Telephone Lineman Silhouette Banner

Telephone Lineman Historical Silhouette

Located on a power pole 200 block Commercial St.

Directly across the road from this banner is the little brick building that first housed the telephone offices in Saltcoats.

The Saltcoats District Telephone Co. was incorporated under the ordinance of the North-West Territories on August 1st, 1908. Rural telephone companies were formed in the districts around also.

The telephone linemen and telephone operators were hard-working, dedicated individuals. The linemen worked in all kinds of weather, during holiday time, there was no overtime, and they had to supply their own mode of transportation. They were local people, mostly self-taught with a bit of basic training. The “Telephone Operators” or “Central” were key people in the early telephone days. One would press the little black button on the left of your home phone, while you gave the handle a quick turn. You’d put the receiver to your ear and hear a voice say, “Number Please.” Sometimes you didn’t need to call someone, you maybe were asking the time, passing along announcements, or calling for help from a Dr., the Fire Department, or the police. The lines were “party lines” meaning about 8 families shared a line. The sharing of the line also meant a neighbour could quietly listen in on your call, rubber necking was the term used often used.

The Saltcoats District Telephone Company was assimilated by the Sask-Tel on June 28, 1977.