Norwich bulletin., 1914-03-28
Charles H. Raynes Dean of Trolley Conductors-Has Watched Progress Of Local Lines for Almost 20 Years At One Time Bus Driver.

It was 19 years ago March 29 that Conductor Charles H. Haynes entered upon his career as a railroad man. Conductor Haynes is the oldest trolley car conductor on the local trolley lines and he may well feel proud of his rec ord. He has an enviable reputation for integrity, zeal and industry, and is known as one of the most courteous conductors in the city. When Con- ductor Raynes took up his work on the road trolley ears were still good deal of an innovation, they having been in operation only about two years before that time. During these years of ser vice there have been many changes. The Laurel Hill, Thamesville and Bos- well avenue lines have been added since the time MT. Raynes became a conductor. At the time MT. RayDeS took up work as a conductor vestibulcs were unheard of. It is only within short time that the motorman and con ductor have been protected from the elements, as previous to that time they had to stay outside in all sorts of weather. This was not so bad in sum mer, but it was no fun to stand out side and face the bitter cold and snow storms of winter.
 One winter night when Superinten- dent Adams had charge of the lines there was 8 terrible snowstorm. X crew which included Conductor Raynes started out with a, small snowplow and went as far north on the Falls and Yantic lines as they could. Finally they could push no further and wei @ hung up. After some time the big SnOwplow was sent out in search of them, and it was between 7 and 5 o'clock in the morning when they re- turned to the barn. Regarding acci- dents he has been in. Conductor Haynes relates with considerable feel ing the one which occurred near he Backus hospital about three years ago, when a big 15-seater open car ploWed into the rear end of his car. He saw the car coming and mechanically gave the two-bell signal to go ahead and just as the mOtorman released the brakes the crash came. The rear plat form and vestibule were crushed in and tn controller was carried close to the end of the car window. By stepping to ing caught between the controller and
 the car, which would have meant the
 loss of his life.
 MT. Haynes. who is a native of Deer
 Isle, Me, is nearly three score years
 of age, but in spite of this fact he is
 able to serve the company as well and
 probably better than many of the
 younger men on the line. He went to
 Illinois at the age of IS, where he re-
 mained for three years. After return
 ing here he commenced to run a bus
 route between Laurel Hill and
 Thamesville, and he also conveyed
 scholars to the Free Academy. After
 working a year and a half at this work he went on a farm at Baltic where he remained three years, and or March 29, 1895. he entered the em- ploy of the railroad trolley con-
 ductor. Conductor Haynes is q char ter member of Ionic camp, Moderr Woodmen of America, and also a char ter member of the Trolley Carmen's union He was president of the untor for two years.
 Conductor Raynes has been married twice and has five children, Mrs. Johf Cousins of this city, Mrs. Dwign Hanks of Eagleville and Miss Flora 1 Raynes of this city. Carroll H. Raypes head meat cutter, and Sheldon B Haynes, manager of the grocery de partment of the Springfield Public market.
 1 For some years William Barber heit l the honor of being the oldest conductc 1 on the road. He now conducts a farn 1 in Canterbury. Charles Standish, vht 1 has been on the trolley road for abou 1 15 years, is rnotorman for MT. Raynes \