New Jerusalem Cab Company - 433 N Peabody Avenue

Though cabs have become less used as more people own cars, New Jerusalem Cab Company still does well enough (especially near the university), to employ several fulltime drivers. Depending on demand, up to four cabs are on the streets from 6 A.M. until midnight, seven days a week. The company has asked to provide 24 hour service, but the selectmen hesitate, believing that this might promote crime and loose behavior.
Two cab stands exist, one in front of the cab company and one by the Kroger’s at Garrison and MainGarrison and Main. At the latter, a direct phone line links the stand with the cab office. Other direct lines exist at St. Mary's Hospital, Hotel Missituk, and so forth.
Cab orders can be taken by phone in the grungy second floor office, and cabs sent directly from the stand outside. The cabs all have radios; these two-way radios are large, expensive, and rather delicate.
Rates are average, and must comply with state licensing limits. Trips around town are flat-rate: 50 cents in town as long as no bridge is crossed, 50 cents each time a bridge is crossed, 50 cents for each mile out of town, and 75 cents an hour to wait. A cab and driver can be hired for eight hours at a cost of $7 and the promise of a tip of more than a dollar.
Mostly the cabbies take people to and from grocery stores, cart late-night partiers safely home, and drive families and businessmen to and from Logan Airport or the smaller New Jerusalem Airport. Once in a while a truly bizarre pick-up or drop-off occurs, which the cabbies enjoy discussing over the radio once the fare is out of the cab. Truly some humorous, sometimes strange and unsettling exchanges can be picked up by anyone tuning in to the correct channel on a scanner.
Gregory Dahlberg, 42 is the manager and works the day shift six days a week. With the exception of the owner he is the only one with the authority to allow individuals (without a warrant) to search cab trip records or employment files. Dahlberg is surly and unresponsive to any persuasion save money or the presence of police. The first time someone wants to see the waybill files, Dahlberg demands five dollars. On a second visit, the fee doubles. Drivers, while desiring tips, are more willing to talk, on the stand or in the cab.
On the other hand, the office cat, an orange tabby named Hack, is more than willing to talk about the things she has seen, heard, or read around the cab company. Hack also has an almost supernatural knowledge of the layout of New Jerusalem, its streets, avenues, alleys, and destinations; she never gets lost and can always guide a friend where they need to go by the fastest route as long as it is in town.

Parent Location

Downtown