SADIE, THE TELEPHONE OPERATOR
SADIE, THE TELEPHONE OPERATOR
When I was growing up in Jerome in the 1940’s, we had a “party line” in the house. Our ring was: two longs and a short. There was someone else on our line, but I never did know who that was. But sometimes when we were on the phone that person would pick up their receiver, hang it up with a big click. This would happen a few times to annoy us, so we’d hang up and let him or her use the phone. Sometimes I’d hear my mother saying: Hang up the receiver” in an annoyed tone, as the mysterious other was listening in on her conversation.
The party line was probably a bit much for my father, who was the town doctor, as sometimes when he needed to make a call, the other person would be on the line. There were times when he’d ask the person to hang up. (Our father was not known to be shy.)
What I always remember about our phone service was Sadie, the telephone operator, who operated out of a little shack or tiny wooden building outside of town. She would listen in and sometimes tell my parents things that they might want to know. My father sort of used her as an answering service, which wasn’t something one had in those days. If we were going away for a day to see our relatives over the mountain, he’d tell Sadie that if anyone called to tell them he’d be back by 9 or whatever. She in turn might tell him who called and even give him messages.
I don’t know exactly what Sadie’s job was. Did all incoming calls go through her or only long distance ones? How did it work? Maybe my brother can add something to this.
I remember going down and actually seeing Sadie once or twice. I have only a vague memory of the building and her sitting inside. I think she had white hair. I’m sure she looked old, but was probably middle aged or younger.
As time went on, I think our father got a bit tired of the party line, particularly as it affected his business. So we eventually had a private line, possibly the only one at that time in Jerome.
When I was growing up in Jerome in the 1940’s, we had a “party line” in the house. Our ring was: two longs and a short. There was someone else on our line, but I never did know who that was. But sometimes when we were on the phone that person would pick up their receiver, hang it up with a big click. This would happen a few times to annoy us, so we’d hang up and let him or her use the phone. Sometimes I’d hear my mother saying: Hang up the receiver” in an annoyed tone, as the mysterious other was listening in on her conversation.
The party line was probably a bit much for my father, who was the town doctor, as sometimes when he needed to make a call, the other person would be on the line. There were times when he’d ask the person to hang up. (Our father was not known to be shy.)
What I always remember about our phone service was Sadie, the telephone operator, who operated out of a little shack or tiny wooden building outside of town. She would listen in and sometimes tell my parents things that they might want to know. My father sort of used her as an answering service, which wasn’t something one had in those days. If we were going away for a day to see our relatives over the mountain, he’d tell Sadie that if anyone called to tell them he’d be back by 9 or whatever. She in turn might tell him who called and even give him messages.
I don’t know exactly what Sadie’s job was. Did all incoming calls go through her or only long distance ones? How did it work? Maybe my brother can add something to this.
I remember going down and actually seeing Sadie once or twice. I have only a vague memory of the building and her sitting inside. I think she had white hair. I’m sure she looked old, but was probably middle aged or younger.
As time went on, I think our father got a bit tired of the party line, particularly as it affected his business. So we eventually had a private line, possibly the only one at that time in Jerome.
posted by PB at 6:43 PM
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