We moved from New jersey to Cape Cod when I was 3 years old.
The only phone in the house was a black bakelite model with no dial.
To operate it, you just picked it up, put it to your ear, and
a woman named Helen would ask you who you wanted to be connected
to. Our number was Chatham-499. A few years later the phone company
delivered a black phone with a dial, but the dial was not functional
for at least two years. Then one day, my three brothers and sisters
and I were instructed on how to use the dial. Then we were
told that we were not allowed to use the phone. Eventually, our
number became 945-0499. Calling the next town was ok. Two towns
west and it was a long distance call, even though you could drive there in
15 minutes.
Maybe I have lived just long enough.