March 10, 20196 yr My Paternal Grandfather (seated in center) was owner/operator of the Graham, Missouri Telephone Exchange from 1912 until 1920. The system was entirely battery powered, with each home/business wall phone having its own battery and was hand-cranked. Grandpa had a gas powered generator to charge everyone's battery if they brought them to his office. It was a party line system, with each phone having its own ring signal. No texting at all. The town was not electrified until 1940 (note the gas lamp atop his roll-top desk) and did not get a water & sewage system until 1965. Edited March 10, 20196 yr by Armybrat
March 22, 20196 yr My grand father had his own phone company very similar to what you described in Martindale TX. Eventually big Bell came knocking on his door and bought him out.
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