August 1913
Telephone Lytton To Lillooet
Construction of a much-needed telephone line from Lytton to Lillooet will be started next week by the Dominion Government. Mr. S.A. McFarlane, formerly telegraph operator at Lillooet, is in charge of construction. The line will be forty-seven miles long.
New Hospital
The hospital is completed and it now only remains for some of us to take ill so that the building can be initiated in proper style. This would be a very pleasant home in which to spend a few months, yet we would regret the necessity which would compel us to remain there for such a period of time.
Body Found on Railway Track
One day last week a man was found on the C.P.R. track near the cemetery frightfully mangled. He was a stranger and it was surmised that he had fallen asleep on the track while under the influence of liquor.
Whopper of a Rattlesnake
While out hunting the other day Dr. Sanson and M. Bailey came across a rattle snake that had Mathusala [sic] beat for age. The rattles that had been broken off previously could not be counted, hence its great age. In this connection, it is said, the Doc has secured the high jump record.
New B.C. Express Co. Stable Nearing Completion
A.J. Davis has just about finished the B.C. Express Company’s stable, replacing the one which was burned down early in the spring. Mr. Davis is to be congratulated upon its workmanship and the dispatch with which he has carried on the work. This barn is 62x90 feet, will accommodate 48 horses and has a loft capacity of more than a hundred tons of bailed [sic] hay. It is equipped with a harness repair shop, office and bedroom for the man in charge. It was built upon the concrete foundation of the old one which was found to be intact after the fire.
August 1963
No More Number Please
Can’t say “Hi Millie, gimme Tom Jones” any more. Ashcroft has gone dial, and with it all our pleasant girls who have been so nice to us.
Down through the years Ashcroft has been headquarters for telephone to various points. It was about 1913 that we became modern as far as telephones are concerned. They were put in several homes and businesses in large boxes with a handle. There were numbers; but who can remember numbers? Every time we wanted someone, we never got them until a general conversation was had with the charming operator at the exchange; sometimes they told us “I don’t think they are home, I just saw them walking up town.”
Telephones were installed here and maintained by the Dominion Government Telegraph and Telephone Co. and many a local girl began their careers by saying “Number please?”, here in our Ashcroft exchange.
With the bringing of dial system to Ashcroft, it has ended 50 years of telephoning by “Number Please?” However we have to go along with modernization.
Street Grading
A grader and crew have been busy this week preparing the streets to be paved, a further improvement to the appearance of Ashcroft. Too bad all the streets can’t be paved, but it will come when finances allow.
Fixing Up Streets
Inland Paving Company men have been busy in Ashcroft resurfacing streets dug up for the new sewer system. When questioned how things were progressing one workman said “the rocks in Ashcroft are getting us down.” However, rocks or no rocks, they are making a good job of it.
Barbara Roden