Cleaning Up The Network

Back when I was a child (if my memory is correct) the Pullman Herald published plans from the telephone company for cleaning up its network. This was some kind of dust blower, scrubbing device that would follow the lines through various neighborhoods.

Telephone users were advised as to when the scrubbers would be in their neighborhoods. To prevent dirt and various forms of smut from getting into the home, users were advised to place the telephone into a bag on the days that the lines were to be cleaned in their neighborhoods.

This could help protect both the children and adults from network smut and dirt getting into the home.

I don't remember for sure, but there may have been something about placing a paper bag over one's head, if the phone bag leaked and dirt got into the house anyway.

Then there was something about disconnecting the phone and bringing it out into the yard for swinging it around one's head while screaming like a chicken.

Cleansing the phone? Hysteria?

That must have been for very severe "dirt bag" situations.

I was a very small child at the time and don't remember the details very well.

I do remember that it was an April Fools joke.