We Bet You Didn't Know This Small Town In Alabama Was Home To The First-Ever 911 Call
By Jennifer Young
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Published January 03, 2023
Many important events have taken place in Alabama over the years. While most of them are pretty well known, some aren’t. A historic event that some people aren’t familiar with took place in Haleyville and involved a phone call. For information about Haleyville and this history-making call, take a look below.
Haleyville is a small, North Alabama town where the first-ever 911 call was made.
AT&T had planned to launch its own service from an Indiana exchange. However, thanks to B.W. Gallagher, the Alabama Telephone Company beat them to it. The nation's first-ever 911 call was made on February 16, 1968.
Alabama House Speaker Rankin Fite placed the first-ever 911 call from the mayor's office.
U.S. Congressman Tom Bevill was on the receiving end and answered the call at the Haleyville Police Department.
Following this history-making call, it didn't take long before signs started popping up all over town informing people of the three digit number to dial in case of an emergency.
The original red telephone that was used to answer the nation's first-ever 911 call is currently on display at Haleyville City Hall. It's a definite must-see!
Today, the town of Haleyville celebrates this history-making moment with its annual 9-1-1 Festival, which happens to be a two-day event that hosts an antique tractor show, a parade, offers live music, has a variety of activities for kids, and so much more. Admission is free.
For more information about the nation's first-ever 911 call, in addition to the town where it took place, you can view the
City of Haleyville website.
Did you already know that 911 got its start in Haleyville, Alabama? Let us know in the comments below.
Besides the original 911 telephone, another unique item that’s on display in Alabama is the Hodges Meteorite. For information about this meteorite, including where you can view it, be sure to take a look at the following article: The Only Meteorite In History To Ever Hit A Human Being Is On Display At The Alabama Museum Of Natural History .
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