▁used ▁for ▁the ▁start ▁of ▁tele phone ▁numbers ▁because ▁of ▁the ▁lik elihood ▁of ▁accident al ▁false ▁calls ▁from ▁open - wire ▁lines ▁t apping ▁together , ▁etc . ▁ ▁The ▁tele phone ▁exchange ▁in ▁Master ton ▁was ▁replaced ▁in ▁ 1 9 5 6 , ▁and ▁was ▁the ▁first ▁exchange ▁to ▁have ▁the ▁technology ▁installed ▁for ▁the ▁ 1 1 1 ▁service . ▁Hence , ▁Master ton ▁and ▁nearby ▁Carter ton ▁were ▁the ▁first ▁towns ▁in ▁the ▁country ▁to ▁get ▁the ▁new ▁service . ▁ ▁The ▁ 1 1 1 ▁service ▁began ▁on ▁ 2 9 ▁September ▁ 1 9 5 8 ▁in ▁the ▁two ▁towns . ▁When ▁a ▁subscri ber ▁d ial led ▁ 1 1 1 ▁at ▁either ▁exchange , ▁the ▁call ▁was ▁rout ed ▁by ▁the ▁automatic ▁exchange ▁onto ▁one ▁of ▁three ▁dedicated ▁lines ▁to ▁the ▁to ll ▁switch board ▁at ▁the ▁Master ton ▁exchange ▁( although ▁the ▁exchange ▁connected ▁calls ▁automatically , ▁long - distance ▁( t oll ) ▁calls ▁still ▁had ▁to ▁be ▁connected ▁manually ▁through ▁an ▁operator ). ▁A ▁red ▁light ▁g low ed ▁on ▁the ▁switch board ▁panel , ▁and ▁another ▁red ▁light ▁would ▁g low ▁on ▁top ▁of ▁the ▁switch board . ▁Two ▁h oot ers ▁also ▁sound ed , ▁one ▁in ▁the ▁exchange ▁and ▁the ▁other ▁in ▁the ▁building ▁passage . ▁The ▁first ▁operator ▁to ▁plug ▁into ▁the ▁line ▁took ▁the ▁call , ▁and ▁a ▁super visor ▁would ▁plug ▁into ▁the ▁line ▁to ▁help ▁if ▁the ▁situation ▁became ▁difficult . ▁ ▁D edic