Reflections: The Oxford Telephone Exchange And The Depot

Enjoy our “Reflections” post — one of many vignettes and stories featuring memories of days gone by. This installment is from Dr. T.J. Ray of Oxford, Mississippi. 
If you would like to contribute your own Reflections story, send it, along with photos, to hottytoddynews@gmail.com.

Good news doesn’t flash along every day, but some good news has come to our little town. Late last winter brought a change in one utility enjoyed by some citizens. W. H. Harvey announced in the paper that he had bought out the Oxford Telephone Exchange and that all additional phones then wanted would be put in by the first of April. He assured the town that service would be greatly improved, and long distance connections would be made in the near future. One was to reach all the way to Holly Springs, thirty miles to the north. Mr. Harvey said that his service was guaranteed and that prices would remain the same. He kindly solicited everyone’s business. Judging from the number of advertisements dotting the two local papers from businesses that had telephones, he and his predecessors were successful salesmen.
Businesses are sprouting up all over the place. Entrepreneurs peddle some salutary goods. You probably remember in April a paid announcement by Buffaloe & Buttler announced proudly, “We have now opened up our Ice Cream parlors and Soda Water for the season of nineteen hundred and will say that our long experience in the business warrants us in saying that we can serve you with as nice and delicious soda water, and ice cream as can possibly be made, and would respectfully ask you to give us a call.” What a sweet way to treat your sweetheart. 
The discontent of the people has focused on the depot, a half mile west of the Square. The Eagle reported that “The waiting rooms at the depot are too small and entirely inadequate to accommodate a large crowd like those that frequently wait for a train. There is plenty of room there, and surely the I.C. people do not want to act niggardly in preparing accommodations for their customers. They can’t wait up town until the train blows; therefore make room at the station.” Ten weeks later, the paper announced that the Illinois Central had plans to build a large new depot. It was something, according to the Globe, that had been needed for some time and “we are glad the clever Illinois Central road has decided on putting in a new one.”
Well, that’s about enough words for a while. Maybe we’ll do this again.

By Lester Pithfroggle
Dr. T. J. Ray, retired professor of English at Ole Miss and acknowledged local character (respectfully stated), writes as Lester Pithfroggle. We welcome Dr. Ray as a Hotty Toddy contributor. His humor and sense of history are remarkable. Dr. Ray recently published “Moonshine and Murder in Mississippi.” Recently, he has been reading early Oxford newspapers. This piece is from around 1900.

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