A symbol that displays something from the “golden days” has made a re-appearance in areas of Valley County. Handcrafted phone booths, painted bright red, have been placed at the corner of Edwards Road and MT Hwy 24N, about seven miles south of Opheim, and along Highway 2 outside of Glasgow. These phone booths aren’t for making phone calls, instead they are used as physical reminders for people to reach out – whether it’s to call a friend, check in with their family members or seek help if needed. Each phone booth has messages like “Call Home” or “Keep In Touch.”
The two booths in Valley County are part of a larger project, created by Bozeman-based artist Jim Dolan, for Montana farm and ranch communities. The goal of the project is simple: bridge the gap between small and far apart communities to ensure isolation doesn’t take a toll on those individuals.