OUR MISSION
is to demonstrate the social and technical significance of the telephone network
from 1876 to the present, using working equipment to provide tangible,
operable evidence of an evolving technology.
WE CELEBRATE
the inventiveness, craftsmanship, ingenuity and industry
of the telecommunications community through educational programs,
exhibits, and special events.
"It's for YOU"
On Saturday morning, June 19 the Model T Ford Tour stopped for a visit at The Telephone Museum. Nearly a dozen vintage autos were parked in the lot, poised for photos, while their drivers and passengers enjoyed tours of the museum. It was a fine, unusually warm day for a ride through the Maine countryside. In fact, the tour had taken the “the back road” to the Museum, over the (authentic!) dirt portion of the Winkumpaugh Road.
Many participants remarked about the similar interests of antique automobile and telephone enthusiasts, not the least of which was the ability to make something work by vigorously turning a crank; the magneto switchboard and hand-crank wall phones were a big hit. The visitors also enjoyed the complexity of the mechanisms on display at The Telephone Museum and fact that these predecessors of the cell phone have been preserved and restored to useful life as educational exhibits.
The museum wishes to thank C.W. Hemingway, Jr. who organized the tour and planned the stop at The Telephone Museum. The museum offers ample parking, a picnic area and, of course, a large and unusual range of exhibits to any organization planning an outing. Please call 207-667-9491 or e-mail switchboard@downeast.net for more information.
Opening day is July 1st!
This year there will be a Work Day every month, so there are plenty of opportunities to engage with other like-minded folks in the repair, maintenance, and construction of exhibits and equipment. Work Days will be held on the 4th Saturday of May, June, July, August and September, and on October 9. The May Work Day is “power up” time, and October 9 is “power down”.Starting the season a bit early again, the museum will host a visit from an antique automobile club on Saturday, June 19. If you are planning an event this summer or next, please contact us to learn what we can offer; we welcome groups that have an interest in science, technology, art, history, and rural life to visit and enjoy our grounds and facilities.
Those of us who regularly attend museum Work Days can testify how the first one of the season re-awakens all our hopes and dreams for The Telephone Museum. It’s always good to get back to the familiar hum and ring of the equipment, and to the “farm” itself (the buildings and grounds that comprise the museum). But, it’s especially good to see old friends and welcome new faces.
Our biggest challenge this year will be filling the need for volunteers to help out during regular hours by greeting visitors, giving tours, and minding the new gift shop. Got a few hours this summer? We need you! Check out the possibilities for volunteering on our website and sign up there, or call the museum at 207-667-9491.
Submitted by: Sandra Galley May 16th, 2010