For around 50 years, the Gerald community had telephone service that was connected by a central switchboard. These switchboards were operated by telephone girls - the actual job listing used by the U. S. Census Bureau. 

The Gerald Historical Society used the switchboard as the basis for a program following a chili supper Saturday, at the Lions Hall. 

Local historian, Lavada Schulte, became a telephone girl at the tender age of 12. She reprised that role Saturday as she took calls from those portraying Gerald residents of the past. Between calls, Schulte shared many fond memories and interesting facts about her first career.  William Raaf operated the first telephone system in Gerald. His daughter Elizabeth (known to most as Lizzie) ran the telephone office. She hired several girls to help her cover the shifts. Phone service was offered 24 hours a day, which someone had to be the near the switchboard during the overnight hours. A small, hard leather couch was installed in the office so the girls could sleep between calls. They were paid $30 a month, or about 10 cents an hour. 

Schulte noted while it wasn’t much, the money went much further in those days. A triple-scoop ice cream cone could be had for five cents at the Twin Elms. At the local cafe you could get a hamburger, a bottle of soda and an ice cream cone for 25 cents. 

While their primary function was to connect callers, the girls also served other functions. 

When either of the two funeral homes had a body lying in repose, they would notify central. At eight p.m. the telephone girl on duty would call all local lines. They notify the community of who had died and the arrangements that had been made. 

After the Gerald Volunteer Fire Department was established in the 1940s, the girls had another task. As the town’s only fire truck (Old Whitey) roared through town with it’s siren wailing, people knew there was a fire somewhere. To get the details they only to had to call central to ask, “Where’s the fire?”

When the end of World War II was announced, Old Whitey ran up and down Main Street to help notify the town that the long war was over. The girls fielded many calls that day too. 

Some customers had a private phone line, but many had a party line shared by four or five others.  Listening in on other’s calls was commonplace. 

Schulte recalls a time when Stanley Meyer was in service and was finally able to call home from California. His mother, Minnie, answered his call, but unfortunately so did everyone else on the party line. The already poor audio was made worse each time another receiver was lifted. Minnie was beside herself that the long awaited call  from her son was inaudible. 
Schulte told Lizzie what was happening. This resulted in Lizzie, for the only time in Schulte’s memory, getting on the line and demanding the others hang up their phones.  And they did. 

Long distance calls were routed through Union. There was only one line available for those calls and it was shared by those in Leslie and Beaufort.  

When one wanted to make a long distance call, they were often told the line was busy. The telephone girl on duty would keep checking the line and when it was free, would let the customer know when the line was available. 

Subscribers to the phone system were charged for their long distance call on their monthly bills.  Between calls, the girls worked on compiling these bills. 

A stranger passing through town would have to come to the telephone office to place a long distance call. When the call was completed, the charges would be figured and the person would pay the telephone girl cash. 

In the early 1960’s a new telephone system was installed. Calls were made using a telephone with a dial and were connected by electrical relays. Gone were the days of the telephone girls and the personal service they provided.