When this photo was taken the openwire was pretty new. The older poles (on the right) were replaced along with 10-pin crossarms and with hard-drawn copper wire for telegraph circuits from Boston to New York City (and beyond). This was a primary and vital north-south route for the above communications and railroad travel. The predecessor telegraph line was built at some time in the 1890s with six pins per crossarm using iron wire. Double petticoat insulators were re-used along with other hardware from the former line that met Western Union standards during the early 1910's upgrade. Sections of this line stood through the 1970s.

The pole line along the left was for electric distribution and local trolley service.