One of the big advantages of the “New” road from Holbrook via Twin Arrows was it afforded the telephone company an easy route out to areas that needed services. The lines could utilize the road right of way for most of their poles and have access for installing and servicing them. Though I cannot find when these lines went in an old acquaintance once told me about the phone service to his ranch in the 1930’s north of Twin Arrows.
The original phone was mounted on the wall and by ringing the line (You may have seen one of these old phones with the small handle on the side) and getting the other people on the line or ringing the operator who could start your call. The first years you set up rings with your neighbors such as 1 short or 1 short and 1 long, the neighbor recognizing their ring would then pick up. Later the ring would go to a central switchboard and the operator would connect the call and ring the other phone. If you were lucky they might already be on the line when you picked up and you could politely ask them to call you when they had the chance. The service was sporadic particularly when the wind was blowing hard or thunderstorms were passing through but that didn’t matter much as he said you rarely called out anyway. In the 1970’s when I first met him they had upgraded to dial phones but were still on a party line, in fact I believe at least up until 2002 that was still the case.
I used to work on the road and occasionally would come upon a pole that had rotted away at the base and was held in place by the wires. The pole would look normal but if the wind was blowing the pole would sway with the wires and I would radio the dispatcher to call A T & T. Generally they would eventually send out a repairman and a new pole would be set (note the different heights of the poles) unless the lines were broken when they would respond pretty quickly.Take a few moments and locate one of the original short poles, there are still quite a few on the line and note the condition of the wood.
Since you’re here why not take a drive down the Old Trails Highway and original Route 66 alignment, in 4 or 5 miles you will hit the old macadam surface and the end of the county maintenance. If you continue on from there go slow as there are many potholes, when the alignment heads out under I-40 you can continue on to Padre Canyon (you will need a moderately high clearance vehicle) and the old bridge.
New Info 4/21/15:
New poles have replaced all the poles that were in poor condition and two new lines have been added to the poles so the wireless doesn't quite fit anymore but you can still enjoy the old line and road.