I saw an article in a book about Emauel regarding the first telephone system.."central" as it was known and a list of the first operators was included along with a lovely photo of Sallie Mae Canady, on of the operators Mahaffey. It says the first switchboard was located over what was Black's pharmacy. I remember my mother talking about my great grandmother calling the grocer every morning and asking the operater if the "dray" had left yet. the dray was the wagon from the grocer. My mother said she always asked knowing full well that the Dray wouldn't leave until she had put in her order. I guess the operators kept up with everything. CJS