Polebridge to Numa Ridge Phoneline facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Polebridge to Numa Ridge Phoneline
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 Location in Montana
Location in the United States
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| Location | North Fork drainage, Polebridge to Numa Ridge, Glacier NP, West Glacier, Montana |
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| Built | 1927 |
| Architect | National Park Service |
| MPS | Glacier National Park MPS |
| NRHP reference No. | 95001573 |
| Added to NRHP | April 04, 1996 |
The Polebridge to Numa Ridge Phoneline was a special old telephone system. It was located in Glacier National Park in Montana. This phoneline was important because it was the very last single-line crank telephone network in the western United States.
Today, you can still see parts of it. These include pieces of the wire, special glass or ceramic insulators, and old phone terminals. They help us understand how people communicated long ago.
Contents
What Was the Polebridge-Numa Ridge Phoneline?
This phoneline was a simple way for park rangers to talk to each other. It used a single wire to send messages. The system worked by using the earth itself as part of the electrical circuit. This is called an earth ground.
The wire was held up by ceramic insulators. These insulators were often attached directly to trees. Some old phone poles can still be seen today. You can find them in the meadow south of the Kishenehn Ranger Station. There's even an old phone still at Bowman Lake!
How Did This Old Phone System Work?
Imagine a phone that didn't need a battery or electricity from a power plant. These old phones used a hand crank. When you turned the crank, it generated a small electric current. This current would travel along the single wire.
At the other end, another phone would ring. The earth acted like the second wire in the circuit. This was a clever way to save on materials. It was perfect for remote places like Glacier National Park.
Where Did the Phoneline Go?
The phoneline connected important spots in the park. It started at the Polebridge Ranger Station. From there, it went past the Skyland Camp-Bowman Lake Ranger Station. Finally, it reached the Numa Ridge Fire Lookout. This allowed rangers to share important information. They could report things like forest fires or visitor needs.
A Look Back: The History of the Phoneline
The Polebridge to Numa Ridge Phoneline has a long history. It helped park rangers do their jobs for many years.
Building the Line
The first parts of the phoneline were built in 1911. Over the next few decades, more sections were added. By the 1930s, it connected many ranger stations. This made communication much easier in the vast park.
Why It Stopped Working
As technology changed, so did communication methods. Later, FM radio became more common. Radios were easier to use and more flexible. Because of this, the old phone system was used less and less.
The Polebridge-Numa line was officially shut down in 1985. However, some people still used it unofficially until 1988. Even though it's no longer active, it remains a cool piece of history. It reminds us of how people used to connect in the wilderness.
