No. 311 - WHEN THE LIGHTNING STRUCK THE "COON CREEK" PARTY LINE

No. 311
Jim Davidson...NEWSPAPER COLUMN
WHEN THE LIGHTNING STRUCK THE “COON CREEK” PARTY LINE

If you are old enough to remember the days when we had telephone “party lines” in this country, then I believe you will get a kick out of something I ran across a few weeks ago. My memory is not too vivid here, but I can still remember when we had telephones that were 2-party, 4-party and even 8-party lines. In case you don’t know, this is how many homes or families were on that same line. I know it was bad news if you had an 8-party line and had a couple of people on the line who loved to talk. You could never use it, unless of course, you said it was an emergency but that only worked a couple of times because they were still listening in. On the other hand, the party line system did provide a lot of good gossip and entertainment in those days.
I was invited to be the keynote speaker for the Hot Springs Village Morning Lions Club at their annual Recognition and Officer Installation Banquet. This club is the largest Morning Lions Club in a four state area and they do some great work. They were sponsored by the Hot Springs Village Evening Lions Club, which is the 17th largest in the world, and this past year they teamed up to build a “Habitat For Humanity” house in Hot Springs.
The reason I am sharing this is because both clubs are made up mostly of retirees who have moved here from practically every state in the nation. So, you can appreciate the fact that I had a widely diverse audience, but all with the common bond of a desire “To Serve” and to help the less fortunate. All during the year the members work hard doing the various fund raising projects, but at this once a year banquet they try to have some fun.
In addition to my presentation they had secured the services of a Barber Shop Harmony group called “The Chanticleers.” This group was made up of from 15 to 20 men, all dressed in matching red coats, and they were very good. They sang a number of selections and then they came out with “When The Lightning Struck The Coon Creek Party Line.” I have been told the words were original, but the way they did it was a riot. Later I asked for a copy of the words and while they are copyrighted, I was given permission to share them with you.
Here we go, 1, 2, 3 “Oh the poles and splinters flew, and the wires snapped in two..And wound around the wild cucumber vine..It sure was an awful thing, not a single phone would ring..When the lightning struck the Coon Creek party line. T’was a summers day in May, we were busy makin’ hay (hey-hey)..As we drove into town for binder twine (binder twine)..As we started down the lane it began to look like rain..When the lighting struck the Coon Creek party line.
Aunty Min was on the phone, tongues were waggin’ at each home..All about the gossip goin’ on in town..There was talk of bathtub gin they were servin’ at the inn..And that Thelma Jones was chasin’ Parson Brown. Then there came a great white flash, followed by a fearful crash..All the telephones went dead at ten to nine..All those tales went untold, they were left out in the cold..When the lightning struck the Coon Creek party line. Oh the poles and splinters flew, and the wire snapped in two..And wound around the wild cucumber vine..It sure was an awful thing, not a single phone would ring..When the lightning struck the Coon Creek party line.”
Well, that’s the end of it but suffice it to say just reading the words does not do it justice. You would have had to have been present to really appreciate this performance. A special word of thanks to Past President Al Becker and all the members and spouses of the Hot Springs Village Morning Lions Club for a delightful evening and especially for the great work you do. (Jim Davidson is a motivational speaker and syndicated columnist. You may contact him at 2 Bentley Drive, Conway, AR 72034.)