This is the image of a family telephone that was used on the farm.  Mounted up high on the wall, one might need to step on a stool to use it.  Telephones have certainly advanced the capability to communicate, even on the farm.  How they have changed.

In the old days, several neighbors shared the same telephone line and could join in on a conversation or at least listen in. It could be problematic.  If someone needed to make a quick call to someone, the already “in-progress” conversation of a neighbor could delay their call, often irritating and impeding progress for the day.  The wait could be seemingly endless.

When single lines became available, folks could pay a higher rate to the phone company for a private line.  Private lines became for the norm over the years.  Now a party line is just a memory.

In the cold winter, what better time can there be than to make a call or send a card to a friend.  You may send this little card with it’s “Party Line” memories to a friend.  It is available in our store.

Pencil drawing by Wenda Grabau