Clinton News-Record, 1985-6-26, Page 37PAGE TWELVE
`telephone System changes with the times
Tuckersmith's independent telephone
system recently marked 75 years of service
to the township, growing from 199
subscribers to over 360.
The Tuckersmith Municipal Telephone
System, one of only 30 independent com-
panies in Ontario today, came into existance
in 1909 after Tuckersmith residents petition-
ed Bell Canada to extend lines into their
township as well as Stanley, Usborne,
Hullett, Hibbert, McKillop and Hay
Townships.
Although all the township's were to make
use of the telephone lines, the company took
on the name of Tuckersmith Municipal
Telephone System because Tuckersmith
Council, under Reeve Robert McKay, had
agreed to take on the financial respon-
sibilities.
Looking after the directing of the new
system were Thomas Shillinglaw, Peter
McKay and secretary James Gemmell.
Financing of the system was done in two
ways. One way was a door-to-door canvas
for subscribers and the second was a deben-
ture issued by Tuckersmith Township.
After the finances were well in hand, 30
tons of wire and 4,000 poles were purchased
so 110 miles of lines could be made, connec-
ting 264 subscribers. The poles, .from W.C.
Stirling and Sons, of Michigan, arrived at
the Kippen train station on April 2, 1909 and
contractors Messrs Forbes Brothers, of
Seaforth, quickly set to work erecting and
installing the poles.
Approximately 199 subscribers lived in
the Township of Tuckersmith with the re-
maining patrons found in the surrounding
townships. At that time, it cost $11.87 per
year for the telephone service, with $3.50 of
that paid • in advance for connection with
Bell Telephone.
Breaking the costs down, a subscriber
paid $6.46 for materilas and building the
line, plus $1.91 interest on debentures. The
$3.50 Bell Telephone charge can be broken
down as $2 for talking to other subscribers
and $1.50 forlocal managing fees.
Up until 1919, telephone batteries were be-
ing issued to customers, but at an annual
meeting, it was decided that each
subscriber should purchase their own bat-
tery. However, eight years later the rules
were changed back to having the system
supply the batteries because subscribers
were not replacing the them. At this time it
was also decided that a yearly inspection be
Our roots
in Tuckersmith and Huron
are
eighteen years deep.
We at Fleming Feed Mill are proud to have served the
farmers of Tuckersmith Township and Huron County since 1967.
We also wish our many friends and customers in Tuckersmith
Township all the best with your Sesquicentennial Celebrations
this weekend.
OUR SERVICE INCLUDES
®Manufacturing pelleted and crumbled feed in bulk
®Contracting Laying Hens
®We handle Wheat, Corn, Oats, Barley, Mixed Grain, Soya Beans
FLEMING
FEED MILL LTD.
"Serving Huron County since 967"
IRWIN ST., CLINTON (JUST OFF HWY. NO. 4 SOUTH) 482-3438
CALL TOLL FRSE 1-800-265-4204
made on the batteries so that the telephone
system could run more efficiently.
The Tuckersmith Municipal Telephone
System experienced its first major crisis
during a sleet storm in 1922. The storm
damaged lines, leaving the system without
telephone service for months. This promp-
ted council to get approval for purchase of
underground cable.
Subscribers to the 'Tuckersmith system
joined together to fight a proposed switching
charge increase by Bell Canada in 1925.
They put together a petition which stated
they would establish their own switchboard
at Clinton, Seaforth and Hensall before they
would pay the extra charges. As a result,
Bell offered to pay the telephone system a
commission on their long distance tolls.
T.G. Shillinglaw, Will McEwan and
William Alexander were named the first
commissioners after a requisition was made
to the Municipal Council of Tuckersmith
Township in April, 1933.
Mr. Shillinglaw was named chairman and
held the position for one year. Mr. McEwan
remained on the Commission until 1940 as
did Mr. Alexander. Other members of the
Commission were: A. Petrie, 1934-41; R.M.
Peck, 1949-56; Ken Jackson, 1941-44; Hugh
Chesney, 1944-48; A. Nicholson, 1948-74; Ed
McBride, 1952-56; Harvey Coleman, 1956-74;
L. Lovell, 1957-67; Albert Shirray, 1967-73;
William B. Rowcliffe, 1973-76; Vern Alder -
dice, 1974- ; Elmer Hayter, 1974- ; W. D.
Wilson, 1975-84; Pere Johnston, 1975-83;
Lloyd Ferguson, 1976-85; Don Campbell,
1983- ;Emmerson Coleman, 1984- ; David
Brock, 1985 -
Secretary -treasurers serving the
Tuckersmith Municipal Telephone System
have been: J.B. Mustard, 1933; F.N. For-
syth, 1933-40; J.K. Cornish, 1941-64; Mel
Graham, 1964 to present.
Bayfield Telephone Office
Tuckersmith Municipal Telephone
System bought out the Bayfield Telephone ,
System, which was owned by Bell Telephone
since 1899, in 1928. But it wasn't until 1949
that the Tuckersmith System established an
exchange in Bayfield, managed by Mrs.
Malcom (Flo) Tomsand her staff.
Because there were up to 20 people on one
line at that time, it was necessary for a five
minute time limit to be placed on calls.
The telephone system soon introduced a go
continuouse service, meaning service by
operators was available at all times. This
new service also meant the employment of
three operators; one for the day shift, one
for the night shift and a relief operator.
Some of -the operators employed over the
years were: Ann 'Tate, Ella MacKay, Nor-
ma Wallis, Anne Heard, Helen LeBeau,
Daisy Arkell, Gloria McClinchey, Ken Scot-
chmer, Maude Weston, • Patsy Scotchmer,
Ruthanne • Scotchmer, Lillion Higgins,
Evelyn Francis, Ruby Fitzsimons, Pearl
Shaddick; Jack Caldwell, Bill Gibson, Ann
Chapman, Elaine Grainger, Dawn
Westlake.
In 1954, Bell Canada announced they were
going to install 'a dial exchange building in
Clinton and wouldn't be able to do the swit-
ching for the'Tuckersmith System after the
spring of 1956. In order to keep up with the
moderization, Tuckermsith decided to
change to the dial system.
The changeover to dial phones cost $16,000
and the Township of Tuckersmith loaned the
system the money to make the changover.
The 1960s were busy years for the
Tuckersmith Municipal Telephone System
with the Commissioners attaining
easements from the property owners where
the cable was to be buried, the installation of
the dial office in Bayfield and taking down
the old poles and lines.
It was in 1964 that secretary -treasurer
J.K. Cornish, retired after 25 years of ser-
vice. He was replaced by the present
secretary -treasurer Mel Graham.
Mr. Graham has been involved in a lot of
changes which the system has undergone
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