MOUNTAIN BELL OPERATOR WAS ALSO THE FIRE DISPATCH

In the early days of the phone system the Mountain Bell Office was located on the corner of Oakley Avenue and 12th Street.  There was a clear glass bulb hanging next to the street light on Main & Overland and Main & Oakley that would go green and red.  The policemen would have to look at that light every 15 minutes and when it turned red they had to go find a phone and would call the telephone operator to find out where they needed to go.

About 1953 the Telephone Operator was the fire dispatch also.  All the firemen were volunteers.  The operator had a home number and a work number for each volunteer.  She would have to call all the volunteers when there was a fire which would tie up the phone system.

Photo's of 3 telephone operators in St. George, Utah


My how things have changed.  Now everyone carries their phones with them.  People text each other even if they are sitting next to them!

brenda.bailey.1@hotmail.com