This is just a link to LiveScience.com where you can find this article: Era Ends: Western Union Stops Sending Telegrams

After 145 years, Western Union has quietly stopped sending telegrams.

On the company’s web site, if you click on “Telegrams” in the left-side navigation bar, you’re taken to a page that ends a technological era with about as little fanfare as possible:

“Effective January 27, 2006, Western Union will discontinue all Telegram and Commercial Messaging services. We regret any inconvenience this may cause you, and we thank you for your loyal patronage. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact a customer service representative.”

You can see the actual notice here.

Kinda sad, actually. According the linked story, the demise of the Western Union telegram can be traced to:

• cheap long distance;
• the facsimile; and,
• email.