Telephone Pioneers continue to serve area community

The Poplar Bluff Museum has tales about us, our family and our history. I want to tell you some of those tales found within the museum walls.

We all take advantage of modern technology. We can’t imagine not having a telephone.

The first phone didn’t appear in Poplar Bluff until 1905. At that time, Poplar Bluff resident Charles Langley built the first phone system on Second and Vine streets. He installed 40 telephones.

The first telephone operator was Ed Walters. The first phone bill cost $2.00 a month.

Telephone numbers were only three numbers. Later the numbers grew so large the caller had to use the word “Sunset,” and two or four numbers. “Sunset 1234” was a typical phone number. Later, “Sunset” became the 785 numbers, such as 785-1234.

In 1911, Alexander Bell established a volunteer community service organization sponsored by the phone company. He called them the “Telephone Pioneers.” It originally had 734 members.

Soon, a chapter opened in Poplar Bluff. They are active today in our community. They have sponsored such projects as “Hug-A-Bear’s” for first responders to share with children in distress, tricycles for handicapped children, building handicap ramps and boardwalks, “Beeper balls” allowing blind children to play ball games and making sure Santa Claus arrives every holiday to special needs children. These are just a few projects in the past. Today, they are giving out dictionaries to third grade children.

The Telephone Pioneers have provided a historical exhibit to the Poplar Bluff Museum. Along with a classic telephone switchboard, many antique telephones are on display. A full-size telephone lineman diorama can be viewed up close including all their equipment. Scrapbooks and posters showcase the modern Poplar Bluff Pioneer Chapter’s good works.

The museum is handicap accessible and open from 1-4 p.m. every Sunday, free of charge, 1010 Main St., Poplar Bluff (Formerly the Old Mark Twain School). Tell them Mike sent you!

Mike Shane is a veteran, Poplar Bluff resident and board member for the Poplar Bluff Museum.