Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1914-12-10
TELEPHONE MEN ORGANIZE
Vermont Chapter of New Eng
and Society Formed in This City
'homns A. watson. Associate of Alex
sbder Graham Dell, Gives Inter-
csting Lecture on Birth aud
B8byhood of Telephone.

About $50 employees OF the telephone
,mpanies in this state met in this city
aturday for the purpose OF organizine
he Vermont chapter, which Is a branch
the Telephone and Telegraph society
New England. The meeting for organ
Sation was held in the afternoon on the
oof garden of the Hotel Vermont
Thomas A. Watson, who was associated
with Alexander Graham Bell during the
me he invented the telephone. delivered
Is famous lecture. "The Birth and
iabyhood Of the Telephone" at a meet
ng Of the organization to which the
general public had been invited. in city
1all in the evening.
very enthusiastic meeting was held
the afternoon. George r Parker of
Rutland. director for Vermont for the
telephone and Telegraph society Of New
England. calling il to order Mr. Parker
vas assisted in the organization OF the
chapter by II. l.. Jones Of Springfield,
Mass, and f. w. Pierce OF Boston
There were several Other men prominent
IN the work Of the society from out Of
the State. The society has chapters in
Several parts Of the New England states.
having a membership OF over 800 all
being employees of tho Nrw England
Telephone and Telegraph a1d associated
companies. The purpose of tho society
Is to foster the telephone ru,inass and
assist the employees AoutrI, meetings
Will be held In difforcf' parts o" the
state and class meetings for study and
instruction will also he lold
Following are the officers elected by
the members OF the Vermont CHAPTER to
serve the ensuing year: President, Sam
uel F. Parker of Rutland: vice-presdent
John F. Goudy OF Montpelier; secretary.
George Allen of Rutland: treasurer,
J. NJ. Russell OF this city. Membership
cards to the association were issued to
l25 Of tho men present and all signs point
to fourishing chapter in this State.
STORY OF THE TELEPHONE.
City hall was comfortably filled by
those attending the evening meeting.
s. F. Parker president of the Vermont
chapter. presided and short speeches
were made by Mayor Burke. Dr. w. s.
Vincent and G. p Slith Dr. Vincent
manufactured the first telephones used
In Vermont and made the first line in 1877
which connected the store now occupied
by Rocheleau & Nutting and the one
Thich is occupied as a drug store on the
Orthwest corner of Church and College
treets. In rs an agency to operate in
Yermont. Connecticut and Maine was OBJ
aimed from Bell. This was later sold
md in partnership with Aware Ad=t
Or. Vincent operated in this city. the
business being sold three years later to
he New England Telephone & Telegraph
company.
Mayor Burke after few words of well
,ome introduced the speaker Of the even
ng. Thomas A. Watson. Mr. Watson's
lecture The Birth and Babyhood of the
Telephone" held the undivided attention
of his audience. His eocution is fine and
his lecture particularly interesting be-
cause he was the mechanic who ade the
first telephone under the great inventor,
Alexander Graham Bell. An abstract of
lis address follows:
Il am able to speak to you of the birth
and babyhood of the telephone, and
something of the events which preceded
that important event. These are mat
tiers that must seem To you ancient his