The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1922-02-17
SUNNY DISPOSITION
AND A DIPLOMAT
So SAYS Who's Who Department in Tel
ephone Topics Concerning Brattle-
bore's Telephone Manager.

Ralph Eldridge, the popular manager
of the Brattleboro exchange of the New
England Telephone & Telegraph Co. is
the subject of a sketch in the February
lust been issued. The sketch is published
III the department Who : Who in Ner-
montE 1t Is accompanied by picture
of Mr.. Eldridge in a characteristic pose.
Followinee Is the write-up:
- For the Who 5 Wha column for
Vermont this month. we dropped the
names of several in a hat and that OF
Ralph Eldridge, manager, Brattleboro,
Vt. was drawn
MIR. Eldridge first learned to operate
switchboard in jerks and Armstein
Shoe store, at Shelburne Falls. Mass,
where the central Office was at one time
located.
Resigning his position, he went to
Greenfield. Mass. where for a time he
was paymaster and timekeeper at Wells
Bros machine shop While there. he
became acquainted with II. Z. Hughes,
now of the pittsfeld district, who was
then manager at Greenfield. Mass. and
Mr. Hughes who has keen eye for pick
ing out good men, offered him the posi-
ton of chief operator in the local eX-
change.
EIdridge went to Shelburne Falls to
talk the matter over with his folks and
decided that he would decline On going
BACK TO trFPfHIlpH. he met Ah3fteS Law
renee on the train, who was then the
local trouble hunter Mir Lawrence car
red a coil of copper wire, spurs. con-a-
longs. hundred or two glass insulators,
more or less. brackets, etc and was i'm
fact Il typical telephone man OF that
time and u more enthusiastic booster of
the business could not be found In a
short ride between Greenfield and Shell
burne Falls. Eldridge became thoroughly
convinced that his life work was TO be
telephone business. and accordingly he
accepted Mr. Hughes offer. This was in
February. 1902.
1.-The Greenfield exchange was then
a position board located in the Pond
block on Main street. Mr. Eldridge :
first duties were getting acquainted with
the, operators, which was not a difficult
task for him in those days. studying
routine and learning to repair cords. etc.
This was before the time of wire
chiefs and the chief operator was sup
posed TO attend to those duties. besides
board troubles. adjusting subscribers
complaints, keeping an eve on the oper-
ators, doing more OF less of janltor 5
work. repairing local troubles in nearby
stations. and, if he had any time left
to help the manager get out his bills.
y great deal of his time was also
spent IN testing n T. Il I. Co : lines
which enter the Greenfield office.
AIR Il. o. Nickerson was then divi-
sion chief ouerator and he made com
plaint that Eldridge was doing too much
plant work. 20 arrangements were made
To have the installer and trouble hunter
take over part Of his work
He went TO Palmer. in September
1895, az manager and remained until
October. 1907. and was then transferred
to Brattleboro. Vt. his present home.
For several wears past, Mr.. Eldridge
has been somewhat handicapped by ra-
ther poor health, but there has been a
great Improvement of late, which j.
most gratifying to the large number of
friends that he has.
Mr. Eldridge. is very popular with
all who know him. has a SUNNY dispo-
sition, and is a diplomat in handling the
nublic He is married and has one child.
Here : a haunv New Year and many
more to YOU Ralph. -