We connect via telephone with this week’s Cochrane history feature.
The Cochrane Times of August 27th, 1994 has a page 3 story about a new way to dial long distance phone calls.
Beginning September 4th, even to call within the 705 area code, you would have to begin by dialling 1 and the area code..
Public Utilities manager Peter Murray explained that it’s because the North American phone system was running out of numbers… due to the use of fax machines, modems and cell phones.
This preceded the addition of more area codes across the continent, from 152 to 792 of them.
Thanks to the Cochrane Public Library for this gem from its archives.
