Last summer, I was doing a bit of cleaning in our attic and came across a box of telephones that we had saved. In the box was Jan’s coffee brown rotary dial phone that she had when she taught in Wolford, our pink princess telephone from our pink bedroom, and a unique green phone that had been used at our studio in Rugby. In fact, all phones that we had ever owned were in this box. Lots of memories came floating out of that box, and it was for that reason I couldn’t toss them out. So back in the attic they went.

In November, I retrieved them and used them in a program to celebrate the 58th anniversary of the push-button telephone. On November 18, 1963, the first electronic push-button system with touch-tone dialing was commercially offered by Bell Telephone to customers. The visual presence of these telephones made for a fun afternoon of dialing back a few years. Residents talked about party lines and the joy of listening in–this is why you had a chair by the phone because you wanted to be comfortable when receiving first-hand information!

Discussion took us back to the wooden crank phones, as well and how the operator had to assist to make long-distance calls. Several remarked about calling the operator to receive the correct time. Today cell phones make receiving the correct time a breeze.

When phones first became available, it was popular to rent a phone rather than purchase one. This tradition continues today when we think about getting our cell phone bill. Many chimed in about having to run to the neighbors to use their phone because not every home had a phone. Can you believe that?

Our conversation also included discussing the colors of phones that residents had once ordered and how phones followed current decorating and fashion trends. In my hometown, Fred’s Standard Station had a red rotary phone, and I enjoyed using that phone. You cannot image how many times I stopped there with the excuse of needing to put air in my bike tires. The real reason was to ask Fred Hennes if I could use his phone to call home!

After finishing this program, I decided to do some more “person to person” connections on telephone memories with musical people–after all, they would know perfect ring tone. First on the list to call was Dr. DeVera Bowles, Professor of Voice at Minot State University. DeVera, without missing a beat, immediately described her first phone as a white French Provincial with gold trim, and it matched her white French Provincial bedroom set. These two fancies have invigorated her to create fancy costumes for operas without question.

Next on the list was Nadine Holmly, one of the Directors of Voices of Note. Nadine recalled her childhood phone number RA35325 and how people often remember many phone numbers. She had great memories of the party line and recalls that the black kitchen phone was replaced with a harvest gold phone when the kitchen was remodeled.

First Lutheran Church organist, Rita Rae Sundahl recalls rubbernecking happening on the party line in Sharon, North Dakota. This was a term used when people listened in on the party line and then pushed the button in if you wanted to talk. The lone beige phone was located in the kitchen and all the bedrooms were upstairs so running to answer the phone at night was interesting! This perhaps aided her in handling the steps to the balcony organ at First Lutheran.

Bernie Arcand, whose fingers grace the piano keys with finesse and fun, recalled telephone times in Epping, North Dakota. Bertha Buchanan operated the exchange and she was also Bernie’s baby sitter. Thanks to Grandma Bertha, Bernie was introduced to using the telephone crank at the age of 5. He sat on her lap as she told him two short and one long. Bernie also appreciated using the solo phone booth on Main Street. He would save up his dimes and call his girlfriend who lived on a farm! They talked as long as the dime would allow them. He recalls home phones being mainly black and white — very typical for someone who is always reading music!

Carol and Selmer Moen were also dialed up. Both of them being wonderful musicians. Selmer will be presenting Christmas Tapas Organ Concert December 11 at Cornerstone Presbyterian Church. Carol mentioned that her former number was two longs and three shorts. She stated that late night calling was not normal and calls after 10 pm were for fires or that some had died. She mentioned early morning calls were not quite as sinful! Their phone was black with a crank.

Debbie Eraas, a long-time music educator and my high school music teacher, recalls one telephone per floor in the girl’s dorms at Minot State and the long lines of ladies waiting to use them. At her parent’s home in Tioga, she had a wall phone in the basement with a long cord which allowed her to stroll about and even do a few dance steps. This telephone jig prepared her to be the pom pom advisor at Underwood High.

Pam Berg-Anderson has served as an organist at First Lutheran for many years. She recalls that listening in on the party line could be fun! She stated that harvest gold phones were popular when she and Dave were married. This tone also matched her 1970’s Tupperware canister set very nicely. Her gold phone is now gone, however, she still plays for many golden moments such as weddings, Christmas programs and so forth.

Lynn Jensen is the beloved and talented pianist for the Heritage Singers. I had the delight of visiting with her mother, Shirley Blekeberg-Iverson. She recalls her mother, Gertie, talking on the party line to her sister in Norwegian which allowed them to talk in private. When Lynn’s Grandma wanted to listen in on the party line, she kindly reminded the grandchildren that it was time to collect the eggs! This assured her that the house would be very quiet as she positioned herself on the “gossip bench” for a fun listen. The Iverson household had a pink phone and all the Heritage Singers, including the Director her husband Dave, are simply tickled pink that Lynn is our accompanist.

I hope you have relished these personal connections with musicians who are always willing to go the long distance to bring great music to our communities. In closing, may we all hear and respond to the ringing of the Salvation Army Bell this Christmas Season. This ring of the red kettle reminds us of the spirit of Christmas and giving to others.

Telephone Bars

by (late) Irene Overbo, Ray, ND

This recipe is found in the infamous Ray/Rainbow Valley Lutheran cookbook from 1967.

In researching, I learned that there are actually a number of recipes acquired by listening in on the party line. (Hopefully, they got all of the ingredients correct!) Most of them are labeled “Telephone Bars, Telephone Pudding, etc.”

Combine and set aside:

1 cup dates

1 teaspoon baking soda

1 cup hot water

Place that in bowl and set aside.

Cream:

1/2 cup shortening

1 cup sugar

2 eggs

Sift together:

1 1/2 cups flour

1 teaspoon salt

1 tablespoon cocoa

Topping

1/2 package chocolate chips

Add date mixture to creamed mixture and add the flour mixture. Put in a greased, 9×13 baking pan. Sprinkle top 1/2 package chocolate chops (small size) Bake 30 minutes at 350 degrees and cut into bars while warm.