Telephones

     Here's a different subject. Andy Anderson, BHS-62, wrote, "this old guy, a member of  my coffee club named the "Spit and Liars" club, is a walking encyclopedia regarding anything about telephones. I think he's about 87 years old and has detailed stories about his career in the phone industry. Oh, two rules about the club. There is no talking about politics or religion. Vic mentioned that maybe this stuff (telephones?) is "too old." But, I thought someone might be interested and I'd be happy to "hook up" that person with Vic."
     Here's the meat of the subject. Andy wrote, "while having coffee in Southern California Vic Sumner, a telephone pioneer, asked me, "how many telephones used to be in Iowa?" I quickly answered, 17, not knowing he was asking about the 1900's. The old historian produced a list of about 700 telephone companies in Iowa in that era. Vic is really into telephone history and I'm told his house is a telephone museum. Here's what he listed for the Boone area:
     Boone County Telephone Company, 1902-1905. Bought the Ogden Telephone Company in 1903 and then bought the long distance connections in Des Moines in 1904.
     Boone Telephone Company, 1900. See Dodge-Harrison and Farmer's Co-Op Telephone Company and Boone County Telephone Company.
     Dodge-Harris Telephone Company in or near Boone, 1905. See Farmers Co-Op Telephone Company in Boone.
     Grant Township Telephone Company in or near Boone, 1905. See Farmers Co-Op Telephone Company at Boone.
     Garden Township near Madrid, 1902? Incorporated, 1903?
     Jackson Telephone Company, Boone, 1903.
     Madrid Telephone Company, Madrid, 1901-1904.
     Marcy Mutual Telephone Company, Ogden, 1904-1953.
     Northwestern Bell Telephone Company. In 1921, absorbed the Iowa Telephone Company. The Bell might have come in 1921.
     Ogden Telephone Company, 1903. Sold to Boone County Telephone Company and name changed.
     Peoples Telephone Company, Madrid, 1901.
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     Rumor of the week. Yes, a rumor, but remember, you heard it here first.
     A downtown restaurant that has been closed has been sold and will, reportedly, reopen in a "few weeks." This is in addition to Bob's Burgers which is also enroute to an opening soon.
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     The Korner has heard from several of Roger Dutton's classmates/friends concerning his long battle with illness and the news is "good."
     In an email to them, Roger, BHS-63, explained, "in late January, I had eight stints placed in my abdominal aorta. Surgery was successful, I was let out of ICU and went home February 6. I feel tired but a "good" tired. Finally, this is the last of my aorta procedures. Its been a long haul physically and mentally but I feel great knowing I have no more planned aorta surgeries."
     Pat Ahlstrom, John Hendricks and John Hinz were among the many who got the "good report" from Roger and posted positive responses.
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     An important addition to the Kornerman's recent blog concerning the successful football career of Jim Doran is the fact that, in those days, basically the 1950's, players did it "both ways".......offensively and defensively.........even in the pros. Doran was one of those who was both a standout defensive end as well as a great pass receiver offensively. Can you imagine the current NFL players going "all the way" like that? I know.....I know it's an entirely different era.
     Anyway, these very old memories also reminded me of that time,  the 40's and 50's, when, even in college basketball, there was one, wun, 1, official. Anybody but me remember Jim Enwright?  He was a famous sportswriter/basketball official from Chicago and he officiated numerous Iowa Hawkeye Big Ten basketball games by HIMSELF.
     And, back in those days, officials were different than today. Today, most of them anyway, would just as soon "hide out," forgotten,  not be seen etc. In those old days, at least some officials, were just as much a "part of the show" as the players.......with their very unique ways of pointing out fouls etc.
     That even drifted down to the high school level. Anybody else remember Benny Beckerman or Jack North who worked lots of central Iowa games (alone) and did with their own certain "flair."
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     Boone Connected Deaths: Amanda Dawdy-Daily, 39, Des Moines. Her surviving parents are Debra and Tom Dawdy, BHS-69, and her grandparents, now deceased, were Irene and James Dawdy, BHS-30, of Boone. Jim Dawdy was a Boone fireman.
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     Worldwide Korner headquarters are located at 710 Aldrich, Boone, Iowa 50036-4703. Phone number is 515-432-1530. To email your stories/memories/comments/support......
kelleyskorner1@gmail.com.