Bella B. Toner, telegrapher retires

Reading Railroad Magazine, July 1927

Bella Toner Is Retired

MRS. BELLA TONER, agent at New Centerville, and in the Reading’s service for more than fifty-one years, was retired, effective May 1. She holds the distinction of being the oldest woman telegraph operator in the country. She became station agent at Centerville on April 3, 1876. during the Centennial year, the name of the station being changed to New Centerville in 1916. Mrs. Toner operated the ancient "tape" telegraph instrument, there being only one other instrument in use on the System.

Mrs. Toner will be able to give her garden and her chickens virtually all her attention, while in her spare time she will knit and crochet.