Toeing the party line
Opportunities to listen in were endless
Back in the day, there was no Facebook, no text messaging, no Snapchat or Instagram. Telephone party lines were the fastest way to spread the word (often gossip) in rural communities.
If you are reading this and happen to be under the age of, oh, I’d say, 35, you’re probably not familiar with the intricacies of the “Telephone Party Line” system.
In short, a party line or shared service line, was a looped telephone circuit. There could be as many as 25 or more homes connected to this one circuit. Each home would have a distinctive ring to alert the family that the incoming call was for them, for example, one long ring tone followed by two short. The opportunities to eavesdrop were endless.
Beth Matheson, vice president of the Mira Centre, handles a vintage rotary dial phone and laughs as she recalls knowing one Mira resident who would switch to a Gaelic dialect the minute she suspected someone was listening in.
Maureen MacLeod, planning committee member, also remembers a time when her family’s party line would ring consistently every morning at four.
“Someone was using it as their wakeup call,” she chuckles, “but they were waking up the entire neighborhood.”
These are examples of just some of the interesting conversations that will take place during the “Then and Now” event happening at the Mira Centre in November.
“Then and Now” will see Marion Bridge elementary school students and members of the centre come together in what you might call an “exchange of information between generations.”
The concept for “Then and Now” was conceived by members of the centre who wanted to take advantage of possible funds being awarded to community groups as part of Canada 150 celebrations. Small grants were given to groups proposing projects that build communities and inspire a deeper understanding of Canada.
The aptly named, “Then and Now,” will see heritage items and memorabilia from several categories being displayed by centre members, while the Marion Bridge students will bring current day items. Both groups will then share information. As Beth explains, “it will be a contrast between the old and the new.”
Property committee member Earl MacPherson will bring his father’s tin lunch can to display. According to Earl, the can was fabricated by a tinsmith or tinman in Whitney Pier.
Earl said his dad worked at the coal pier and recalls the lunch can being filled with only home goods made by his mother.
“Then and Now” will take place at the Mira Centre, Friday, November 3, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. and Saturday, November 4, 1-5 p.m. The public is welcome to this event. A light lunch will be served and admission is free.
Sorry! Wrong Chimney! Under the direction of Kelly Lynn Kirk, the Mira Players are busy with rehearsals, gearing up for their holiday production “Sorry! Wrong Chimney!” by Jack Sharkey and Leo W. Sears.
This Christmas comedy will hit the stage at the Marion Bridge Recreation Hall for a general performance, Wednesday, November 29, 7 p.m., $10 per person. Dinner theatre will be held on Friday, December 1 and Saturday, December 2 at 6 p.m. Ticket price is $25 per person.
Tickets are available at Mullins Rite Stop, Church’s Valu Foods and Marion Bridge Recreation Hall, Monday, Wednesday and Thursday evenings from 7-9 p.m. or by phoning Tracey at 902-577-1828.
Don’t be disappointed! Last year’s dinner theatre production sold out quickly.
The fall events calendar for Mira is still jammed packed. Here it is at a glance:
• Fright Night: The 15th, The Nightmare Continues, final night, Saturday, October 28, Two Rivers Wildlife Park. Family Day Sunday October 29, 1 p.m. For ticket information, call 902-727-2483.
• Today, Saturday, October 28, Halloween dance with DJ Romard, Mira Boat Club, $10 per person. Check Facebook for ticket availability.
• Every Thursday, Chase the Ace, Marion Bridge Recreation
Hall, 6:30-9:30 p.m., entertainment provided, funds raised to benefit Marion Bridge Recreation Centre and Two Rivers Wildlife Park.
• Weekly 45s, Wednesdays, 2 p.m., Mira Centre.
• Weekly Tarabish game, Thursdays, St. Margaret’s Community Hall, 7:30-10:30 p.m., $5 per person.
• Weekly mixed darts, Thursdays, 7:30 p.m., Mira Boat Club and Fridays, 7-11 p.m., St. Margaret’s Community Hall.
• Thursdays, yoga class, Mira Boat Club, 7 p.m.
• Every Friday, Chase the Ace and entertainment, Mira Boat Club, 6 – 11:30 p.m.
• Saturday, November 4, 11 a.m.-1 p.m., Christmas brunch. Union Presbyterian Hall, Albert Bridge. 11:30 a.m. – 1 p.m., craft and bake table.
• Sunday, November 5, 3-6 p.m., roast beef supper, Grand Mira Community Hall.
• Friday, November 10, 4-6:30 p.m., Mira Community Market, Mira Centre.
• Saturday, November 18, Christmas Turkey Salad Tea and Sale, St. Columba Presbyterian Church Hall, Marion Bridge.
For further information, please visit www.marionbridge.ca, or Mira Boat Club and Two Rivers Wildlife Park Facebook pages.