son. The secretary then sent a bill to each person, with the amount of rent, and the tolls to be paid. When these were paid the secretary forwarded the amount due to the Prince Edward Island Telephone Company.

Each person’s phone was connected to the local line, and each ring would be heard on each phone on the line. There was a different combination of long and short rings

, ,. a, for each household. If

9% STATEMENT , a , ,_ a person’s number '“ " was listed 4-3, it

would mean four long rings, and three short ones; 1-4 meant one long and four short rings. To get the tele— phone operator, one pressed a button on the left side of the telephone, and made four rings, which were not heard on the tele- phones, but connect- ed with the Central exchange office, and the agent, (called Central) could make a connection with . whoever one wished 5 ~— ‘ , ------- - ----------- to call. The rural lines a “ g “ were called party * " _ ”"1“” lines. One disadvan- ””””” tage of being on a

party line was a lack

Statement of Ellerslie & Conway Telephone Company. — of privacy as it was FROM PAULINE MILLAR COLLECTION

possible (and proba- ble) that someone, or Perhaps several, would be listening to a conversation. This was not always an Offence however, but rather neighborly interest and sometimes proved to be a blessing. One advantage of the party line was that in case of a fire or other emergency, one long steady ring alerted everyone. When people came on the line, the details of the emergency and the location was quick—

CHAPTER FOUR ~ MOVING ON 83