If you are one of the people who have never seen a phone booth, there is one on exhibit in the communications room at the May-Stringer House and it is a beauty.
Formerly housed at the old Hernando High School, the phone booth is constructed of wood, has a light and fan, and has a bi-fold door with glass panels. The payphone inside has slots to deposit nickels, dimes, and quarters. A local call would cost you 10 cents! Just imagine a high school freshman putting that dime in and dialing, to call home saying he had forgotten his homework! Of course, dialing might be something you may not have done before. There is another exhibit where you can practice the skill of dialing a phone! According to Richard Stanaback’s history of Hernando schools, the use of the old school on Bell Avenue was ended in the early 1960s. There are not many payphones around, nor phone booths.
The Museums are open! Noon – 3pm
The May-Stringer: Tours Thursday, Friday & Saturday – 352-799-0129
The 1885 Depot: Tours Wednesday, Friday & Saturday – 352-799-4766
The Countryman One Room Schoolhouse: Tours Saturday – 352-515-3054 or 630-464-2313
