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Was a special phone used for the call?
The telephone actually used to make the first 911 call was a bright red model. It is now in a museum in Haleyville, while a duplicate phone is still in use at the police station.
"Later, the two (Bevill and Fite) said they exchanged greetings, hung up and 'had coffee and doughnuts'."
Source: Haleyville, History of 911
Source: Haleyville, History of 911
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Information Sign Erected at the City Limits Displaying New Three-Digit Emergency Number |
Why the digits 9-1-1?
The new emergency needed to be three numbers easy to remember, easily dialed and one of eight N11 codes. The numbers could not already be in use in the United States or Canada as the first three numbers of any phone number or area code. The FCC and AT&T met to establish such a number. It was discovered 911 had never been designated for an office code, area code or service code. Quite an improvement since this so much simpler, quicker, more efficient than waiting for an operator, then having to say, "Get me the police", "I want to report a fire", "I need an ambulance/doctor"or "HELP!" The wait time alone for the operator could be life threatening.
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Telephone operator, c. 1900 Source: en.wikipedia.org |
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A large Bell System international switchboard in 1943 Source: en.wikipedia.org |
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U.S. Air Force operator works a switchboard in the underground command post at Strategic Air Command headquarters, Offutt Air Force Base, Nebraska in 1967. |
We have come a long way!
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