7BF 1917 La Grande, Oregon

The operator was Francis William "Frank" Bay, 7BF, Silent Key (1886 - 1917)

Francis William Bay was born in La Grande, Oregon on November 8, 1886 to David and Ida May (Watson) Bay. Frank, as he was called, had one older brother and two younger ones.
Frank Bay was at one time, the Recording Secretary for the Foresters of America. He graduated from High School in May of 1903. In 1905, he was a plumber for Mrs. T. N. Murphy's Hardware Store.
Frank married Olive V. Crawford on November 17, 1907 in La Grande. They had one daughter, Elma L. Bay.
By 1912, Frank was in business with Nate Zweifel. The business called "Bay and Zweifel Plumbers and Tinners" was located at 209 Depot Street in La Grande.

Frank Bay was electrocuted on December 13, 1917 while working underneath a house installing plumbing at a residence on North Second Street.
Nate Zweifel was working on the first floor and Frank was working under the house with an electric light on a cord, connecting pipes from the kitchen sink with the sewer.
He apparently received the electric shock from the light cord.

Frank Bay was buried on December 16, 1917 in Hillcrest Cemetery in La Grande.

Photo Patrick Rigg Collection
Info courtesy of W5KNE