Image: telcomhistory.org
A dance was held in the Elks’ Hall on April 13, 1918 by one of the newest associations in the city -- the Girl Telephone Operators Association. There were 40, mostly young, women in this group who worked the telephone switchboards. This was probably the most technical job available for women a century ago. These women often stayed at their posts during emergencies such as floods, fires, and earthquakes.