Photo: James Rojas/WBZ NewsRadio
SOMERVILLE, Mass. (WBZ NewsRadio) — Some makeshift phone booths have been popping up around the state, but there’s only one type of call that can be made.
“Wind Phones” are rotary phones that don’t have any wires or dial tones, but are created to connect people with lost loved ones.
Many residents, like Somerville local Beth Grierson, think the phones are a great idea for people to connect with those who have passed away.
“I think it’s a great prompt and could be a great tool for people who want to express feelings they couldn’t express otherwise,” said Grierson. “Tapping into a thing you would normally do with a person, getting at those emotions and processing those emotions, but there’s no one on the other line.”
The first Wind Phone booth was created in 2010 by Itaru Sasaki in Japan to help him cope with his brother's death. Following the 2011 Tsunami in Japan, Sasaki moved his original booth to a new spot and began welcoming visitors to speak with the lost.
Since then, the disconnected lines have gained immense popularity worldwide, with ten locations already around Massachusetts, and an additional booth set to appear in Sherborn later in 2026.
Somerville resident Caitrin MacDonald said she is looking forward to seeing more pop up around the state.
“It’s actually very close to me, because my dad is quite sick right now, and so the idea of having a moment where you can talk to somebody after they’re gone is really special,” said MacDonald. “It’s like a way to bridge that divide.”
More information on Wind Phones can be found on their website here.
WBZ NewsRadio’s James Rojas (@JamesRojasMMJ) reports.