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County Life, Cultural Objects
Ballard Telephone Exchange
People
Associated Person: Effie Burnett BurnetteDate
1940s to 1950sPlaces
Conners' Grove (Burks Fork District)Material/Medium
Oak cabinet with plywood back panel
Specifications
- Height (upper cabinet): 27 inches
- Width (upper): 15 inches
- Depth (upper): 5 ¼ inches
- Height (base): 31 inches
- Width (base): 24 inches
- Depth (base): 14 ½ inches
- Diameter of mouth piece: 3 ½ inches
Description
This cabinet houses the wiring and equipment needed to manually switch callers on household party lines to their neighbors and to central operators in nearby exchanges. The cabinet has a plug board, answering cords, and ringing cords which are inserted into the called parties’ listening jacks. Latches on the left side allow the back to be opened for access to the wiring. There is an operator’s headset and mouthpiece. The base is recessed so that a stool or chair can be fit underneath.
Keywords
Telephone exchange, party line, home telephone operatorBio Sketch
Effie Mae Burnett Burnette (1916-1998) was married to Manuel Orby Burnette. She kept this cabinet in a bedroom and was “on call” around the clock.
Notes
The Ballard exchange is the southernmost part of Floyd County. Effie Burnette was the final home switchboard operator. According to Earl Moles in a year 2000 interview (see our Buffalo Mountain series), Effie followed Frank Vincent and Vivian Sowers Helms, who had taken over from his parents George W. and Rosabelle Helms Helms.