With a cell phone in every pocket and purse, it’s hard to imagine that there was time when phones were rare.
In fact, in 1912 there were only 30 phones in Eatonville and it cost $1.50 a month to rent. By 1954 there were 437 phones and the cost $2.75 a month. (Per History of South Eastern Pierce County.)
The Christensen family operated the Mashell Telephone Company for decades. This photo of Katie Christensen shows her hard at work at the switchboard putting through calls.
In the days of switchboards, when a call came in a light would go on. The switchboard operator would throw a switch, ask who that person who they wanted to speak with and then manually the connection.
Photo courtesy of the Haynes family.
Click on photo to enlarge.
Eatonville To Rainier 
6 responses to “Phones Come to Eatonville”
internet connections would have been even slower than dial-up !!! (LOL)
LikeLike
We still have the telephone at my folks house where you cranked the handle to call. I remember using it when I was a kid because it was still hooked to the barn. Also, we had a party line with the neighbors well into the 70s, I think.
LikeLike
[…] first telephones came to Eatonville in 1912. For decades, when you talked about Mashell Telephone Co., you were talking about the Chritstensen […]
LikeLike
[…] yesterday day with my phone. Things have come a long way since May 3, 1929, when this ad for The Mashell Telphone & Telegraph Company that appeared in the Cruiser […]
LikeLike
Hi again, this is actually of my Great Aunt Katie Christensen, not Anne. Although Anne is featured in several photographs around this era as well. Katie was Anne Christensen Haynes’ sister. I think, if memory serves, Katie’s full name was Katrina. Her parents, Pete and Maren (Mary) Christensen were originally from Copenhagen, Denmark.
Thanks all!
Leslie “Yatie” Shore
Olympia, WA
LikeLike
Thanks so much! I’ll make the correction!!
LikeLike