The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1913-07-30


So far as ] know, our firm was the
first to install regular telephones in
Vermont The first use of the tele-
phone, as already indicated, was on
August s, 1878, over a line constructed
between the town hall and the Brooks /
House, over which not only converse
ton took place. but orchestral and vo-
cal music entertained the guests in the
Brooks House parlors.
We sold the Brattlcboro telephone
exchange to the New England company,
and for time Mr.. A. w. Childs con
tinued to operate it. as the manager
here of the latter company. At that
time the exchange was in Crosby block
/ believe | still have in my possession
the first switchboard used in this con
nection. About twelve years ago |
built the Brattleboro and Marlboro line
which was later extended to Halifax,
and which today is in operation under
my management as lessee of the New
England company.
If l were to tell you of the people
who have been associated with the con
ception and growth of the Brattleboro
exchange, it would afford an interes-
ting record of the names of a number
of prominent townspeople who, in their
several capacities, assisted in the sue
cessful Introduction and maintenance
of this exchange.
! Just to illustrate the opposition which
occasionally attempted to arrest the
development of the telephone business
! here, perhaps can incident which stub
bornly troubled Us for a time might be
! of interest. One night | was called
Iup from my slumber by one of our
employees who informed me that our
poles on one side of the principal
streets of the town were being ruthless
/ Iy chopped down by a local axeman.
! Investigation confirmed the depressing
! fact and naturally we were considerab-
! II stirred up because of the loss, to say
nothing of the interruption to our early
installed plant. We learned the fol
| lowing day, much to our establishment,
that the orders for this destruction had
come from prominent lawyer who was
then enjoying distinction as one Of the
side Judges of the county. We kindly
appealed to his better nature but
found him obdurate and determined
that a telephone pole system should
never be established in Brattleboro
without peril to those attempting it,.
Finally it was agreed to submit the
matter to a public meeting to be held
in the town hall at which time both
parties should have the opportunity of
presenting their respective sides of the
Question. The learned judge, together
with several good takers in sympathy
with his contention, was promptly on
hand at the meeting, which was largely
attended by the townspeople After
some one had been selected to preside,
the war began with vigorous declar-
ations Of hostility and invectiyes from
the Judge and a number of his sympa-
thizers. The judge opened with an
assertion that lit was the intention Of
the telephone company to wantonly de
strov our beautiful trees with insight
" poles and this, he declared would
never be tolerated in this enlightened
day Just think of it, gentlemen,
shouted the excited judge, Just think
OF these damned carpet baggers from
Wilmington assuming the right to de
strov our beautiful trees which have
been the pride of this town, 10, these
many. many years. The dramatic
attitude and manner of the speaker
highly amused the audience who shout
Ell 'sAmen - and d" good, - which word,
Of encouragement added to the vehe
mcnce and emphasis of the irritate@
speaker When he had finished his
. speech the audience broke out with ;
tremendous cheer, but after the ''tele
, Iphone boys had explained their in
tcntions and disproved many Of tn,
! Judges assertions. vote was takcl
, as to whether the authorities should b,
10 -GTl, a COZ ON
the result was an overwhelming major
ity in favor of the telephone com
, Ipanv, and the good Judge lived 10 tinall
see the telephone installed in his oW
- home.
! The following is an extract fror
Child's Windham County Gazetteer, II
y 24-1SS4:
f The Brattleboro telephone exehang,
!. F. w. Childs & Co, manager:
=, was established in June. 1881, and nov
f has $50 subscribers. There is probat
p " not another exchange in this countr
j. that can boast q set of telephone IL
: struments to every - of its inhal
itants They also have 40 othe
private lines not connected with tn
u exchange All of their lines are COZ
~ structed in the most thorough mannt
= and their office equipped with the mos
approved apparatus. They have aboy
: loo miles of pole line connecting sui
IS scrbers in nearly every town and han
n let of 200 individuals of Wlndha'
4 county and Cheshire county, Ne
" Hampshire With one exception it
d the only exchange in New Englan
ri not owned and operated by the Ne
ID England Telephone and Telegraph cor
IF pany They furnish employment
IS four persons. The central office
,e located in Crosby block, Main stree
s open day and night, with branch pa
ID Offices in Esteyville, West Brattiebo
ne and Iinsdale.
e. In comparison with these fgur
there are now connected with the Bra
as tleboro exchange 1888 subscribers i
of GLIDING paystations, of which 2l2 a
nj special line stations, AL two party st
es tions. 407 six-party stations, and ?,