A Pioneer Honoured - Thomas Ellis Armstrong

A PIONEER HONOURED

1884 to 1924

Thomas Ellis Armstrong

from his associates in

The Bell Telephone Company

Commemorating Forty Years of service

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The above inscription plate on a beautiful mantle clock in a mahogany case and with "Westminster chimes" explains the motive which inspired a most delightful surprise party at the home of Mr. and Mrs. T. E. Armstrong, Carleton Place, on Thursday evening, Jan. 10th, 1924.

Mr. John J. Gardiner, District Manager, welcomed the guests on behalf of the Committee, and called upon Mr. R. F. Jones, Division Manager, Montreal. Mr. Jones paid a tribute to the sterling worth and splendid record of Mr. Armstrong and gave many intensely interesting facts regarding the wonderful development of the telephone art in the past forty years. Mr. Jones then requested Miss E. I. Kells, the Chief Operator at Carleton Place, to make the presentation.

Mr. Armstrong, although taken by surprise, replied briefly, expressing the pleasure and pride that he felt in having been a member of The Bell Telephone staff for forty years.

Mr. W. J. Cairns, Division Commercial Supervisor, presented Mrs. Armstrong with a beautiful boquet of American beauty roses, accompanied by the hearty good wishes of all present. Mrs. Armstrong recalled the fact that she was present when Mr. L. B. McFarlane installed the first telephone in the Molsons Bank in Montreal in 1880.

The young ladies of the local traffic staff under the direction of Miss E. I. Kells, Chief Operator, provided a dainty and delightful supper. Mr. J. E. Macpherson, Executive Assistant, occupied the chair and acted as toast-master. Mr. S. H. Beecher proposed the toast to "The Company," to which Mr. W. J. Cairns replied.

Dancing, games .and music completed the program. Guests were present from Almonte, Arnprior, Montreal, Ottawa, Perth and Smiths, the following being noticed: R. F. Jones, Division Manager, Montreal; J. E. Macpherson, Executive Ass't., Ottawa; W. J. Cairns, Div. Com. Supervisor, Montreal; S. H. Beecher, Div. Revenue Supervisor. Ottawa; J. J. Gardiner, Dist. Manager, Smiths Falls; W. J. Howard, Dist. Plant Supt., Smiths Falls; C. A. Smith, Dist. Traffic Supt., Ottawa; Jno. Lowe, Dis. Inspector, H. E. Armstrong, Dis. Cable Inspector; M. Armstrong, Construction Foreman; H. Bennett, Construction Inspector, Carleton Place; f W. H. McGill, Ass. Ins., Arnprior; M. J. Donahue, Com., Perth; Misses E. J. Kells, M. Reilly, J. Miller, Z. Armstrong, K. McFarlane, E. Houston, M. | Robertson, E. Patton and M. Culbertson.

Letters of regret were received from Mr. C. F. Sise, Mr. P. A. McFarlane and others.

The Committee in charge of the arrangements consisted of Miss E. I. Kells, Chief Operator; W. J. Howard, Dist. Plant Supt., Smiths Falls; and John J. Gardiner, Dist. Manager, of Smiths Falls.