Returned to Dunbarton after a mere 14 years to talk to folks for the library. (I had been back in between to speak at the church and do a residency at the school, so they hadn’t completely forgotten me, nor I them.)
They have a new gazebo beside the library so we held the program outdoors. It was a little chilly so folks bundled up. And the mosquitos were a bit thick, but luckily as dusk settled in the bats showed up to take care of them.
The spread of pies was astonishing. Folks really enjoyed the pies and seemed to enjoy the stories. They told quite a few of their own, including several about the Dunbarton Phone Company. How many towns have their own phone company? Years ago, the limit on local calls was six minutes. So after six minutes, speakers knew to hang up and call back. If they didn’t hang up, they got cut off anyway. Evidently the telephone managers were sticklers.
One sly fellow said he’d call the exchange in Concord, complain that he couldn’t get through on a line, and they’d put him through from their end – then he could talk as long as he wanted since it was technically an out-of-town call.
Here's some of the crowd enjoying pie. Such an excellent selection of pies!
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