Source: NMHS Newsletter Feb 1998Hello, Central
A very early, if not the first telephone service in
North Manchester was known as the Midland Telephone
company with general offices in Chicago. A directory was
printed in October 1882 by the Journal. This company's
exchange was above Dr. F. S. Kitson's office The general
manager was S. A. Argerbright. All subscribers had one
or two number identification. Here is the total
directory:
16 Argerbright, S. A., Residence
15 Arnold, Jesse, Manchester Bank
12 Brookover, W. L., Grocery
14 Barsh & Sala, Drug Store
32 Beauchamp, A. G., Residence
30 C.W. & M. Depot
9 Clemans, B. F., Office
13 Dunbar, Scott, Heading Factory
20 Eichholtz, P. & V. Planing Factory
4 Frame & Son, Hardware
44 Goshorn, D. A., Residence
43 Grimes, R. R., Hotel
3 Good, John, Saloon
41 Hoover, J. C., Hotel
7 Hopkins, S. V., Journal
38 Jennings, J. M., Grocery
22 Johnson, C. D. Livery
25 Kircher, Mrs. N. E. Residence
35 Leonard & Leonard, Grocery
33 Lower, M.O., Dr., Residence
45 Lawrence, G.W., Eel River V. Bank
34 Mills, H. Grocery
6 Martin, J. J., Residence
40 Monfort, J. Residence
8 Milliron, J. C., Residence
21 Noftzger, L. J., Hardware
48 Noftzger, L. J., Residence
49 Noftzger & Baker, Brickyard
28 Russel, L., Barber Shop
17 Schoolcraft, R. A., Residence
39 Sexton, S. Residence
31 Strauss & Shock, Mill
17 Strauss & Shock, Feed Store
26 Summerland & Mishler, Meat Market
36 Slusser, A., Restaurant.
50 Sellers, A. Residence
5 Stayer, W. H.
l Winton, Drs., Office
23 Winton, C. H. Residence
29 Winton, H. Residence
46 Wallace, J. R., Residence
24 W., St. L. & P.R. R. and Telegraph
One of the very early telephone companies to be formed
in Indiana was the Rex telephone company of North
Manchester owned by a person of that name. A charter was
granted October 2, 1894 and the first line was put into
operation between Wabash and North Manchester February
14, 1895. A competitor, the Eel River, was organized in
1901. Bertha Staver (later Guinnupp) was an early
operator in North Manchester and later became the first
operator in the Urbana exchange backed by her father,
Emanuel. By 1907 Mr Staver had disposed of the Urbana
exchange and bought the Rex of North Manchester company.
In March of 1920 the Eel River telephone company filed a
request with the state board of public utilities for an
increase in rates in North Manchester and Sidney. The
rate for residences had been $l.50.
Here are the new rates on condition that payment is made
before the 10th of the month:
Individual line, business$2.50, Party line,
business2.25, Individual line, residence1.60, Party
line, residence1.50, Individual line, rurall.75, Party
line, rurall.50, Business extensions.75, Residence
extensions.50.
The statement filed with the request showed a deficit
for the previous year of $490. The only salaried officer
of the company was the manager who received $1200. The
value of the plant is listed as $85,000, and a new
switchboard to be installed soon was valued at $25,000.
That new switchboard arrived and was put into the
building January 12, 1921.
The JOURNAL said, "The Board is one of the most modern
to be had, and will, it is said, correct many of the
difficulties that has been encountered with the present
board which has been overloaded. This with the
underground cables that have been put into use this
summer will greatly increase the service of the
company."
Five years later the "only salaried officer" Lewis Signs
left the company.
The JOURNAL headline said GOING TO QUIT AFTER 60 YEARS.
The article said,
"Lewis Signs announced yesterday that he was going to
quit work next week. He is not just sure what day it
will be, but it is to be some time early in the week,
and for once in his life he expects to get up jobless.
He has been connected with the Eel River telephone
company since 1901, working from that time until 1904 on
the outside lines, and since 1904 he has been in charge
as manager. Now at only 79 years of age he has concluded
he is going to quit work for a few days, and yesterday
flatly refused an offer for a new job to start early
next week. There are few men who have been in steady
service in North Manchester any longer than Mr. Signs.
He came into town when but little more than a boy, going
to work for George Lawrence, and has constantly been in
business since that time, serving four years as
postmaster. Now after only a little more than sixty
years of active work he turns squarely around and says
he is going to be jobless for awhile and see how it
goes."
In May of 1926 permission was granted by the Indiana
public service commission for the A & M Telephone
company to purchase the Eel River Telephone company and
the North Manchester Telephone company and to operate
them with the Akron exchange. The petition had been
filed in January and the A & M company had asked
permission to abandon the North Manchester or Rex
exchange and combine their business with the Eel River
group.
The incorporators of the A & M company are Frank J.
Zimmerman, Howard C. John, Valentine Lidecker and Horace
Larrew. The total value of the properties this new
company is seeking to buy is $236,329. The North
Manchester company is valued at $15,000 and the Akron
company $50,335, the Disko & Laketon company at $25,040.
Then the A. & M. company proposes to sell $115,000 of
its preferred stock to buy the Eel River and North
Manchester companies.
The total capital stock to be issued is $375.000 -
$200,000 in common stock at $100 a share and $115,000 in
preferred stock at $100 a share paying 6 1/2 per cent
interest. The main office is to be in North Manchester.
Source: North Manchester
Journal, February 14, 1901
A New Telephone Company
It seems quite likely that this city will have two
telephone companies in operation before long. The town
heard at its meeting Monday night granted a franchise to
the Eel River Telephone Co. to operate a general
telephone exchange and it is understood that the new
company expects to put in an exchange of the latest and
most modern pattern. Whether the town will support two
companies in this business, of course, remains to be
seen but as it is understood the new company has very
strong financial backing the competition will
undoubtedly be quite lively and the people reap the
benefit in an extra service. The maximum rate for
'phones as fixed in the franchise is $1 per month for
residences and $2 for business houses. We have not
learned how soon the new company expects to commence
business.
Source: North Manchester
Journal, April 11, 1901
Its Business Growing
The Telephone Co. has issued a new directory in folder
shape and much more convenient in form for use than the
old cards that have been used so long. The new directory
also shows a very handsome increase in the number of
instruments, there being thirteen new phones on the list
with a total of 180 subscribers, all of which we
consider as good a showing as any company in a town of
this size can make. Mr. Rex, the manager, is making a
special effort to give the patrons a good service and
particularly so in long distance service as the exchange
has a wide connection through the independent long
distance lines of this state and Ohio, reaching more
towns at a less rate for messages than any other
company. The telephone has become indispensible and the
larger the exchange the more convenient and necessary it
is to have an instrument. Read over the new directory
and study the rules carefully.
Source: North Manchester Journal,
May 16, 1901
TELEPHONES FOR FARMERS. Mr. O. Rex Informs Us
His Company is Now Ready to Supply All Country Patrons.
In many parts of the country farmers are putting in
telephones in connection with the local exchange and are
finding them a very useful convenience. The telephone
has not been extensively tried by farmers around this
place, but the day is at hand when they will begin to
put them in.
Mr. Rex, the manager of the Home Telephone Co., tells
us that his company is now fully prepared to take care
of this class of business and meet all demands. He has
lately made some arrangements for the enlargement of the
business and will be in shape to give all farmer patrons
the same service that the patrons of the exchange are
now getting. It is expected that during the coming
season quite a number of farmers in the immediate
vicinity of town will be putting in 'phones and of
course as more take instruments the more will want them.
The Warsaw, Rochester and other neighboring companies
are working on the same plan and have made a rate of
$1.50 a month to farmers on a party line with not less
than five 'phones. This is said to be the established
rate for this class of business in nearly all parts of
the state, but Mr. Rex tells us that he has decided to
make the price only one dollar a month with not less
than two telephones to the mile. The parties on the line
will, however, be expected to bear the expense of
constructing the line from the city limits. The rate is
a low one and ought to bring many subscribers.
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