Wellesley Township Heritage & Historical Society
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Wellesley Telephone System Minutes, 1919 - 1961

In 1964 Dr. William Glaister was one of the most important people in the township's history, but he would not have identified himself as such. He would be honored to be remembered as a “good old country doctor.” 

In the early days of his practice, communication with outlying districts was a problem so Dr. Glaister put in his own personal telephone line. Dr. Glaister asked farmers if they would be willing to have a phone installed in their homes. If someone called the office, Mrs. Glaister, would call a house on that line and ask for someone to watch for him.  She knew his rounds and the approximate time he would be passing along that route. Often a small child or elderly parent would be sent out to the road to watch for him passing by to let him know where he was needed. This service was how they “paid” for the telephone in their home.

Dr. Donald McEachern of Linwood had a similar operation, as did V. Heric in St. Clements All three phone services were purchased by the Township in 1919. In 1964 800 subscribers voted to sell the three exchanges to the Bell Telephone Company. 

At that time there were about 1080 telephones in the township. The St. Clements system was on dial; in Linwood, they had to crank to reach the operator and in Wellesley, the operator was reached by merely lifting the receiver off the hook. 

The original minutes are in the WTHHS collection. Please visit our historical room to see the originals or click on the dates below to access them online., 
1919-1933 Accession # 08-43-01
1934-1949 Accession # 09-02-01
1949-1961 Accession # 99-01-01

There is also a ledger of Telephone System Expenditures, 1919-1930 Accession # 09-02-02