Theodore Vail Medal, “Sadie Collins”, 1923

The Theodore N. Vail Medal for Noteworthy Public Service of the Bell Telephone System, in bronze, engraved on the reverse “Sadie Collins”; numbered “385″ and dated “1923″ on the edge. In its original fitted case of issue.

The Boston Globe reported that Collins, a night operator in South Deerfield, Massachusetts, had seen indications of a fire on the horizon from her work location and started calling residents of the area. One of them identified the farm where the barn was burning. Collins roused the family from their sleep, notified the fire department and rallied the neighbors to save the farmhouse and outbuildings. The Vail Medal, designed by noted sculptor A.A. Weinman, was established in 1921 to recognize service and heroism by Bell Telephone System employees.