The Party Line - The “Talking Machine”
Historic Corner
Here was located the switchboard known as “Central”, of Winston Telephone, Arley’s Grand Old Party Line. Built about 1909 by Mimm Wright, with an estimated maximum of 25 phones, she was the pulse of the community. When one phone rang, they all rang; and everybody “listened in”. The system died piece-meal, as she was built, and breathed her last about 1920. Also housed here was one of the earliest known phonographs in the community, owned by Ed Baldwin. People walked for miles to listen to “Uncle Josh”, “Casey Jones”, and “The Preacher and the Bear”. Those were the days!
Marker is at the intersection of County Route 41 and Mellville Road, on the right when traveling north on County Route 41.
Courtesy hmdb.org
