An old wood phone booth is one of the many artifacts that the Parma-Hilton Historical Society (PHHS) has on display in its collection. Visitors to the PHHS Museum, 1300 Hilton Parma Corners Road, have often asked, “Where did the phone booth come from?” Truthfully, the PHHS isn’t certain.
Recently, curiosity led the PHHS to contact former Hilton Mayor Larry Gursslin to ask what he knew. In an email reply, Gursslin said that, during his tenure as mayor, he visited local businessman Al Gioia at the Cold Storage at 7 Upton Street, and the phone booth was sitting in pieces on a pallet there. Gursslin said he asked Mr. Gioia where it came from and was told: “It came from Main Street.” Some time later, Gursslin was able to acquire the phone booth, and for a number of years, it was stored in the Village garage. Later, the Historical Society was asked if they wanted it for the museum, and it was delivered to PHHS, where it was rebuilt and put on display, even with a working payphone.
What is known is that it could not have been in any of the buildings destroyed in the Great Fire of 1965. A local resident who lived in the village said the only outside phone booth he knew of was a metal one outside the old Hiltonia Theater, later the Hiltonia Bowling Alley. So, it must have been inside one of the many stores or other businesses on Main Street. If anyone has any other clues or information, contact the PHHS. They would love to solve this Mystery of the Museum.
Those wishing to see this artifact of the pre-cell phone days or show children or grandchildren how calls were made “back in the day” may once again do so as the Parma Hilton Historical Society Museum opens for its 2022 season on Sunday, April 3. The museum will be open on Sundays from 2 to 4 p.m., except for Easter, Memorial, Independence, and Labor Day weekends, Mother’s Day, and Father’s Day. PHHS has decided to extend its season this year to the Sunday after Thanksgiving, November 27. All are welcome to stop by. The phone booth is one of many items on display to show what life was like in the late 1800s through the early/mid-1900s.
Group tours can be arranged by contacting the museum office at 392-9496 or 748-9411.
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