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times of fires. During the call one of the numbers that controlled the alarm system, would be plugged into the fire siren on the Myrick store building in the village square and the blast could be heard for miles around.
In 1972 when Vangie was alone on the switchboard, her
spacious and beautiful older home in the village caught fire. She bravely stayed at the switchboard answering calls until the firemen arrived and removed her from the danger. The exchange was then set up in a trailer, and the home containing the switchboard had to be torn down, due to the devastation the fire had caused.
After 62 years of switchboard service in Tignish the Island Telephone service converted to dial. On December 15, 1973, The people of the Community were present at the Tignish legion to watch, Russell Perry, Member of the Legislative Assembly of the government of Prince Edward Island, inaugurate the new dial system, by phoning Lieutenant Governor, Gordon Bennett
in Charlottetown. This brought to an end ”Your Number Please”, as the
friendly voices of the operators were heard no more. This is just another part of the pioneer history of Tignish, that helped bring about a more modern way of communications, to another generations of its people.
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