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.
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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!
