The telephone came to Wawanesa in 1905, and one of the
first
installations was in Dr. Vanstone's Drug Store. He announced this new
innoŽvation in the local paper in December of that year in the
following manner: "We can now say 'hello' to Winnipeg and the outside
world."
Two of the first operators were sisters Dorothy and Elsie Osborne.
Their brother remembers:
“Dorothy and Elsie, having milked the cow, gathered the eggs and
vegetables for the day’s needs, could now leave for work as telephone
operators. Looking after a telephone exchange, which was a relatively
new development, made the job of “Hello Girls” somewhat glamorous.”
Other early phone operators included the Roney sisters, Lillie and Eva.
Lillie, born August 11,1894 worked prior to 1917, when they went on
strike and she moved on to telephone office jobs in Yorkton, Moose Jaw
and Estevan.
Eva, born April 8, 1896 started in the telephone office in 1920 before
moving to Yorkton.
Adapted from Sipiweski, page 32,183,
“Hello Girls”
Although often traced to World War I were the expression became
popular, much earlier published references to "Hello Girls" exist. The
term was first coined for the female telephone switchboard operators in
the USA. The earliest reference is in Mark Twain's A Connecticut Yankee
in King Arthur's Court written in 1889. Although the term may have been
applied to the signaling corps, it did not originate there but was
rather the common term used for the ladies who would say hello when you
rang the switch as opposed to direct calling.
Phone Service in Wawanesa
It was 1906 before communication was estabŽlished with Nesbitt and
other centres in the comŽmunity, and a few years before the rural lines
were completed. The local paper listed from time to time those who
acquired the service, giving the number of the line they were on, and
the number of ring. All calls were directed through the central office
in Wawanesa, so that subscribers on a party line could hear the ring
put through. With as many as eight subscribers to a line, private
conversations were totally impossible.
An improvement was made in 1914 when a button on the side of the
telephone was added and used to call "Central". With this device others
on the line could no longer hear the ring. Incoming calls could be
heard, however, and as a community entertainment, "listening in" became
an almost accepted practice. It provided a welcome relief from the
loneliness and isolation which was the lot of many farm families.
Telephone operators of that era will remember that it was one of their
responsibilities to memorize the numbers of all subscribers. Instead of
giving a number, it was quite common to merely give the name of the
person being called and expect an immediate connection.
The first telephone serviceman was Mr. Elams, who, after being in
Wawanesa for a number of years, was moved to Brandon. His move left the
district without any serviceman and was vigorously protested by the
village. It was some time before a replaceŽment was made.
One of the servicemen who became well known in the district was
Hamilton Bell. Ham, as he was known, was kept busy looking after
telephone troubles of all kinds.
It was a challenging and busy life. Wes Chevins followed Bell in the
1940s, and continued until 1947, at which time he was replaced by Jake
Loewen, who maintained the service until changes to the system also
produced change in the service location.
The early telephone office was in the upper floor of Vanstone's Drug
Store, and finally moved to a new building just south, down the street.
This office looked after the community calls until 1973, when dial
telephones, and a new system, was adopted. The office was closed, and
moved from the site. The exchange has since operated from Brandon.
Adapted from Sipiweski, page 32,183,
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