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The Party’s Over - Page 3

© Mary M. Alward

Party lines began to disappear in the early 1970's. Private lines became more affordable. People were tired of the Mrs. Goods that they shared their lines with.

Today, party lines are almost obsolete (gone.) A few remain, but most are "ghost lines." These have the potential to be party lines, but have only one household using them.

Telephone companies no longer offer party line service. Ghosts lines are slowly being converted into private lines. Users cannot access services such as speed dialing, call waiting or caller I.D. on a party line. Many people desire these services.

Prince Edward Island, Canada, used party lines until very recently. The lines were totally replaced with private lines in 1997. As far as I can find out, there are no longer party lines anywhere in Ontario. The party is over.

For more information on the party line on Prince Edward Island, please visit Dave Hunter's website, The Telephone On P.E.I. - Life on a Party Line

Author's Note:

Ask your grandparents if they remember having a party line. I'm sure they'll have some interesting tales to tell.

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