Rheta Locke McGilvray
In 1956 when the Telephone Company moved to a dial system there was
no operator to answer personally as had been the case. Rheta McGilvray
who had been a night operator became the Dispatcher 24 hours a day
for all emergency operations: fire, police, etc. When a call came
in, she contacted the appropriate service people (many at that time
volunteers). Mrs. McGilvray, mother of 7 children, born in 1904 did
this from her home at 5 Broad Street. According to H. Hildreth, Rheta
was a clever, hard worker, the Valedictorian in her class and a good
friend and fellow worker in Girl Scouts with Irene West who was a
classmate. This photo hangs at the Always Ready Engine House as a
tribute to Rheta who saved the day in calling the firemen to many
fires.
|