COMMUNICATIONS

Mr. Stephens added another title to his list of achievements. He became the postmaster for OnNell Cove. Although this didn't happen until 1863, there was mail service from Charlottetown as early as 1827. This service became even closer when On/vell received their postal stamp in 1853. The mails arrived by boat until May of 1875, when the delivery by train started. Stephens' career as postmaster was short lived; he passed away in July,1864. His duties as a general dealer and commission merchant were assumed by his wife, Mary. Unable to execute the duties alone, she embodied the abilities of her nephew and former partner, Richard J. Clarke.

The location of the only telephone in OnNell Cove was in the store of DB. McLeod, and it remained there for a number of years. The telephone box had a little crank on the right side and two little bells on the top. To the left side was the receiver and a small button. To place a call, this button had to pressed while turning the crank; this signalled the operator. Once the operator answered, she asked the caller the number of the person he or she was calling. The numbers were something like 3 ring 2, meaning three long rings and two short. The first single wire line was placed in the home of Samuel Jardine of Orwell in 1895. Mrs. Jardine was the first exchange operator. This wire enabled her to connect with Charlottetown via Souris, Montague, and Wood Islands. The next year the line was extended to Eldon where Miss Bella MacDonald performed the duties of operator.

Later, the On/vell exchange became part of the EldOn exchange and Miss Bella MacDonald remained the agent until 1944. At that time, Mrs. John Hiram MacDonald took on the responsibilities of operator and agent. It remained her duty until 1952 when it was moved to the home of Mr. & Mrs. Russell Gillis. It confinued to remain with the Gillis', including their move to the former Martin MacDonald building at Eldon, until May 28th, 1970. It was then that Mrs. Gillis encouraged one of her employees, Mrs. Jessie MacKinnon to take the two magneto switchboards into her home, where it remained until -the exchange converted to dial operation in 1977.

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