by Pete Zizka
2-19-022
Despite some opposition in several nearby towns,
telegraph lines were being put up at a rapid pace. In Willimantic,
telegraph service was now being used by more businesses and the Rapid
Telegraph Company was working to keep up with the demand. So far, the
populace and leaders of Willimantic were pleased and the company was
very careful to maintain that good relationship. In June, 1881, “The
Chronicle” reported that, “A few of the poles of the Rapid Telegraph Company, extending from the Post
office up Main Street, are to be taken down and replaced by higher ones.
The branches from trees obstruct the free passage of the wires, and in
preference to damaging the trees the wires are raised.” The new poles
also allowed for the placement of more wires since now, a second
company, The Mutual Union Telegraph Company, was stringing six
additional wires on the poles. The new poles arrived in August, 1881 and
“The Chronicle” reported that they stood seventy feet out of that
ground. Around this time, telephone service was beginning its entry into
Willimantic. Even so, many companies preferred to connect to the
telegraph lines due to the almost prohibitive cost of long distance
telephone. And, oftentimes, since the clarity of phone conversation was
poor, many felt that
telegraph messages would be more accurate. (Evidently, texting was
preferred by many even 140 years ago!). Many businesses used
teletypewriters, Telex, or stock
tickers. Almost a year later, things began to get more complicated. Both
the telegraph and telephone companies were looking to extend their lines
beyond Main Street. The Morrison Machine Company, a large manufacturer
on Valley Street had asked the Court of Burgesses for poles to be
erected on Valley Street and at a May, 1882 meeting, the Burgesses
voted to allow the Morrisons to erect telephone poles on Valley Street,
“by obtaining consent of property owners where said poles are erected
subject to the approval of the committee of the court of burgesses.
Petition of the Telephone Co. for the erection of poles for the use of
their project, was received and liberty granted on same conditions as
given the Messrs. Morrison.” A
committee of Burgesses was then appointed to begin overseeing
the erection of utility poles. By
June, 1882, lines were being extended into Conantville, Mansfield Center
and Gurleyville. A “Chronicle” writer reported that, ”The monotony of
the avenue has been somewhat relieved the past few days by the workmen
erecting poles, and putting up the new telephone line from Willimantic
north”.
Perhaps with tongue in cheek, the writer continued, “Some of the ancient
tattlers and gossips, seem to have vague and indistinct ideas relative
to the acoustic properties of this new instrument for the transmission
of news, and after the completion of the line it would not be strange to
see some of them patiently waiting, and listening by the
wayside in order to catch
the passing messages”.
Around this time and for the next two years, there were regular reports of lines and poles being damaged in storms and by lightning. The early lines were not well protected against lightning, oftentimes with the result that, “several telegraph poles were shivered by lightning. Wires were prostrated and disabled.”. Storms did much damage in the surrounding towns, in the shattering of trees and telegraph and telephone poles, and the striking of houses and barns. In Willimantic there was an instance where a “great many telegraph and telephone poles and trees were shattered and at the corner of Railroad Street a man was prostrated.” Despite storms and other problems, more and more lines were being put up but things went fairly smoothly for over a year. By September, 1883, work crews had begun setting new Southern New England telephone Co. poles through South Windham. In Willimantic too, phone service was now being added and additional lines were being put up. Willimantic’s burgesses were asked for permission to install poles on Prospect Street. “The Chronicle” wrote that poles should not be allowed and the Burgesses hesitated but then the manager of the Southern New England Telephone Company offered the borough the use of the company's poles for fire alarm purposes, provided permission was given the company to erect a line of poles on Prospect Street. Permission was eventually given. But east and west of Willimantic, major controversies were forthcoming.
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