Re: Happy Ending
Andrew:
This probably isn’t a real “Letter to the Editor,” but I’m with Ralph Morris of Fonthill in your latest, in that while I don’t read it all, I do find items of interest in every copy. In this case in Robin Ross’s article on the “Happy Ending” of the church in Humber Summit – Pine Ridge, near Toronto.
Early in my career with Bell Canada, in the mid-1950’s, one Saturday I was sent to Humber Summit, then an isolated and sparsely inhabited community about 10 miles northwest of Toronto. About the time the Pine Ridge Church was built. We were to ask residents if they wanted to have telephone service connected to Toronto’s system at a modest monthly cost. After visiting maybe 30 homes, farms and small businesses, we had pretty general agreement. It was the start of communications of a “modern” nature there, welcomed by most.
The next week I was up to Woodbridge, just north of Humber Summit, where it had been arranged that Bell was going to buy out the small independent telephone company that had operated in that area. That company didn’t have the resources to even keep up with the technical changes of dial telephones and other expansions, so were quite prepared to turn over operations to Bell. I went to see the Chief Operator who handled all the company’s business affairs and its long distance out of her livingroom on the main street of Woodbridge. The change suited her, as she was going to retire anyway. While I was talking to her, she stopped me and went to her front window and opened it.
“Johnny Smith, you come in here and pay your phone bill or I’m going to tell your FATHER!”
It sure wasn’t Bell’s authorized system for collecting past due bills, but it certainly worked, as the miscreant came right in and paid over his few dollars due. I was impressed!
Happy memories, from an article on a happy ending. Something for everyone!
Blessings
