history, an experiment whose planning started in the early 1950s, and led to the largest sustained research and development program toward a single goal in the Bell System. After conversion of the existing manual telephone system using telephone operators for completing telephone calls, with an automatic electromechanical crossbar switching system starting in ca. 1958, a few hundred subscribers received dial service from June 1960 through January 1962 from the first mostly electronic system, that used cold-cathode electron tubes, instead of mechanical relays and switches. For telephone subscribers, the most notable characteristic of what is usually called the Morris System was the use of electronic tone ringers which used up to eight different tones produced by a tweeter, rather than the traditional bell ringer. Notable people Jessie Bartlett Davis, (c. 1859–1861–1905), operatic singer and actress Jack Boyle, (1889-1971), third baseman for the Philadelphia Phillies Ed Brady, (b. 1960), former NFL linebacker Kelly Dransfeldt, (b. 1975), former shortstop for the Texas Rangers and Chicago White Sox Careen M. Gordon, (b. 1972), Member of the Illinois House of Representatives from the 75th district from 2003-2011 Philip C. Hayes, (1833–1916), congressman Albert Kingsbury, (1863–1943), engineer, inventor and entrepreneur Eric J. Magnuson, (b. 1951), lawyer and Chief Justice of the Minnesota Supreme Court Billy Petrick, (b. 1984), former pitcher for the Chicago Cubs Walter M. Pierce, (1861–1954), congressman from Oregon's 2nd congressional district and 17th governor of Oregon Lyman Beecher Ray (1831–1916), lieutenant governor of Illinois 1889–93, politician and Morris shopkeeper Scott Spiezio, (b. 1972), former Major League Baseball third baseman Ronald Steel, (b. 1931), award-winning writer, historian, and professor James R. Washburn (1921–2007), Illinois state representative and mayor of Morris Jerry Weller, (b. 1957), former congressman from the 11th District of Illinois References External links Cities in Illinois County seats in Illinois Cities in Grundy County, Illinois Populated places established in 1853 1853 establishments in Illinois