Some fun information from The Crittenden Press recalls the big change in phone usage in 1958.
Feb. 7, 1958 -Marion's Dial Numbers to Have Famous 'Yorktown' (YO) as Prefix
Telephone numbers in the Marion exchange will contain a prefix name from proud pages in American history when it converts to dial operation, W. L. McGowan, local Southern Bell manager, said this week.
The name will be Yorktown, abbreviated for dialing to YO. The conversion to dial is expected to take place in midsummer, when the building now under construction is finished and new equipment has been installed.
After dial conversion all telephone numbers in the local exchange will begin with the name Yorktown and the number 5, followed by four more numbers. This plan is in keeping with the nationwide system which eventually will enable telephone users to dial their own long distance calls.
Marion subscribers will not be able to dial other cities yet, , but introducing the numbering system at dial conversion will eliminate having to change all the number again later on.
In dialing the YO prefix, the letter O, in the same dial opening as the number 6, and not the number zero, must be used. Otherwise calls will be either misdirected or incomplete.
September 7, 1958 – Telephone Company Plans Switch to Dial Operation
Southern Bell Telephone has set Sept. 7, 1958, as the date when the Marion exchange will cut over from manual to dial operation. The change will take place at 1:01 a.m. After that telephone users will hear a humming dial tone instead of a female voice saying "Number please" when they pick up their receivers.
All users will have to dial seven figures and numbers to place a local call. Although not strictly necessary for an exchange this size, the system will make possible Marion's eventual inclusion in Bell's plans for nationwide long distance dialing.
The name of the Marion
exchange will be "Yorktown." Dialers will select the
letters "YO" and the five numbers of their party when
placing a call.
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