Nine female telephone operators sit at their switchboard stations along the right side of this 4" x 5" black and white photograph. The women are all wearing dresses and headsets. The room has fluorescent lighting and a window in the back wall. There is a metal cart on the left side of the photograph with a binder on it. An electric fan is visible behind the cart.
The fire at Linder Motor Company was a threat to nearby businesses, including the telephone company. During the fire, Chief Operator Ruby Edward was asked if she and her operators were keeping busy. She replied, "Yes we are - but we aren't half as busy as we will be when all these people go home and start calling each other to talk about the fire.
