See Daily Record, 7/11/1927, page 1: "Vail Medals Awarded Telephone Heroes" Each year the New York Telephone Company awarded medals - one gold, five silver and multiple bronze group medals - for extraordinary services rendered by employees. On July 10, 1926, lightning struck a building filled with explosives at the Lake Denmark Naval Station, resulting in several deaths, widespread evacuation and property damage in excess of $30 million. The linemen and operators of NY Telephone "worked day and night, with scarcely a minute's rest" to restore service to the depot and to handle the excessive call volume. The ceremony depicted in the Curtiss photos (CU 3591-3605) was for the awarding of several of the Vail medals (3 silver and 3 bronze group medals) to the employees in the Morristown area who had provided the "deeds of service".the prior year. More than 2000 people attended the event, which was broadcast live on WOR radio from Newark, and which was filmed and shown as a newsreel at the Lyon's Park Theater on 7/11-13/1927.
The Curtiss Photograph Collection
