| Crank phone unveiling turns back memories to an earlier time |
| By Alison Aloisio |
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| HANDCRANK HISTORY CELEBRATED—Gil Whitman’s 14-foot tall metal sculpture of a handcrank telephone is unveiled Monday in Bryant Pond. The work commemorates the Bryant Pond Telephone Co., the last handcrank system in the U.S.
Photo by Alison Aloisio
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Twenty-five years nearly to the day after the last hand-crank phone call was made in Bryant Pond, a 14-foot tall sculpture of the old-style phone was dedicated on the common.
More than 150 people turned out in the rain Monday to see sculptor Gil Whitman’s metal work unveiled.
The creation commemorates the Bryant Pond Telephone Co., the last operating handcrank phone service in the United States.
The late Elden and Barbara Hathaway owned the company and operated the switchboard from their living room.
The crank phones were replaced by dial service in October 1983.
The original
911 dispatchers
The Hathaways’ daughters, Linda Hathaway Stowell and Susan Hathaway Glines, spoke at Monday’s dedication.
Susan said the family business taught her the importance of family and the responsibilities of work.
“Having a 24-hour business in your home was not always fun,” she said.
But in working as an operator, Susan served as an early version of today’s 911 dispatcher.
“I learned how to get information,” she said, as she handled crises ranging from midnight heart attacks to house fires.
She also learned the importance of preserving customers’ privacy, and the compassion needed in dealing with customers’ having trouble paying their phone bills.
And, she said, “I was nice to the customers because my boss was my dad and mom.”
Susan also noted that in those days, parents talking by phone with their children always knew where they were.
“You knew they were on a phone connected to a wall, not off in their car somewhere,” she said.
Younger sister Linda said she remembered that as a child, she always had a babysitter in operator Bob McKeen.
“When I got home from school, he was always there,” she said. “I would tell him things sometimes before I told my parents.”
She also remembered her mother cooking dinner and doing laundry in between taking calls.
Linda said that on snowy days, the switchboard lit up in the morning with children and parents calling to ask if there was school.
“We had an arrangement that the first bus driver to get the word would call us,” she said.
She concluded by thanking Whitman for remembering those times with a sculpture.
“I know our parents would be thrilled,” she said.
Remembrance Park
The sculpture is part of an improvement effort for the common envisioned by Whitman. He calls the project “Remembrance Park.”
Other parts of the proposal include a gazebo and a rock wall topped with bluestone squares.
The squares, designed to also serve as seating, may be purchased at the Town Office in honor or memory of loved ones.
Whitman also hopes to erect an old sign from the train station that formerly stood near the common.
Also planned is a pink tulip garden in honor or memory of women who have had breast cancer. The garden effort is organized by Ann Morton.
The common property is owned by Richard Chick, to whom Town Manager Vern Maxfield expressed his appreciation.
Library observance
The sculpture dedication shared the day with the Whitman Memorial Library, which is celebrating its 100th anniversary this year.
After the dedication, many walked down the street to the library for a day of activities that included music and children’s games. |
