Story on Whidbey Island WA Free Public Telephones

[SUnset2]

The link below is to a story in the Seattle Times Sunday magazine about the small local telephone company on Whidbey Island, Washington providing a network of free public telephone booths for the community.

https://www.seattletimes.com/pacific-nw-magazine/working-phone-booths-dot-south-whidbey-island-where-residents-still-can-make-local-calls-for-free/

[5415551212]

Wow fantastic article thanks for sharing.

[SUnset2]

After seeing the above-referenced story last year, we decided to make a day trip to Whidbey Island, and as a way to see a variety of locations, see if we could find some of the telephone booths.

To summarize the story, the southern part of Whidbey Island is served by a locally-owned independent telephone company.  Some years back, they were replacing the switching system, and the new one was not set up for coin service.  Since payphone usage was declining rapidly, they decided to convert their existing booths for free local calls, and keep them in place as a community service.  There are 35 booths in use scattered across largely rural south Whidbey Island.  We were able to find some of them and post photos below. 

The first six pictures below are from the following locations:
1. Possession Beach
2. Bailey's Store
3. Maxwelton Park
4. Maxwelton Park
5. Langley, First Street
6. Langley Fairgrounds

The remaining photos will be in subsequent posts:
7. Langley Fairgrounds
8. Bayview, Goose Grocery Store
9. Whidbey Telecom Offices
10. Freeland Rite-Aide Drug Store
11. Freeland Shell Station
12. Bus Stop, Hwy 525 at Classic Road
13. Greenbank Store
14. South Whidbey State Park
15. Bush Point
16. Bush Point
17. Visitor Information West of Clinton
18. Clinton Ferry Dock

[SUnset2]

Next six photos.
7. Langley Fairgrounds
8. Bayview, Goose Grocery Store
9. Whidbey Telecom Offices
10. Freeland Rite-Aide Drug Store
11. Freeland Shell Station
12. Bus Stop, Hwy 525 at Classic Road

[SUnset2]

Final six photos
13. Greenbank Store
14. South Whidbey State Park
15. Bush Point
16. Bush Point
17. Visitor Information West of Clinton
18. Clinton Ferry Dock

[Westrex]

Final six photos
13. Greenbank Store
14. South Whidbey State Park
15. Bush Point
16. Bush Point
17. Visitor Information West of Clinton
18. Clinton Ferry Dock

Here are some phones that I found while on Whidbey Island:

- Greenbank Pantry & Deli: 25175 WA-525, Greenbank, WA 98253 Google Maps link
- Classic Rd & SR-525 Google Maps link
- Mobil Station: 11196 WA-525, Clinton, WA 98236 Google Maps link
- Clinton Ferry Terminal

For the full map of "Courtesy Phone Booths" operated by Whidbey Telecom, go here: www.whidbeytel.com/community/#wifihotspots

[ka1axy]

All Telstra pay phones in Australia are free, including the one in Cook, SA (Google it).

[Westrex]

Next six photos.
7. Langley Fairgrounds
8. Bayview, Goose Grocery Store
9. Whidbey Telecom Offices
10. Freeland Rite-Aide Drug Store
11. Freeland Shell Station
12. Bus Stop, Hwy 525 at Classic Road

I visited a bunch of a the free phones on Whidbey Island yesterday, here were some of my findings (I found a bunch more, but I need to get my film developed):

(All phone numbers are in the 360 area code)

Photo 1: Freeland Rite-Aid Drug Store: 331-9955
Photo 2: Short Stop Chevron - 18205 WA-525, Freeland: 331-9991
Photo 3: Whidbey Telephone Co. Offices - 14888 WA-525, Langley: 321-9936
Photo 4: Union 76 Station (booth label)- 6335 S Storkson Dr., Clinton: 341-9997

[Westrex]

I visited a bunch of a the free phones on Whidbey Island yesterday, here were some of my findings (I found a bunch more, but I need to get my film developed):

(All phone numbers are in the 360 area code)

Photo 1: Freeland Rite-Aid Drug Store: 331-9955
Photo 2: Short Stop Chevron - 18205 WA-525, Freeland: 331-9991
Photo 3: Whidbey Telephone Co. Offices - 14888 WA-525, Langley: 321-9936
Photo 4: Union 76 Station (booth label)- 6335 S Storkson Dr., Clinton: 341-9997

Here are the rest of the phones I found along with their numbers (pictures shrunk to reduce post size):


Langley Visitor Info Center 221-9901

The Goose Community Grocer - 321-9939

Langley Marina - 221-9922

Simmons Garage - 341-9905 (Sorry for the bits of camera case that are visible)

Greenbank Pantry & Deli - Dead (probably will be fixed)

Shell Station - WA-525 & Fish Rd. - Dead (Repair Service Notified)

Clinton Ferry Dock Passenger Terminal - Dead (probably will be fixed)

WA-525 & Classic Rd. - 331-9969 (Sorry for the bits of camera case that are visible)

Mobil Station - 341-9915 (Sorry for the bits of camera case that are visible)

Kalypso's - Anthes Av. & First St., Langley - 221-9926