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Switchboard Soldiers by Jennifer Chiaverini

Hobart Book Chat

2023-11-21 11:00:00 2023-11-21 12:00:00 America/Chicago Switchboard Soldiers by Jennifer Chiaverini Our November 2023 book chat title is Switchboard Soldiers by Jennifer Chiaverini. Pick up a copy at the Hobart branch to chat! Contact hobart@lcplin.org or (219) 942-2243 for more details. Hobart

Tuesday, November 21
11:00am - 12:00pm

Add to Calendar 2023-11-21 11:00:00 2023-11-21 12:00:00 America/Chicago Switchboard Soldiers by Jennifer Chiaverini Our November 2023 book chat title is Switchboard Soldiers by Jennifer Chiaverini. Pick up a copy at the Hobart branch to chat! Contact hobart@lcplin.org or (219) 942-2243 for more details. Hobart

Hobart

Hobart Zoom Room, Children's Program Room, Large Meeting Room

Our November 2023 book chat title is Switchboard Soldiers by Jennifer Chiaverini. Pick up a copy at the Hobart branch to chat! Contact hobart@lcplin.org or (219) 942-2243 for more details.

In June 1917, General John Pershing arrived in France to establish American forces in Europe. He immediately found himself unable to communicate with troops in the field. Pershing needed telephone operators who could swiftly and accurately connect multiple calls, speak fluent French and English, remain steady under fire, and be utterly discreet, since the calls often conveyed classified information.

At the time, nearly all well-trained American telephone operators were women--but women were not permitted to enlist, or even to vote in most states. Nevertheless, the U.S. Army Signal Corps promptly began recruiting them.

More than 7,600 women responded, including Grace Banker of New Jersey, a switchboard instructor with AT&T and an alumna of Barnard College; Marie Miossec, a Frenchwoman and aspiring opera singer; and Valerie DeSmedt, a twenty-year-old Pacific Telephone operator from Los Angeles, determined to strike a blow for her native Belgium.

They were among the first women sworn into the U.S. Army under the Articles of War. The male soldiers they had replaced had needed one minute to connect each call. The switchboard soldiers could do it in ten seconds.

Deployed throughout France, including near the front lines, the operators endured hardships and risked death or injury from gunfire, bombardments, and the Spanish Flu. Not all of them would survive.

The women of the U.S. Army Signal Corps served with honor and played an essential role in achieving the Allied victory. Their story has never been the focus of a novel...until now.

Hobart

Phone: 219-942-2243

Branch manager
Jo

Hours
Mon, Dec 04 12:30PM to 8:30PM
Tue, Dec 05 10:00AM to 6:00PM
Wed, Dec 06 12:30PM to 8:30PM
Thu, Dec 07 10:00AM to 6:00PM
Fri, Dec 08 9:00AM to 5:00PM
Sat, Dec 09 9:00AM to 5:00PM
Sun, Dec 10 Closed

About the branch

The Hobart Branch is conveniently located at 100 N. Main Street in downtown Hobart. The current building was built in 1967 and an addition was added in 1979 and then remodeled in 2007. The Hobart Branch is known for its unique architecture and fabulous views of Lake George. The interior areas have slight floor elevation differences which help provide a cozy atmosphere.

The Hobart Branch has many amenities for the community. The library has a private small group room, and a public meeting room that can accommodate up to 100 people. Every month we hold many preschool, toddler, infant, and family and adult classes and events. From computer classes, to arts and crafts, to teen gaming, we've got something for everyone, no matter your age!

Upcoming events

Wed, Dec 06, 4:30pm - 5:30pm
Children's Program Room

Wed, Dec 06, 5:45pm - 6:45pm
Children's Program Room,Programming Room

Thu, Dec 07, 11:00am - 11:45am
Children's Program Room

Fri, Dec 08, 10:30am - 11:00am
Children's Program Room

Fri, Dec 08, 3:30pm - 4:30pm
Children's Program Room

Mon, Dec 11, 5:30pm - 6:30pm
Children's Program Room,Large Meeting Room

Tue, Dec 12, 10:30am - 1:30pm
Children's Program Room,Large Meeting Room

Wed, Dec 13, 2:30pm - 3:15pm
Children's Program Room

Thu, Dec 14, 3:30pm - 5:30pm
Children's Program Room,Programming Room

Mon, Dec 18, 5:30pm - 6:30pm
Children's Program Room

Tue, Dec 19, 11:00am - 12:00pm
Children's Program Room,Programming Room,Hobart Zoom Room

Wed, Dec 20, 5:30pm - 6:30pm
Children's Program Room

Thu, Dec 21, 11:00am - 11:45am
Children's Program Room

Fri, Dec 22, 10:30am - 11:00am
Children's Program Room

Fri, Dec 22, 3:30pm - 4:30pm
Children's Area

Tue, Dec 26, 10:30am - 1:30pm
Children's Program Room,Large Meeting Room

Thu, Dec 28, 10:30am - 11:00am
Children's Program Room

Thu, Dec 28, 2:30pm - 3:00pm
Children's Program Room

Wed, Jan 03, 5:30pm - 6:00pm
Children's Program Room