A Profile of Grace E. Johnson

The Parents of Grace E. Johnson

Eugene Johnson and Blanche H. ? Johnson

Johnson Family Tree

Grace’s Maternal Family Tree

Grace E. Johnson Celebrates 23 years

From the Mt. Morris Enterprise, 10 January 1934

Springwater folks are congratulating Miss Grace E. Johnson, who is just completing her twenty-third year as a telephone operator in the Springwater office of the Rochester Telephone Corp.

She began her work in 1911 and during the past fourteen years she has been chief operator. Miss Johnson is active in social activities being a past noble grand of the Springwater Rebekah lodge, a member of the Wayland Eastern Star lodge, Sringwater Grange and other organizations in that vicinity.

Grace E. Johnson Celebrates 25 years

From the Genesee Country Express, 26 January 1936

Springwater - “I have never grown tired of my work,” states Miss Grace E. Johnson of Springwater, who completes 25 years as telephone operator in the Springwater office of the Rochester Telephone Corporation today.

Miss Johnson, who has been the chief operator of that exchange since June, 1920, began her work on January 2, 1911, nine years following the installation of telephones in Springwater, under Mrs. Lottie Zimmer Sanford, now of Buffalo, chief operator at that time.

According to Miss Johnson, there were six operators working at different periods of the day in the office when she began her duties. At the present time, there are but two operators, besides Miss Johnson and the relief operator, and since 1920, only one operator has been in charge at a time.

In 1911, the local telephone organization was known as the Springwater Telephone Company and has since been owned by the Bell Telephone Company and the Rochester Telephone Corporation.

Miss Johnson, who has served the longest term of any of the telephone operators in Springwater, has had 17 operators working under her during the 15 years that she has served as chief operator. Only one of these is dead and but four are living in Springwater.

Three different terms have been used in answering calls during Miss Johnson’s term of service, the first being “Hello?”, the next, “Number Please?”, which was later changed to “Number?”. The recent change back to “Number Please?” delighted Miss Johnson, because, as she remarked, that term always seemed to be the best of the three.

Presently the office in which she is chief operator serves 112 subscribers, a decrease of 63 since 25 years ago, when the exchange covered a much larger territory. Forty of those who were subscribers in 1911 have telephones now, Miss Johnson said.

The office has always been located in the Marvin block where it is now and much of the equipment, including the switchboard, is the same now as it was when Miss Johnson began her work.

She states that during each of the 25 years, she has worked during her regular hours on January 2 and also every Christmas Day.

In thinking over the years she has worked there, Miss Johnson recalled many interesting and amusing incidents that have happened. “My work has made for me a vast number of friends,” she said.

She is prominent in social circles of the town and Livingston County, being a member and past officer of several of the local organizations.

Retired Telephone Operators have a Party

From the Dansville Express, 23 July 1964

Springwater - Six former telephone operators were entertained by Miss Grace E. Johnson Saturday.

Recalling their days at the switchboards during the 1930’s, were Miss Nettie Zimmer, Mrs. Florence Simonson and Mrs. Louella Shull of Dansville, Mrs. Lorna Bill and Mrs. Charles Collaman of Wayland and Miss Vivian Corly of Rochester.

Following a social hour, a dinner was served by the hostess.

The Obituary of Grace E. Johnson

3 July 1885 - 3 January 1969

From the Wayland Register, 8 January 1969

Springwater - Miss Grace E. Johnson of Wrights Rd., Springwater, died in Dansville Memorial Hospital Friday (Jan. 3, 1969) following a long illness. She was 83.

Miss Johnson was a retired Rochester Telephone Corp. operator and was also a former employee of the C. F. Cannon Co. in Springwater.

She was a member of the Wrights District Church, a 50-year member of the Springwater Grange, a member of Wawanta Rebekah Lodge No. 11 and the Order of the Eastern Star Chapter 499 of Wayland.

Survivors include a nephew, Glenn Johnson, and several cousins.

A funeral service was conducted Monday in the Baird Funeral Home here. Burial was in Pleasant Valley West Cemetery.

The Burial of Grace E. Johnson

Pleasant Valley West Cemetery in Springwater NY

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