Telegraph School Cola Ghost Sign Reinvigorated. Editorial Photo

In 1844 Samuel Moorse introduced the first telegraph. This showed messages could be sent quickly and easily over distance. With the introduction of the transcontinental railroad in 1869, it quickly became apparent the telegraph needed to be joined to the railroad. This was needed for transmitting information on everything from passenger information to road conditions. The training for the new telegraphers was usually handled by the more experienced ones. With changing technologies, like the introduction of the telephone in 1876, the telegraph started to loose its importance. The old sign on an equally old building for a school that no longer exists, received a fresh coat of paint as a reminder of how things used to be.