Operators Save A Town

Reprinted from "INSULATORS - Crown Jewels of the Wire", October 1984, page 7

The following is an interesting item clipped from the October, 1913, TELEPHONE ENGINEER, page 209. It was sent to us by one of our subscribers some time ago.

Operators Save A Town

The heroism of two telephone operators saved Creston, Ohio, from complete destruction by fire September 11 when flames consumed six store buildings, representing a quarter of the business section of the town. The cause of the blaze is not known. The loss will reach $50,000.

It was at 4:30 o'clock that Mary Gilmore, night operator at the Farmer's Telephone Exchange, who slept in the building, awoke to find the room full of fire. Dashing through the blaze in her night clothes she ran into the street, crying "fire"!

Mrs. Ward Carter, who is night operator at the Star telephone exchange nearby heard the cry. She at once called the firemen at their homes by telephone, and then called the nearby town of Seville and aroused the department there.