Author of the article: Beth Wilkins
Publishing date: Mar 02, 2021 • March 2, 2021 • 6 minute read • • IMG 0001 – The sign depicts the NAR (Northern Alberta Railways), telegraphs and poles, which held lines by which telegraphs were transmitted; then once telephone lines were “flung” on them, they served both telegraph and telephone transmission. As we learned, although the Peace Country was far from more populated areas, it received these technologies in advance of the larger ones. It didn’t happen without a great deal of planning and effort by the companies involved and the crews working on the projects overcoming all manner of impediments – weather, equipment and terrain among them. Photo by SUPPLIED
Telephone lines continued to ring true to the plan of Alberta Government Telephones to extend its operations north to Dixonville in 1946 and Battle River…
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Author of the article: Beth Wilkins
Publishing date: Feb 17, 2021 • March 2, 2021 • 6 minute read • • IMG 1801 – Just imagine a “Telephone Girl” sitting at this switchboard “listening to voices from everywhere” and conveying news – good and bad – to and from guests of the McNamara Hotel in downtown Peace River. According to records, it was operated at the Mac until 1962. Photo by SUPPLIED
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We discovered subscribers to the first telephone system in the Peace Country were charged $15/year with the agreement – any neighbour could come in and phone the central telegraph office for 10 cents. The first four on the line were on Shaftesbury Trail: the Anglican (River 11) and Catholic (River Lots 21, 22, 23) missions. Each had one, as did the Jean Collins homestead (River Lot 38) and Allie Brick (River Lot 12). This was possible through the work of G.E. McLeod, superintendent of construction – later reeve of the Village of Peace Ri