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Marthe48

(19,536 posts)

5. Near Cleveland in the 1950s

Reply to AllaN01Bear (Original post)

Wed Dec 18, 2024, 10:03 AM

Dec 18

My Grandmother had a cousin in NY state, and if she wanted to call her, she had to dial the operator, tell the operator the number, hang up and wait for the operator to call back with a connection. We had a party line for a short time, and then a private line. Calls to our family grocery store were toll calls, which changed to local calls in the 1960s. It was cheaper to call after 7 on weekdays, so until we got cell phones in the 90s, or so, I would chat with loved ones after 7, for an hour or so. The charges now are a big relief!

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LeftInTX electric_blue68

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Highlight:

when telephone long distance was shortwave radio. ( have a old radio with these frequencies on the dial) [View all] AllaN01Bear Dec 18 OP

Our reality than 100 years ago. OAITW r.2.0 Dec 18 #1

When we lived off-base in Japan, we had no phone service...period...none! LeftInTX Dec 18 #2

I lived in a tea house on a mountain cliff in Lake Louise. applegrove Dec 18 #4

Yeah. It was so weird. We lived in a village with lots of close neighbor's but no phones. LeftInTX Dec 18 #6

We are helpless creatures. My grandmother was born in 1898 applegrove Dec 18 #7

Fascinating. I always thought they used cables! LeftInTX Dec 18 #3

Near Cleveland in the 1950s Marthe48 Dec 18 #5

My cousin in NJ had a party line when we were quite young visiting them... electric_blue68 Dec 19 #8

My husband's family had a party line Marthe48 Dec 19 #9

Wow. Some people -really- go through some things!... electric_blue68 Dec 19 #10

Yes, they do Marthe48 Dec 19 #11

Omg, how terrifying! And now the third time! electric_blue68 Dec 19 #12

So I read a description of party lines saying mostly in "rural" areas... electric_blue68 Dec 19 #13

when my dad and mum were younger , they had a party line . mrs . jones , get off the line , we can hear u breathinh! AllaN01Bear Dec 19 #14

Hahaha electric_blue68 Dec 19 #15