Keeping the Same Number for Over 50 Years: James Bacon's Story

In November of 1955, at just 18 years old, James started his telephone service with Kanokla. Nearly 70 years later, he remains a valued customer and a living connection to the early days of rural telecommunications.

James remembers a very different time in communication. He shared stories of his parents traveling into town to make long distance calls through switchboard operators and recalled the days of crank phones, where different long and short rings signaled who the call was for. He also remembers the party line era and the transition to direct home lines in the 1970s.

One thing that hasn't changed is his phone number. James has had the same telephone number for more than 50 years, a rarity in today's world.

While technology has changed dramatically over the decades, what matters most to James remains the same: family. Today, five generations of the Bacon family live near one another, creating a close-knit family legacy that continues to grow.

Stories like James Bacon's remind us that Kanokla's history is about more than phones, internet, and technology. It's about the people, families, and communities we have had the privilege of serving. We are grateful to James for sharing his memories and helping preserve a piece of Kanokla's history for future generations.

Pictures from R-L: Erma Ratliff Kanokla Community Engagement & Events Coordinator , Mr. James Bacon and Brian Lewellen Kanokla Outside Technician