Stories made up, and tricks played on the old party lines, would fill many books if retold. The telephone exchange in Tignish that lasted for over three-quarters of a century, first started when J. H. Myrick business, set up a private system between Tignish and Tignish Shore . The Island Telephone Co. secured the line and built a local exchange in 1911 in the village. Mrs. John R Harper was the first opera¬ tor serving nine phones. One of the first was in the Parochial House. Evangeline Gallant , a high school student at the Tignish Convent, took over the exchange in 1930. The exchange at that time had eighteen phones. For forty- eight years the service was provided from the Gallant home in the village, by this very friendly operator, known to everyone as "Vangie." The exchange over the years expanded from one small switchboard, to three large six foot ones. This provided employment for six operators. For a long distant call back in those years, the operator in Tignish would have to ring the operator in Summerside , who would complete the connection. For years Vangie made a generous contribution to the Fire Department, as a volunteer in controlling the fire siren during 156