This is just the beginning! Our collection holds over 300 years of history, including rare newspapers, obituaries, marriage records, birth records, and so much more—most of which you won’t find anywhere else!
Evolution of a Small Town Telephone Service Through Decades
Edwin Watt recalls his 1927 start as first night operator at Peoples Telephone Co and notes the changing staff from multiple operators to dial service. He lists past chief operators and presidents, tax growth from 35.89 in 1910 to over 1300 today, toll calls rising from a few to over 150 daily, and lines moving underground as Aurelia expands.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Wilhel Johnson
Edwin Watt
Telephone Company
Iowa Independent Telephone Association
Des Moines
Northern Telephone Co
Mason “i
Lowa Telephone Co
Cherokee
Northwestern Bell Telephone Co
Cherrokee
Linn Grove
Quimby
Guiva
Electric
Aurelia
Peoples Telephone Co
Fred Kohlhagen
A. H. Waddell
Sig Matzdorff
Gus Peterson