In May 1896, Local Union 56 went defunct and Local Union 35 was the only Local Union in Boston. Information of Local Union 35 began to reappear in the "Electrical Worker" in 1896. Michael Birmingham was President. He lived at 69 Dustin Street, Allston. E. Calvin of 258 Lincoln Street, Allston, was Recording Secretary, and the fourth Grand Vice President of N.B.E.W., R. Bradford of 6 Temple Street, Boston, served as Financial Secretary.

The Local Union had a membership of 350 members. Meetings were held on the first and third Wednesday nights at Wells Memorial Hall, 987 Washington Street.

In a letter to the "Electrical Worker" in October, "Lineman" is critical of the LU #35 press secretary for missing articles in the June, July and August issues. He complains of cheap labor competition from Chinese workers and talks of the Boston Labor Day parade. He claims a Mr. Cameron of New England Telephone had three men discharged for appearing to be marching in the parade. He also reports that Brother Colin Chisholm is tinkering with x-ray equipment.

In the November issue, Brother Daniel McGillvary assails the "Lineman" for wrongly reporting that Mr. Cameron had anyone fired for parading and that N.E.T. and Telegraph Company employ more union men than any other union contractor in the state, and for not signing his name when posting his opinions in the "Worker."

In 1897, J. Larkins was President, D. A. McGillvary was Recording Secretary and R. H. Bradford was Financial Secretary.

The February, 1897, issue of the "Electrical Worker" discusses the Third Annual Ball held on on January 6, 1897, at Roughaus Hall, Charlestown, and of the spectacular lighting display, which could be seen for miles around Boston. The letters "N.B.E.W." were done with incandescent lamps of various colors on wire mesh over the ballroom, highlighted by a carbon arc lamp flashing on a mirrored ball. The affair was hosted by Brothers Flynn, Melville, Colvin, Smith, Ellsworth and Dacey. About 800 people enjoyed the spiked punch and melodies of Dunbars famous orchestra.

The June, 1897, issue discusses a request of LU 35 to Mayor of Boston, Josiah Quincy, to select a member of Local 35 to be Commissioner of Wires in Boston. The Boston Building Trades Council endorsed the written request to the Mayor immediately. (Mayor Quincy did not honor the request.)

During this period, it was apparent that linemen and wiremen were going separate ways. Linemen were older, proud, fraternal, hard-drinking men used to traveling the country looking for work and favored national organizers roaming the country looking to organize new territories and report periodically as to job opportunities to the N.B.E.W.

Wiremen, on the other hand, were younger, preferred local autonomy, delegates to the local building trades councils, and bi-weekly meetings for reports on job opportunities and local contract wages, which reflected the local demand for a trade and which was becoming more skilled by frequent change.