When I was little we had to ask the operator to connect us. If it were a long distance call we might have to wait while she made the connection and called us back. We had a party line as did most folks we knew. There was a waiting list for private lines.

I thought the rotary phone high tech when we finally got one.

During that same period an elderly couple down the block got the first TV in the neighborhood. It wasn't uncommon on Saturday mornings for her to have 10 or more kids in her living room watching cartoons and old serials.

New England always cuting edge.