Jackson Heights Telephone Exchanges

[20th Century Boy]

Named telephone exchanges are relics of a bygone era; then again, so am I. The Jackson Heights exchanges I remember from the period before the conversion to numbered exchanges in the 1960's are: DEfender, HAvemeyer, HIckory, ILlinois, NEwtown and TWining.  Can anybody remember any others?

[Chuckster]

There's some discussion on the topic of telephone exchanges at the following thread:

You know you've lived in Jackson Heights a long time ...

It's been a while since the last post there, so am now wondering if anyone has any more fun information to share on the topic.

[Really4rob]

Curse my aged memory, I was thinking Ihad read this before, then realize I posted in that first thread.

Ah senilty, welcome to my world.  Next is repeating myself in public ...

[Really4rob]

Ah senilty, welcome to my world.  Next is repeating myself in public ...

[jjackflash]

My friend's number began with "NR 2 -****" We never knew what it stood for so our running joke was "No Reason"

[Really4rob]

Mine did as well .. still does, as it at my mom's house.  All I could figure was the N was Newtown, still not sure on the R.

In fact, my phone number, which I first got for my 14th birthday, has followed me to 4 apartments in Jackson Heights.

[terigal]

the NR   AS IN 672 exchange was for " North Ridge" a co op compex from 88th to 92 on the north side of northern and  even though we lived south of northern blvd we had our 672-4073 forever ...........my old old number wonder who has it now???

[Ernie]

My aunt in Woodside had the 672 exchange. My mom in Woodside had the 639 exchange.

[Really4rob]

Yeah I had the 672 at my folks ome on 76th Street, and and then as my own that amea ddress that followed me around.  And my mom had her original NR2 in the building on 81st before ours. 

Also an ex-girlfriend in high school had 672, just a few numbers above mine, and she lived across from the Jackson Theater ...

I think NR meant something else, or else North Ridge means more than the complex??

[edorgon]

How about Illinois with the exchange being IL.  Elmhurst/Newtown HS area.

 

Named telephone exchanges are relics of a bygone era; then again, so am I. The Jackson Heights exchanges I remember from the period before the conversion to numbered exchanges in the 1960's are: DEfender, HAvemeyer, HIckory, ILlinois, NEwtown and TWining.  Can anybody remember any others?

[Really4rob]

I don't get the Illinois bit .. is there an avenue or something in Elmhurst named that?

[Beech Court]

No one remembered, OLympia 1.... been around almost forever it seems! :smiley6600:

[ercillor]

How about Illinois with the exchange being IL.  Elmhurst/Newtown HS area.

 

In 1946, when we got our first telephone, our telephone number was IL-8-4528 and it stayed that way until 1954. One night, only a year or two ago, I decided to dial that number. I was bored and it was a ridiculous thing to do but I did it anyway. The female voice which answered spoke to me in a foreign language and so I apologized -- in English -- and put the phone down. Silly of me.

Anyone else ever do such a stupid thing? 

[Really4rob]

In 1946, when we got our first telephone, our telephone number was IL-8-4528 and it stayed that way until 1954. One night, only a year or two ago, I decided to dial that number. I was bored and it was a ridiculous thing to do but I did it anyway. The female voice which answered spoke to me in a foreign language and so I apologized -- in English -- and put the phone down. Silly of me.

Anyone else ever do such a stupid thing? 

No, but back in the pre-caller ID days, boys of my generation did the call-loseyournerve-hangup a lot ...

By the way, the fact that IL8-4528 had a foreign owner doesn't neccesarily mean it wasn't still right here in Queens.

Although in 1946, I'm betting your area code for here was 212, not 718.  That didn't change until I was in high school (mid 1980s)

[Really4rob]

Wow, I went to look up to see when 718 actually began, and discovered this:

An additional area code (929) has been assigned to the existing 718 and 347 area codes that serve the outer boroughs of New York City - namely the Bronx, Brooklyn, Queens and Staten Island.  The dialing pattern, which is already in effect in the New York City area, requires all local calls within and between the 718 and 347 area codes and the new 929 area code to be dialed by using 1+10 digit dialing.  Existing 718 and 347 telephone numbers will not change.

NeuStar Inc., which serves in the capacity as the North American Numbering Plan Administrator (NANPA), has forecasted that numbering resources in the 718 and 347 area codes will exhaust by 2012.
http://www.askpsc.com/askpsc/page/?PageAction=renderPageById&PageId=3c3e4c3956f92d9c1515975795cea0e1

If it's old news for some, I didn't know anyway.