The Family Behind the Phone Company
“We’ve come a long way” may be an old saying, yet it sums up the evolution of long-distance communication from the days of telegraph messages to telephone. As more folks began to settle in the Siuslaw area, it became essential to communicate with others from afar. In 1910, the cost of sending a 10-word message by telegraph from Florence to Eugene was 80 cents, and to Portland, 90 cents. Telegraph messages were transmitted through Gardiner, Marshfield and Roseburg. Even then, the transmission was somewhat unpredictable. In 1915, the Pacific Telephone and Telegraph Company purchased a 1910 rural phone system from Siuslaw Home Telephone.
Pacific Telephone improved the telegraph service by utilizing a new Western Union line through Mapleton. This resulted in more reliable communications and reduced the toll for a 10-word message from Florence to either Eugene or Portland to 50 cents. In comparison, if expediency wasn’t a consideration, U.S. domestic postage was 2 cents per half ounce.
The Chandler Family
Albert W. (“A. W.”) Chandler worked for Pacific Telephone and Telegraph in Portland before moving to Florence in 1923 to manage the town’s telephone system and office. The move was an ambitious project that soon became a family effort. A. W., along with his sons Schuyler and Albert E. Jr. installed phone lines from Reedsport to areas north of Florence, and up the Siuslaw towards Mapleton. It is said A. W. weathered heavy storms to repair broken lines and other challenges throughout the years. He dedicated himself to the phone company and tirelessly worked to restore and maintain essential communication lines for his community.
A.W.’s son, Albert E. Chandler went on to become a PBX repairman for Pacific Northwest Bell Company, retiring in Corvallis after 37 years.
Switchboard Operators
With new phone lines in place, telephone switchboard operators were needed to place calls. A. W.’s wife, Sylvia ran the telephone office and became a switchboard operator. At some point in their lives, four of their daughters worked for the phone company. In the 1940’s, daughter Linnie worked 30 hours per week as an operator. Genevieve worked for the phone company before and after graduating from Siuslaw High School, and in 1944 Betty also worked as a telephone operator. Nadine worked for the phone company as well.
After A. W. passed away in 1939, Sylvia became Pacific Telephone’s Agency Manager. She continued working 40 hours per week for the phone company until she retired in the mid 1950’s. Her granddaughter Marsha McCord recalls being told that as her aunts grew up, “. . . as soon as they could reach the switchboard, they became telephone switchboard operators”.
Today, the telephone company’s building remains at its original Maple Street location. Marsha McCord recalls in 1944 she, her parents, and brother lived in the building’s apartment above the switchboard room on the main floor. This made it convenient whenever her mother Betty, was scheduled to work the switchboard.
The Museum’s Oral History Project attempts to share stories of individuals whose lives and work contributed to our town’s history and growth. Sometimes during an interview the unexpected is discovered. Such was the case in interviewing Marsha McCord. Initially, the focus of the interview was to have been about the Florence Theater, where several of her family members had worked. Her father, Mahlon R. Snidow, Jr., was the weekend projectionist. Her mother Betty, was an usher who also sold theater tickets and popcorn, and her sister Cleo, was also an usher. However, during the interview with Marsha, as we viewed her maternal Chandler family photo album, another story came to light.
The Chandlers’ impact and role in the evolution of long-distance communication in the Siuslaw area was revealed, and the interview became an opportunity to move their story forward. Their experiences and achievements should not be overlooked but instead, acknowledged and honored. The Oral History Project recognizes the Chandler family’s important contributions to the rich history and development of our town.
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- Story by Deb Lobey
- oralhistory@spmuseum.org
Sources
- 1930 United States Federal Census. Florence, Lane, Oregon. Enumeration District 0065: page 34.
- 1940 United States Federal Census. Florence, Lane, Oregon. Enumeration District 20-59: Page 5B.
- A.W. Chandler Sr. Dies in Portland. The Eugene Guard. 7 Jun 2939: Page 1.
- Florence and Glenada Phone Systems Sold; Pacific Company Enters New Coast Field. The Register Guard. 6 Nov 191: Page 8.
- Obituaries. Corvallis Gazette-Times: 6 Sept 1979: Page 10.
- Phone Line Taken Over. The Register Guard, The Morning Register.12 Sept 1915: Page 8.
- Siuslaw Telephone Office. Siuslaw Pioneer Magazine. 1958: Page 18.
- Telegraph Florence to Eugene. The Siuslaw Pilot; Telegraph. 2 Jan 1915.