In 1883, the Board agreed, “If a telephone would be useful, one could be installed.” But Principal William Allan felt it wasn’t necessary. Six years later, two telephones were installed in Old House, but they only connected to each other. In 1914, a telephone station was installed for the boys to use “as long as they don’t abuse it.” By the following year, a switchboard was installed. To reach one of the few phones on campus, such as the infirmary, the caller asked an operator to connect them to Pikesville 775.
In 1952, a dial phone was installed at McDonogh, eliminating the need for a switchboard operator. The phones were lighter and had better acoustics. With the change came new phone numbers. To reach Allan Building, one had to call Pikes. 6000. In 1967, the school’s number was changed to 363-0600 and in 1997, the 410 area code was added.
