The Caledonian-record. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1920-current, 1922-04-13
VAIL MEDALS
FOR TELEPHONE
EMPLOYEES
Thirteen Awards For
Noteworthy Public
Service


England Telephone and Telegraph
Company have been awarded the
Theodore N. Vail Medals for con-
spicuous examples of noteworthy
public service in 1921. They are:
Silas P. Campbell, central office
, repairman, Salem, Mass.
Mrs. Catherine M. Doherty,
night relief operator, Revere, Mass.
Charles A. Atwood, night oper-
ator, Sycamore, Mass.
Gordon G. Gillard, right-of-way-
man, Hyde Park, Mass.
William E. Hitchcock, combina-
ton man, and Edwin J. Farnham,
lineman, Rutland, VT.
William c. Fenfree,, wire chief,
West Exchange, Providence, r. /.
Joseph H. Serror, wire chief
Union Exchange, Providence, r. l..
Margaret Conley, assistant chief
operator, Union Exchange, Provi-
dence, r. |.
Harold r. Blake, cable splicer,
Milford, N. H.
Mary A. Shea, supervisor, Mys-
tic Exchange, Medford, Mass.
Eleanor Fogg, senior operator,
Maine Telephone and Telegraph
| Company, Rcadfield, Me.
Millard F. Estey, head lineman,
Athol, Mass.
More than 70 cases were submit
! ted to committee and the award
is unanimous. This is the second
/ hDt RI
made for acts or services which
conspicuously illustrate the ideals
tof Mr.. Vail, for many years presi-
dent Of the American Telephone
and Telegraph Company.
Under the terms of the Vail
memorial fund, established by Mrs.
Vail, bronze, silver and gold medals
are awarded to members of the
Bell telephone organization
throughout the United States. The
gold and silver medals will be
awarded each year by a national
committee.
Each silver medal award is ac-
companied by a cash payment of
$3.50, and each gold medal award
ny 9oOu, VI j, Ill CctSS VI a Wei y ga
ceptional act of service, by a cash
award of $1,000.
The service performed by each
of the winners follows:
Silas P. Campbell, Central Office
Repairnan, Salem, Mass.
Three boys playing on the ice
on Bass River, Beverly, January
% 1901 folI into +ba .,,o+or Opo
was saved from drowning by
Campbell, who, at the risk of his
own life, crawled out on the rotten
ice, which broke and it was neces-
sary for him to swim so feet in wa
ter and broken ice in order to
reach the boy who was clinging to
a cake of ice. In effecting the res
cue, Mrs. Campbell's hands were
cut and partly frozen.
Mrs. Catherine M. Doherty, Night
Operator, Revere, Mass.
The life of an elderly man, a
watchman at the Thomas Roland
green houses, Revere, Mass, was
probably saved by Mrs. Doherty
early in the morning of February
27, 1921, when four intoxicated
men attacked the watchman. When
Mrs. Doherty answered a telephone
call she heard a cry for help and
the receiver was Immediately hung
up. Because of the number of rob-
berries and breaks in Revere about
that time Mrs. Doherty, sensing
that something was wrong immed-
| Int tn1t fol
that everything was all right. She
was not satisfied and celled the Re-
we're police and reported the cir
cumStances. Three officers found
the men assaulting the watchman
Charles A. Atwood, Night Opera
tor, Sycamore. Mass. --- ----
On the evening of March 27,
1921 the building in which the
Sycamore central office is located
caught fire and in a few minutes
clouds of smoke filled the opera
ting room. The operator who was
on duty at the time became alarm
ed and left her post hurriedly,
without notifying the fire depart
ment. Atwood who lives across the
street, saw the smoke, and met the
day operator running from the
building. He made his way through
the smoke to the switchboard and
called the Keith Car Company, re-
questing that the fire alarm he
sounded and then he notified the
| BuZzard Bay wire chief.
By this time the operating room
was so filled with smoke that it
was necessary for him to crawl on
his hands and knees through the
room to the stairwav Just as he
reached the outer door he was
overcome by smoke. Before he was
revived the stairway was in flames
He was quickly revived and went
on duty and stayed throughout the
night.
Continued on page 81