Joshua Zeidner wrote:
> in the 50s, at least in NY, phone numbers used to be written down 
> using random letters as well as numbers.
They weren't random letters, they were Exchange Names.  A Central Office 
could have one or more Exchange switches.

In metro Phoenix, some of the Exchanges were

    ALpine (25)
    BRoadway (27)
    ...
    WHitney [Scottsdale] (94)
    WOodland [Tempe] (96)

As the telephone system grew, an additional number was added to the 
exchange, so "WOodland-1234" would have become "WO6-1234" ... 

ANC, All Number Calling, was introduced to Phoenix in 1963, abolishing 
the exchange names.

More:  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Telephone_exchange_names

\\/

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