As noted in the previous photograph train stations very frequently had telegraph offices within them because telegraph companies ran most of their lines along railway rights-of-way. Western Union was no exception. The wooden "dry spot" connection boxes atop telegraph poles (as shown) were a common sight at train stations. They allowed for weatherproof connections between the open-wire and paired-cable that ran straight to the telegraph office. The last time I recall seeing one of these pole top boxes here in New England was in 1967...right before the Western Union and associated data open-wire was removed. How many of these pole-top relics have you seen in museums, collections, for sale, etc., lately?