topic Re: 55th birthday Zip Code System in Among Friends

55th birthday Zip Code System

jeanlake — Mon, 02 Jul 2018 15:22:36 GMT

As a child, I remember parents, grandparents and adult neighbors grumbling about including new five-digit zip codes in addresses.

My current car has a push-button starter instead of key. For a week I kept thinking of all the reasons I should have purchased a car using a key! Husband finally said -- I bet you balked at including your zip codes in the 60s.

I smile about things like this when confronted with new, random life 'tasks.' Helps me take on a 'just do it' attitude and move on!

Similar experiences?

Re: 55th birthday Zip Code System

KathyM23 — Mon, 02 Jul 2018 15:45:04 GMT

I remember when my post office zone was 22. I have a box with the small ceramic Christmas tree my mother gave me similar to what is being sold in CIJ and the original box it is in the manufacxturers address is a zone address - predates zip codes. So that is an old Christmas tree and the box is still in good shape. Since I store my Christmas decor in the basement, I do not put this tree and box there but store it on a closet shelf to keep the box in good shape. Brings back the old memories.

At the same time our telephone numbers had two letters at the beginning instead of numbers. My phone number started with ORchard and my friends whose childhood number I still remember as I called it so many times thru the years as a child and teenager was NOrth. About the same time as the zip code change the names were dropped from phone numbers and converted to the corresponding number for OR and NO.

Re: 55th birthday Zip Code System

mimomof4 — Mon, 02 Jul 2018 15:48:27 GMT

I remember dialing only 4 numbers to call someone on a rotary phone. These days I don't even have a home phone.

I also remember people being up in arms when we had an area code change but now they are more common place.

Re: 55th birthday Zip Code System

OKPrincess — Mon, 02 Jul 2018 16:33:30 GMT

I’m relying on my memory and I think I remember my zip in Houston was 17 or 33. Also at our farm NE of Houston was a four digit party line. Those little old ladies were discussing their aches and pains and I wanted to call my friends. Anyway now I’m one of those little old ladies discussing my aches and pains. lol 😂

Re: 55th birthday Zip Code System

IMW — Mon, 02 Jul 2018 17:34:58 GMT

In NYC we have the 5 digit zip plus an additional 4.

All calls need 3 digit area code- that’s 10 digits.

The security code on credit cards, all logins and pws.

I remember phone exchanges when they had names, the postal code was 2 numbers, etc, etc.

Its enough to make my head spin! We adapt and go on.

Re: 55th birthday Zip Code System

jeanlake — Mon, 02 Jul 2018 17:44:11 GMT

Yes, we had a SOUTH phone number until it changed to all numbers. Mom worked during days and used to get upset when she tried to use the phone in the evening and the party line was engaged.

No air conditioning so neighbors chatted outside daily while kids played. Vented a lot. Didn't like change in general. Rarely did people move and everyone knew everyone's business; but it was community.

While vacationing with extended family in Highlands, NC, my 7 year old grandson pointed to older resort land phone and said -- "Is that from the 80s?" My son said -- "Hey..." because he was born in the 80s. Son told me, well, that made me feel old!

Re: 55th birthday Zip Code System

Shanus — Mon, 02 Jul 2018 17:50:17 GMT

@jeanlake wrote:
As a child, I remember parents, grandparents and adult neighbors grumbling about including new five-digit zip codes in addresses.

My current car has a push-button starter instead of key. For a week I kept thinking of all the reasons I should have purchased a car using a key! Husband finally said -- I bet you balked at including your zip codes in the 60s.

I smile about things like this when confronted with new, random life 'tasks.' Helps me take on a 'just do it' attitude and move on!

Similar experiences?

@jeanlake Oh yes. When I purchased my first IPhone and my kids taught me how to text, use the camera & other apps. Seemed like using a computer all over again.

Re: 55th birthday Zip Code System

Shanus — Mon, 02 Jul 2018 17:53:46 GMT

I was born & lived my first years in such a small town in upstate NY that we didn’t have dial phones...a switch board operator. She knew everyone in town, so I could pick up the phone and say, “This is Shanus. Can I speak to Aunt Bertye”?

Re: 55th birthday Zip Code System

sidsmom — Mon, 02 Jul 2018 17:54:26 GMT

Seatbelts.

TX began enforcing it back in ‘85 (had to look it up!) but I remember forgetting many times. Today I feel naked if I don’t have my seatbelt on!

Re: 55th birthday Zip Code System

jeanlake — Mon, 02 Jul 2018 18:01:57 GMT

@Shanus Texting is my kids (30s) preferred mode of communications. Sometimes I tell them to call so I can hear their voices, but either way, always great to hear from them. AND with texting - they often attach photos.

I held onto my old android phone for a while because nothing was wrong with it. Caved and updated. New phone truly has better features. Makes you wonder what new technology is coming down the pike. Reminder to self -- remain flexible! Grandchildren are watching....

Re: 55th birthday Zip Code System

ALRATIBA — Mon, 02 Jul 2018 18:03:43 GMT

Gee ... it doesn't seem like 55 years ago!

They inserted 3 numbers in front of the 2 numbers you were using and moved it to after the state.

For instance, we went from Richmond Hill 18, NY to Richmond Hill, New York 11418.

Wasn't it shortly thereafter that they changed all our phone numbers to 7 numbers rather than an exchange and 5 numbers?

Remember the song PEnnsylvania 6-5000? We had an OLympia exchange growing up ... then around 1963 when I got married - first phone number was a VIrginia exchange. My mother had an IVanhoe exchange when they moved to Long Island in about 1965.

Re: 55th birthday Zip Code System

panda1234 — Mon, 02 Jul 2018 18:17:35 GMT

@Shanus wrote:
I was born & lived my first years in such a small town in upstate NY that we didn’t have dial phones...a switch board operator. She knew everyone in town, so I could pick up the phone and say, “This is Shanus. Can I speak to Aunt Bertye”?

@Shanus What town was that? I am from Ithaca.

Re: 55th birthday Zip Code System

chiclets — Mon, 02 Jul 2018 18:36:15 GMT

Yes

Phone number exchange was Evergreen and had 5 numbers that I still remember. Zip was 03.

Re: 55th birthday Zip Code System

Shanus — Mon, 02 Jul 2018 18:53:02 GMT

@panda1234 wrote:
@Shanus wrote:
I was born & lived my first years in such a small town in upstate NY that we didn’t have dial phones...a switch board operator. She knew everyone in town, so I could pick up the phone and say, “This is Shanus. Can I speak to Aunt Bertye”?
@Shanus What town was that? I am from Ithaca.

@panda1234 Not as far as Ithaca. It’s Ellenville in Catskill Mts.

Re: 55th birthday Zip Code System

goldensrbest — Mon, 02 Jul 2018 19:04:20 GMT

I remember party lines.

Re: 55th birthday Zip Code System

Peaches McPhee — Mon, 02 Jul 2018 19:14:35 GMT

55? I am 58 and remember the adults talking about this when I was a kid. I could not have remembered that from age 3.. I wonder if it was a slow roll out and did not hit my area until some years later. Or if I am not remembering correctly . . .

Re: 55th birthday Zip Code System

CelticCrafter — Mon, 02 Jul 2018 20:07:54 GMT

@IMW wrote:
In NYC we have the 5 digit zip plus an additional 4.
All calls need 3 digit area code- that’s 10 digits.
The security code on credit cards, all logins and pws.

I remember phone exchanges when they had names, the postal code was 2 numbers, etc, etc.

Its enough to make my head spin! We adapt and go on.

In NJ where I live, we have to dial a 1 then the area code, then number - even if I'm calling my next door neighbor!

Re: 55th birthday Zip Code System

MoodeeFan — Mon, 02 Jul 2018 21:50:25 GMT

@mimomof4 wrote:
I remember dialing only 4 numbers to call someone on a rotary phone. These days I don't even have a home phone.

I also remember people being up in arms when we had an area code change but now they are more common place.

This reminds me of the opening scene of the film "Move Over Darling" when Doris Day's character is trying to call her home (in California) from a pay phone after being on a desert island for 7 years.

She doesn't know about the area code and the operator tries to explain it to her with much confusion... Well it made me laugh

PS: What I really love in the movie is James Garner

Catskill Mts. are beautiful.

panda1234 — Tue, 03 Jul 2018 08:43:38 GMT

@Shanus wrote:
@panda1234 wrote:
@Shanus wrote:
I was born & lived my first years in such a small town in upstate NY that we didn’t have dial phones...a switch board operator. She knew everyone in town, so I could pick up the phone and say, “This is Shanus. Can I speak to Aunt Bertye”?
@Shanus What town was that? I am from Ithaca.

@panda1234 Not as far as Ithaca. It’s Ellenville in Catskill Mts.

@ShanusCatskill Mts. are beautiful.

Re: 55th birthday Zip Code System

Nataliesgramma — Tue, 03 Jul 2018 10:34:29 GMT

I remember helping my Mother address Christmas cards when I was little...She just wrote "City" on the bottom for the people that lived in our area.......