The High Street Nuisance of 1881

Here’s an interesting story from April 22, 1881. It seems that the F.W. Childs company came through one day and put up telephone poles along High Street on behalf of the Bell Telephone Company. The “boys” doing the work did a lousy job of it, leaving a mess of unfinished (ie, natural growth, not sawed or turned) poles up the street.

This upset residents, but there was a new statute allowing for poles to be placed for private telegraph and telephone lines, and the Selectmen had given the company permission. Asked later, the Selectmen said they didn’t know what they were signing.

Many residents saw the work as illegal, as a result of having no information or warning about the project, nor any chance to weigh in on it. Many residents said they’d prefer the poles to be in the back yards At least one pole was cut down.

Here’s a letter to the editor on the subject, signed by O.

……

The High Street Nuisance

People who have had the occasion to pass up and down High street in the last few days know how the street is being disfigured by the erection of large, unsightly poles for the use of the telegraph or telephone company. At this day, when towns and cities all over the country have societies, or associations, for the purpose of beautifying and making their places more attractive, it seems as though Brattleboro was about to go in just the opposite direction, and was to allow one of its most beautiful streets to be ruined.

Naturally the people of High street are very indignant at the prospect of having their street thus defaced. The fully signed petition to the authorities for the removal of the nuisance will testify to that. Yet the people of High street are no more interested in this matter than each and every person who wishes to see the beauty of the village preserved. If poles of this objectionable character can be erected on High street, they certainly can be on Main street, and every one can see what the effect on such a row of poles up Main street would be.

And if the High street line is allowed, how can we but expect a similar one on Main street, where it is equally desirable to the builders. Continuing from High street the company propose to follow Wester avenue to West Brattleboro. Think again of this beautiful drive being lined with a row of unsightly telegraph poles. What could detract more from the beauty of the avenue?

It behooves every one interested in the beauty and attractiveness of the village to do what he can to prevent the outrage. Had the individuals who are doing the work a moderate amount of gentlemanly consideration and respect for the public feeling, which is so string against them, they would make an attempt to correct the difficulty, a thing which they have not done.

It seems strange that the persons who have control of the work should not share in the general feeling of pride in the beauty of the village, and do their part toward preserving it in its present condition, to say nothing of causing it to be marred in this way. I am assured that if these poles are allowed to stand similar ones will be erected along Main street, and I again appeal to every public spirited person to come forward and do his part toward preventing the work which, if allowed, would form a precedent which will endanger the attractiveness of every street in town.

O.