That was still the case in many parts of Canada, until recently. High voltage line only on the pole and earth for ground. But you know that you couldn't supply much juice if the hot wire on the line was only carrying 120V, I suspect, but don't know for sure that the distribution line operated at 7,200 V. In any event, that would be fed to a center tapped transformer that would yield 120V on each leg, when measured to the neutral of the transformer. Hook the two legs together and 240 volts would appear.