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Nathaniel Banta, an
upper-middle-class resident of Arlington Heights, has decided to
purchase phone service. Nathaniel sells school textbooks and writes
children's books. He also sits on the school board and other
important committees in town. It is 1909 and Arlington Heights,
with a population of 2,250, already has 250 telephones in
operation. Most of these are in businesses and public places. The
Bantas will be one of the first families to have a telephone in
their home. They will probably be taking messages for their
neighbors; however, it will allow Nathaniel to conduct business
from his home. Nathaniel thinks that someday everyone will have a
telephone.
© Illinois State Museum 31-Dec-96