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Home My WebLink AboutThe Exeter Times-Advocate, 1952-12-18, Page 7POP’S Taxi Service Phones: Exeter 857 and 515-r-3 Evening Service Open this Sunday, Wednes day afternoon, and during the evenings throughout the week: GRAHAM ARTHUR Service Station 'H a ,0 <18 inches of gay holiday colors. To send as your Christmas greeting or gift. To hold the cargo of good wishes you receive on Christmas cards. To decorate your mantel, table or tree. Space for your name on the bright red caboose. Packed ready for mailing. $ 1.00 each The Exeter Times - Advocate THE'TIMES-ADVOCATE, EXETER,' ONTARIO, THURSDAY MORNING, DECEMBER 18, 1952 First Telephone Installed In Buggy Days Early Directory Listed 11 Subscribers Homes were illuminated by gas lamp, barber shop quartets chorused the latest songs of the day, and the horse and buggy was the speediest form of con veyance when the telephone first came to Exeter. That was back in 1889, when the telephone was a crude in strument and was branded by many sceptics as an “impracti cal toy’’ or even a “device of the devil”.There were men of wisdom in Exeter as elsewhere, however, who foresaw a bright future for this invention which Alexander Graham Bell had patented just 12 years previously. Once established, the story of the telephone’s growth is the story of Exeter’s progress and expansion. From a humble be ginning, the instrument advanc ed with the community and sought to keep pace with the ever-growing needs of the busi ness and social life of Exeter. This has continued right up to the present. For, when the new common battery exchange went into operation here it re placed the magneto system which was good enough in the days when Exeter was smaller, but which the community has now outgrown. Village Of 500 Exeter was a village of about 500 persons and there were 21 telephones here in 1901. In the half-century since, the commun ity has grown to a town of more than 2,500 residents, and there are- now almost 1,200 telephones in service here. As early as 18 85 the name, of Exeter appeared on the Bell Telephone Company of Canada’s long distance lines map for On tario. But that was merely the planning stage, and an exchange was not established here until four years later. Robert I-Iicks, a jeweller, was the company’s first local man ager here. The switchboard was set up in the manager’s store on Main Street where it attract ed a great deal of attention. Young gallants with walrus moustaches and decorous young ladies in crinoline dropped into . the store to inspect the innova tion. The first telephone directory for the community listed the following 11 subscribers: Ache son, Thos., Central Hotel, Main St.; Bissett Bros., Hardware, Main St.; Christie, Ed., Livery, William St.; Gillespie, J. A., Drayman, Carling St.; Elliott & Elliott, Law Office, Main St.; Hawkshaw, Commercial AM I WORTH? Hotel, Main St.; Hicks, R., Jeweller, Main St.; Levett & Hutchins, Grain Merchant s, Market Square; London, Huron and Bruce Railway Station; Pic kard, Jas., General Marchant, Main St.; Verity, W. H. & Son, Foundrymen, Station St- The number of telephones in service here began a crease after that as found the instrument ful and convenient. Linked To Dashwood The Bell Company inually expanding its then, as today, and Exeter was linked to Dashwood via Credi- ton by long distance telephone in 1891. The small, but steady growth in the number of telephones here continued and there were 17 subscribers in the 1892 di rectory. Two years later, a new and improved type of board, capable subscribers, was local exchange. In 189 9, the underwent a consisted, ough reconditioning of tele phones, lines and switchboard. By that time, the number of telephones in service here "had increased slightly to 19 and bi the following year the number was up to 20. The 1901 census showed that the village of Exeter had a popu lation of 1,790, and there were 21 telephone subscribers here. The directory for 1902 shows that there were 26 telephones here, only three of which were in residences and the remainder in business premises. That directory, and the cur rent one, show that at least one number has remained unchanged for half a century. The Grand Trunk Railway Station had the telephone number 4 6 in 1902; the ticket office of the Canadian National Railways, with which the old G.T.R. has since been merged, now has the same num ber. Grand Bend Ijine During 19 03 a long .line was constructed Exeter and Grand Bend, directory for that year shows there were 29 telephones here. The use of the telephone took a relatively sharp upward surge at that time and there the instruments in 1904. After 15 years of local manager for the pany here, Robert Hicks retired in 1905 and was replaced by an other’ jeweller, Arnold Marchand. By May, 1907, there were 54 subscribers1 in Exeter and the number increased to 61 by the close of the year and to 64 dur ing the following year. The di rectory for subscribers Telephone Company connecting at Exeter. In - 1909, the Bell Company arranged for connection with the Kirkton and Exeter Telephone Company at St. Mary’s, Exeter, Mitchell and Granton. Continuous — 24-hours-a-day — telephone service was inaugu rated in Exeter in June, 1911, when the population here was 1,555 and the new service prov ed so popular that there were f^2 subscribers here by the end of the year. 40-Year Telephones A comparison of the 1912 and 1952 directories shows that are seven numbers which been held by the same scribers' for 40 years. 1913 65 Cole, W. S., Druggist, 46b Grand Trunk Railway tem Freight Office 46a Grand Trunk Railway tem Ticket Office Hawkins, T. & Son, Hard ware Merchants, Main Hyndman, Dr. H. K„ Phys. Res. Huron Jones & Clark, Merchants, Main Seldon, R. G., Grain Buyers, Res. North & Andrew Times Printing Office, Main steady in residents both use- con-was services switch- of serving 50 installed in the Exeter exchange renovation, which probably, of a. thor- reconditioning lines Telephone Company had 90 sub scribers and these, for the first time, were listed betically with Exeter. Following the her of subscribers here continued to grow steadily. There were 171' in 1919, 186 in 1921 when the census showed/ the population to be 1,442, and 197 in 1923. An other milestone was passed the following year when the h u n d re t h telephone was stalled. New Switchboard In April, 1926, telephone here had where d required and was needed quently, the was moved Main Street. The three-hundreth was added here in 1928 and in the following year James Law- son was succeeded as branch manager by his cousin George W. Lawson who returned from Saskatchewan where he had been in the telephone business after going there first as a home steader, later, teaching school. The crash on the New York stock exchange that was fol lowed by a world-wide depres sion was reflected here in the use of telephone service. There were 323 telephones here in that black year. The number fell to 300 in 1932 and to 286 in 1934 -—• the all-time low in telephone use here during the depression. Construction Project In 1934, the Bell Company together alpha subscribers in war, the num two- in- use grown to the point new switchboard was I a separate office to house it. Conse- telephone one door exchange south on telephone launched a big construction pro ject in Exeter. The exchange was rebuilt, wire and cable was re placed throughout the town, underground cable was put in along the main business streets and the company began poles jointly with the Utilities Commission in sections. The numbei- of telephones here again began an upward swing that has continued in sub sequent years. In 1937, there were 307 telephones here, and by 1941 the to 319. In 1942, World War Bell Company erected lines to provide telephone service from the Exeter exchange to the R.C.- A.F. flying training school at Centralia. Direct connection was also provided between Centralia and the associated landing field at Grand Bend. In 1944, the Exeter telephone office was changed from an agency to a company operated office with Mrs. W. H. Cham bers as local representative and G. W. Lawson continuing as night operator. The following year, Mrs. Chambers was suc ceeded as local representative by Miss D. D. Morrison, who was succeeded a year later by Miss A. W. Whitten. Service Grows Quickly The five-hundreth telephone was installed h'ere in 1947, and the six-hundreth and seven- hundreth the following year, In 19 49, Miss A.. W. Wood succeeded Miss Whitten as local —Please turn to Page 10 figure had increased with the Second in full swing, the P*ge Be Practical TO HIM TO THE CHILDREN Trikes Wagons Sleighs — Hockey Sticks Don‘t Forget Your Christmas Popcorn!! FISHER HARDWARE PHONE 29 using Public some EXETER •1 Saws — Chisels Hammers — Brace and Bits ‘— Electric Drills Tools' of Every Description! TO HER Electric Toasters — Electric Kettles — Electric Coffee Percolators Cutlery Sets — Cups and Saucers — Kitchen Clocks — Swing-Away Can Openers — Step-on Garbage Cans — Cannister Sets — Bread Boxes — Aluminum Ware MW THAN A MIUIBN RBCKTTS distance linking and the were 34 service service Bell Com- 19 08 also listed 16 of the Thames Road ■S HIBTTHTBBABI This little pig will be worth aboxit $40.00 when he is market ed. How much profit he will make for the farmer depends upon how Jong it takes the farmer to get him to market and how much feed he has put into him. Many tests have .demonstrated that SHUR-GAIN fed hogs go to market on 700 lbs. of feed or less in 5 to 6 months. Straight grain fed hogs take much longer and require about 400 lbs. more feed. Feed SHUR-GAIN Hog Feeds to one litter and you will that see SHUR-GAIN * SHUR-GAIN ■» tonGrowerSHUR-GAIN tonSHUR-GAIN Finisher Concentrate SHUR-GAIN SHUR-GAIN Saves and Makes You Money! SHUR-GAIN SHUR-GAIN SHUR-GAIN EXETER 16% 15% 35% 35% Hog 18% 18% Wornirid Hog Hog- Hog Sow Concentrate Essential Minerals Pig Starter • Pig Rooster WHALEN CORNERS 1952 Cole, W. S., Drugs, 711 Main St.......................................65 Canadian National Railways Co., Tickets ...........................4 6 Hawkins, G. A., Hardware, 701 Main ................................29 Hyndman, Mrs. H. K., '122 Hu ron ...................................17 Jones & May, Groceries .......3 2 Seldon, R. G. 545 Andrew St., ..........................................2.1 Exeter Times Advocate ........31.1 31W Since the new system was in stalled, The Times - Advocate number has been changed to 770. Telephone service here passed an important milestone in 1912 when the one-hundreth instru ment was installed. The follow ing year a new switchboard was placed in service. Exchange Moved Early in 1914 Arnold Mar chand retired from both his jewellery business and the local managership of the telephone company and was replaced by James Lawson, another jeweller, and the exchange was moved to his quarters in the Carling Block. The use of telephone service continued to grow and by the close of 1915 there were 139 instruments here. In that year, distance line was connecting Exeter $UP£H there have of in as Sys- Main Sys- YeS, the Oldsmobile Super ’*88” CLASSIC and Classic ”98” are owner-proved by more than a million motorists. They’re road-proved by more than a billion miles of driving. You’ve probably met and heard some of these owners yourself. . . talking about the sensational ”get-up-and-go” of the 160 H.P. "Rocket” engine, or the perfect power delivery, in every situation, of Hydra- Matic Super Drive*. Take a tip from Oldsmobile owners—try "Rocket” driving for yourself. You’ll discover amazing action —exceptional economy—silken smoothness. You’ll discover advanced features like GM Power Steer ing* for effortless parking and turning and the Autronic-Eye* for safer night time driving. Stop in soon and make arrangements for a demonstration drive in an Oldsmobile Super "88” or Classic "98”^ '♦■WX-XS.; Illustrated—Oldsmobile Super 88 4-Door Sedan. *Hydra-Matic Super Drive, optional at extra cost in both Series, GM Hydraulic Steering) Autronic-Eye, optional at extra coston “98” scries. Equipment, accessories and trim, subject to change ioithout notice. A GENERAL MOTORS VALUE O-1152A too, a long constructed With Hehsall -In 1919, the Hay TowhShip Telephone System was Changed to connect at Dashwood instead ef Exeter. The Thames Hoad c Phone 100 Snell Bros. Limited CHEVROLET — OLDSMOBILE CHEV TRUCKS