Call Center Answering Service Since 1958

The staff at Byrnes Message Bureau (BMB) has been answering after-hours telephones for almost every type of business and profession you can think of.

Byrnes has been involved with helping the people of theMid-Hudson Valley in all aspects of their lives, including delivering babies and helping expectant moms, caring for sick children, heating their homes, building additions, paving driveways, plowing driveways, towing cars, reporting accidents, reaching the Vet for the sick puppy or kitten and establishing contact with the right person in times of grief. These are just a few of the ways in which we’ve touched the lives of many in the Mid-Hudson Valley over the years.

Byrnes Message Bureau went into business on July 1,1958. Originally known as Brady’s Message Bureau, it was located on 32 1/2 Noxon Street in Poughkeepsie. John and Jeanne Byrnes purchased the business from Ethel Brady that summer. Two years later Byrnes moved to their present location at 15 Virginia Avenue.

In the mid to late 60’s, Byrnes Message applied for and was granted an FCClicense for telephone interconnection of mobile telephone customers. In addition, one-way paging was allowed on the same frequency. Dave Byrnes joined the business in 1975 after 3 years as a Civil Engineer in Plattsburgh. Rob Byrnes joined the business in 1983 after selling Hudson Valley Chimney Sweep. Rob is now Vice President in charge of sales and customer service.

In 1980, Byrnes Message was among the first of companies to add computer assistance to the function of answering phones.

The Early Years at Byrnes Message Bureau

Founder John Byrnes was born in December 1918. He spent his early years in Baltimore and Philadelphia. John received his first taste of communications while working at the Sagamore Hotel in Philadelphia. During the war he served with the Signal Corps in North Africa and Italy. After the war he returned to Philadelphia and the hotel business. Jeanne and John were married in 1947 and moved to Poughkeepsie in 1950. He held various jobs, most notably with Shatz Federal Bearing Co. and later with Vassar Brothers Hospital. While working at VBH, he became acquainted with the owner of Brady’s Message Bureau , which he later purchased and which still operates today.

Founder Jeanne Hammond was born in August 1922 to Nettie and Arthur Hammond. She grew up on a farm just north of Millbrook, NY. In high school Jeanne received numerous New York State awards for her accounting skills. Upon graduating, Jeanne joined the DeLaval Separator Company in the bookkeeping department. In 1947 she and John married. After managing Byrnes Message Bureau for many years, Jeanne retired in 1985 and maintains a home in Rhinebeck, NY.