This summer it was our great fortune and even greater pleasure to attend the 7th National Insulator Association Convention in Berea, Ohio. We drove to the convention, and on our way home we had an unexpected and interesting adventure.                                                            

As we approached Abilene, Kansas, from the east on I-70, we noticed a sign advertising the Museum of Independent Telephony (pronounced te-lef'-e-ni). It sounded like a place for insulator buffs, so off the freeway we went. It was just a few blocks away, and was quite easy to find. It was nearing 4:30 P.M., and they were just about to close; but when they found out how interested we were, they offered to stay open until we completed our tour. Afterwards, we had the opportunity to talk with the curator, a pleasant man by the name of Mr. Mark Beveridge. He was very willing to answer all of our questions and to tell us everything we wanted to know about the museum.

Well, as we began our tour, we certainly were not prepared for the delights which greeted our eyes. One of the first sights encountered is a collection of sheet music, all related in some way to the telephone. Among some of the song titles shown here are: "Call Me in the Morning", "Over the Telephone", "Call Me Up Some Rainy Afternoon", "Hello Wisconsin", "All Alone", "Pennsylvania 6-5000", and many more. There are telephones of nearly every style depicted on the various covers.

Some of the "telephone" sheet music

Along two walls of the museum is an informative display of telephones, ranging in age from the very first units down to the most modern styles. In this way it is quite easy for the visitor to trace the development of the telephone instrument through the years.

Next we viewed something which would be of special interest to linemen (as well as to those of us who don't know "beans" about line construction). It is a set-up of three poles showing open wire construction. Each pole is equipped with insulators and hardware, so that people can observe this phase of telephony at close range.

In another part of the room there are several pay stations, still in working order. One can see the early wooden booths, complete with the appropriate telephone inside; and there are some early directories on display also. Enameled sign lovers would go "freaky" over some of the beautiful specimens on exhibition here.

They also have set up an old business office, which is a recreation of a typical telephone exchange from the era of the crank telephones and magneto switchboards. The manager's roll-top desk is authentic; and in the corner there is an iron cot covered with a colorful handmade quilt, where the switchboard operator napped in between calls at night. Not far away from this fascinating display there are several more switchboards from bygone days for the visitor to observe.

And, as you might imagine, there is a beautiful collection of insulators here at the museum. Mr. Beveridge informed us that they were donated to the facility by Gerald and Esta Brown of Two Buttes, Colorado. There are some rare and colorful pieces in glass, and some porcelain insulators, too. They are all exhibited in specially-built display cases which are designed to show all parts of the insulator in a most effective way.

Another exhibit shows the development of the telephone dial. Incidentally, this innovation in telephone service was pioneered by independent telephone companies.

Only part of the museum's total collection is on display at any given time. By changing and replacing its exhibits frequently, the museum is of continual interest, even to repeat visitors. Some of the exhibits are left on display all the time, however, due to their popularity.

The Museum of Independent Telephony is located in the same building as the Dickinson County Historical Society and Museum, next to the Eisenhower Center. For those of you who might have questions concerning the museum, or who might have items related to independent telephone companies that you'd care to donate (photographs, phones, signs, etc.), the address is: 412 South Campbell, Abilene, Kansas 67410.

If Abilene seems like an odd place for such a museum, perhaps a bit of history will explain why this location was chosen. It was in Abilene that Cleyson L. Brown, as a young man, built and operated a telephone exchange in 1898. He later expanded to other communities. His system was called the United Telephone Company. The original telephone properties were eventually sold, but United continued to maintain executive offices in Abilene until 1966, at which time the headquarters were moved to Shawnee Mission, Kansas. (It is now called United Telecommunications, Inc., and serves 21 states.) Incidentally, we learned that there are over 1,600 independent telephone companies still operating in the United States, and they serve approximately one out of every six telephones.

There is much more to see than what we've mentioned here. And even though we had just a short time in which to see all the marvelous displays, we enjoyed it immensely. It would certainly be worthwhile for anyone planning a trip across country to include Abilene on your route, and to spend some time in this most modern and fascinating museum. You will be very glad that you did. The museum is open daily, April until Thanksgiving Day; and is open weekends, December through March. There is no admission charge.

Following are some pictures which Mr. Beveridge was kind enough to give us, showing some of the exhibits.