W. N. Shilling

By Mike Green; posted May 17, 2004

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This gentleman played the part of W. N. Shilling who was the telegrapher at the Golden Spike ceremony. He worked out of the Western Union office in Ogden, Utah. After the final blow Shilling tapped the simple word "Done" and celebrations began across the United States. It was the first time in history that an entire nation received news of a major event as it happened.

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