Telephone Hill and its old homes need to be preserved

Signs urging the preservation of homes on Telephone Hill are displayed in the front yard of one of those homes on Wednesday, Nov. 19, 2025. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Independent)

My family moved to Juneau in 1968 when I was in my senior year of high school.

I was a long-distance operator on Telephone Hill, connecting people to friends and family all over the country and the world. It was kind of wild sitting on top of the city almost in the clouds on that wonderful hill in an old home with my headset and mouthpiece on making sure Juneau could talk to the world.

I have always loved Juneau and its rich history. To think that this history may be destroyed is very sad to me. Part of the reason people visit is for our history, not to see a bunch of new buildings put high on the Hill. Saving these homes is important to this community and its connection to the past. The Hill is a historical site.

Years after I graduated, I came back to Juneau with 50 used theater seats and started Perseverance Theatre where we worked hard to connect audiences to stories and each other. It will be 50 years old soon, another piece of Juneau’s past.

I believe it’s important to preserve our history and then to make history. Telephone Hill and its old homes are part of our imagination here in this town and need to be preserved.

These homes are part of our home.

Molly Smith

Juneau