be held each January. At this time S.H.
Wyatt was hired as Manager of the Telephone System at $25.00 a year. Mr. R.A.
Jackson was hired as Secretary at $25.00 a year. All the furniture, maps and
nobles were purchased from Mr. Noble for $35.00. By March the Township had
to raise more money for the Telephone System and a new by-law was passed
charging each subscriber $10.00.
-
A new Ford Roadster was purchased in 1920 to be used by Mr.
Adair on his duties as linesman. Rates were raised to $60.00 to install a
new phone - $15.00 for rentals. Mr. Adair's salary was raised to $100.00 a
month. The total number of subscribers had reached 345.
-
1922 saw the resignation of Mr. Adair and the Telephone
Company was under the Workmen's Compensation Act. Ernest Fysh was hired to
replace Mr. Adair. The Council altered the downstairs of the telephone
building to make a kitchen and a bedroom for him and his salary was $90.00
per month plus $3.50 a subscriber. Rates per subscriber were increased to
$11.00 a year.
-
The number of subscribers had increased to 359 and in 1923 a
return to the old system of rates came about, charging $0.25 for calls after
10:PM. Later, the same year, James McLeod was hired as linesman at $125.00
per month - $3.50 per subscriber as operator and he would furnish his own
car. Mr. McLeod resigned in May and Mr. Crawford was hired in June with the
system now furnishing a car and paying for gas and oil used.
-
By 1924, the telephone surplus was $526 and there were now
362 telephones and 8 rentals. The toll charge to Essex was $0.10. Gosfield
North was disconnected from Leamington and Council asked Bell to run a line
from the North end of Talbot road to connect with Essex.
-
Over 1925, the Telephone System profit was $1,580.00 and the
Township purchased a new car. Subscriber rates increased to $10.50 in 1931.
-
In 1932, the salary of the linesman was reduced to $80.00 a
month. Thirty-lines had been divided. Wally Neal was hired as linesman.
-
At a meeting in February 1933, it was moved by Norman Bunn
and seconded by F. Herniman that Council manage the Telephone System. About
this time, operators took turns being on switchboard duty all night, a couch
being provided for sleeping. A night bell on the board awakened the operator
when needed to place calls.
-
A large expenditure took place in 1934 due to an ice storm
in March. All but a few lines had to be replaced in the last five years.
-
1935 saw quite a few changes. The front of the telephone office was
repaired. Linesman Wally Neal and operators Mae Hill and Arlene Malott
received pay increases. Also in that year, the Telephone system was notified
by the wage board as to hours of work and minimum wages for the operators.
-
In 1941, there were 4 operators - Mae Hill, Frances McLeod,
Orpha Stotts and Erma Haggins. Other operators around this time were Elsie
Purbrick, Alta Quick, Julia Mossop and Marie Fox.
-
Two new lines were constructed in 1943. There were 5 new
subscribers and 2 rentals. Wally Neal was linesman and the operators were
now Mae Hill (chief operator), Nina Scratch, Orpha Stotts and Thelma Matlack.
In 1944, Herman Sweetman replaced Wally Neal as linesman.
-
Things were looking better in 1945 when it was moved by Mr.
Newman at a meeting that operators be granted two weeks vacation pay.
Somewhere about this time, a blank alarm system was installed on the
switchboard and the operator immediately phoned police. It was recalled that
the wires were cut several times by a would-be bank robber.
-
Up until this time, if there was a fire, people called the
operator and she in turn notified the firemen. Then in 1948, a siren was
installed on the roof of the telephone office. When a fire alarm was turned
in to the operator, she notified the firemen and rang the siren. Then she
kept busy answering calls from people asking, "Where's the fire?"
-
In June 1954, Roy Sweetman replaced his father Herman
Sweetman as linesman. For many years before this, he had worked as a
part-time trouble repairman.
-
Gosfield North was growing rapidly and in 1953-54 a second
switchboard was installed to provide better service. This meant also there
were 2 operators required during the day.
-
1955 saw another rate increase of $2.00 a year. In March of
that year, Manley Barnett was named Secretary and S.H. Wyatt was
Deputy-Treasurer of the Telephone System.
-
Operators received an increase bringing their wages up to
$0.65 an hour in 1957. Mr. Wyatt resigned that year and Manly Barnett took
over the Treasurer position. Roy Sweetman was named Manager.
-
In 1959,Jack Helkie joined the system as linesman. In
September 1960, Mae Hill retired after over 25 years with Gosfield North
Telephone System. Gladys Dawson took over as chief operator.
-
In 1961, Council decided that they, being the Telephone
Commission, should receive an annual fee. This was also a year of big
decisions. At a meeting in March, the Township office was packed to
overflowing. People stood outside to hear discussions as to weather or not
to convert to dial. The main speaker was Roy Sweetman and he explained in
detail the plains for converting and the benefits. The operators were
granted three weeks vacation with pay after they have been with the system
for 10 consecutive years.
-
By 1962, operators were making $1.00 per hour. Many ladies
of the community had been employed by the Telephone System - Julia Mossop,
Mae Hill, Nina Scratch, Arliene Malott, Frances McLeod, Erma Haggins, Orpha
Stotts, Marie Fox, Betty Clifford, Beulah O'Neil, Mary Hiel, Nellie Crumb,
Norma Joyce, terry Murdoch, Audrey Ferriss, Nessie Stewart, Yvonne Oldfield,
June Bowers, Marie Mellanby, Peggy Hill, Grace Moe, Ethel Nicholson, Frances
Gammon, Eleanor Wagner, Doris Meston, Gladys Dawson, Annie Gregg, Verna
Tilson, Edna Slote and Erie Hawks.
Conversion from Magneto to Dial
occured.
-
Northern Electric was granted the contract for the new dial
system in 1963. Over the years, Roy Sweetman and the linesmen kept busy
updating the system. It was inspected periodically by Bell making sure
everything was in good repair. It was once said that Gosfield North had the
best magneto system in southern Ontario.
-
When plans for conversion to dial began, Council was
presented with a petition from subscribers to sell the system to Bell. Bell
Canada was not interested and so it was decided to convert to dial on their
own. Necessary steps were taken to raise the money. The total cost for the
building, equipment and free extended area service was $150,000. Finally, on
September 20, 1964 at 2:00 am Gosfield North changed from magneto to dial.
Jack Helkie had the honor of pulling the "picks" which switched over
sections of the Township to dial. Annie Gregg put the last call through
before 2:00 am.
-
To celebrate the occasion, an open house was held with all
the appropriate dignitaries present. Guests were shown through the exchange
by Manager Roy Sweetman and his linesman Jack Helkie, Ron Raymont and Wally
Stockwell. There were also many Telegrams received, including one from Gene
Whelan, M.P. In the evening a farewell party was held at the Poplar Inn for
the operators with dinner, dancing and card playing, and much reminiscing.
Dignitaries were introduced by Alvin Hedge. Keys of the new building were
presented to Joe Newman as Chairman of the Commission. Spencer Jackson
introduced the operators who were wearing corsages - a gift of Scott
Flowers. Gladys Dawson, Chief Operator with 15 years with the system and
Eleanor Wagner, part time worker were unable to attend. Present were: Annie
Gregg (12 years), Frances Gammon (9 years), Verna Tilson (5 1/2 years),
Grace Moe (5 years), Ethel Nicholson (4 1/2 years). Mr. Jackson introduced
the linesmen and administrative staff - Jack Helkie (5 years), Ron Raymont
(1 year), Wally Stockwell (part-time helper) and Roy Sweetman (Manager). At
this time Mr. Jackson had been with the commission for 4 1/2 years as
Secretary-treasurer and Lydia Dietrich had been stenographer for 5 months.
-
By this time the improvement included miles of underground
cable, a new building and dial equipment. Subscribers of this new
township-owned dial system were now able to enjoy toll-free service to
Essex, Kingsville, Leamington, Belle River, Pleasant Park and Woodslee.
-
It was indeed the end of an era! The once close municipal
family had broken up. The operators job was more than answering subscribers
and ringing numbers. People who were lonely would feel less alone after a
little chat with the operator. Some would ring in and say "send the Fire
Department, the barn is burning" and never say who was calling. The
operators recognized peoples' voices and figure out who had called. They
were asked for recipes, train times, how and where certain people were and
to redirect their phone calls.
-
Four ladies were
chosen for dial instruction - Gladys
Dawson, Phyllis Sweetman, Jean Stockwell and Frances Gammon, who patiently
phoned each subscriber and instructed them on how to use their new dial
phones. At this time there were 730 customers.
-
In 1966, the Township purchased a telephone storage depot.
Equipment needed to complete the "intrusion" in the central dial office was
purchased in 1967.
-
By 1969, consideration was given to changing the telephone
system from subscriber-owned to public utility.
-
In 1970, Gordon Dawson joined the system as linesman. Roy
Sweetman left in 1971 after 17 years with the telephone system. Under his
supervision, the system had been rebuilt from magneto to dial and from open
wire to underground cable. Jack Helkie took over the job as manager in 1971
and has been with the system ever since.
-
By 1976, the new business office was almost complete. A wall
had been moved in the dial office giving additional room for equipment - 39
private lines and 2 party lines were installed.
-
In 1977, Lydia Dietrich was appointed a full time employee
in the business office. In the new office all the billing was done,
telephone bills were paid and all customer services were handled. Mary
Scratch joined the office staff to assist with the billing.
-
In 1979, cable and phones were installed in the two new
subdivisions. A new system was awaited to improve the Fire Department
service. It would give 19 firemen access to all fire calls. Two-way radios
were installed in the telephone trucks with a base station in the office.
A new automatic toll identifier was installed to improve the service for
long distance calling.
-
1981 was a busy year for further improvement - 54 extension
phones were installed, 25 phones were moved, 106 phones installed, 103
phones taken out along with 92 other services such as plugs, jacks, long
cords and number changes. New underground cable was installed on Talbot Road
South and new cable on road crossings on Hwy 3 by-pass. 25 phones were
changed from multi-party to private. A contract was signed with Northern
Telephone Ltd. to do the billing and Kenneth Bissonnette joined the system
as linesman. As of December 1981, there were 626 subscribers and 376
renters.
-
In 1983, more lines were installed in the office for
improvement on calls to Windsor and Leamington. Forty-seven more phones were
changed from multiparty to private lines. Anyone wishing to buy a telephone
set would have to inform the system to make sure it could be modified.
-
In May 1986, they converted to Digital Switching - another
step forward. There were 283 phones on push button tone dialing and 169
customers using custom calling features.
-
Due to a ruling by the Canadian Radio and Telecommunications
Commission, as of January 1987 all toll calls were to be 20% less. This
savings will be to the subscribers and monthly rates will not be raised for
the first year. After this they will know what the impact of this toll
deduction will have on the system.
-
Gosfield North, being the only township-owned dial system in
Essex and Kent Counties, can be very proud of its past and present
employees. They are all to be congratulated on their ability, initiative and
determination. It certainly shows in the very modern Gosfield North
Municipal Telephone System.
