The octagonal phone box was reinstalled at the Taieri Historical Society yesterday after months of repair work by the Taieri Blokes’ Shed.
Taieri Historical Society former president Ray Beardsmore said he understood the box was removed from Manse St in the 1980s and moved to the historical society’s museum at Outram.
It was probably the first style of phone box installed in the area, as public phones used to be based inside the post office, he said.
He did not know how old the box was, but it was likely to have been first installed in the early 20th century.
The box was very popular, and many wedding photos had been taken in front of it while it was at the museum.
However, the box was somewhat run down.
Menz Shed Otago and Southland regional representative Ian Miller, of Mosgiel, said the Taieri Blokes’ Shed, which had worked with the Historical Society before, offered to fix up the box at a ‘‘reasonable cost’’.
The rounded corner posts had to be remade completely, as well as the roof, which had asbestos in it.
The box was repainted and a missing panel was replaced.
The project began just before Christmas last year and was worked on by five members of the shed.
It was the biggest project the group had yet undertaken.
The box was a piece of history and repairing it was one way for members to give back to the community, Mr Miller said.
Taieri Historical Society president Neil Gamble said the phone still worked, but was not connected.
The box would be kept locked as it was an important piece of memorabilia.
