Made obsolete by new technology, the Western Union telegram is a thing of the past, as of Friday. It was formed in April 1856 to promote the hot new technology of the telegraph, that could send cross-country messages in less than a day.
“The decision was a hard decision because we’re fully aware of our heritage,” said Victor Chayet, a spokesman for Western Union. “But it’s the final transition from a communications company to a financial services company.”
Last year, only 20,000 telegrams were sent at $10 each.
