The Telephone Exchange
Posted by: 
Volcanoguy
N 44° 46.605 W 117° 49.848
11T E 434266 N 4958486
History sign on The Telephone Exchange building in Baker City Historic District.
Waymark Code: WM32JQ
Location: Oregon, United States
Date Posted: 01/30/2008
Views: 8
History sign on The Telephone Exchange building in Baker City Historic District.
Marker Name: The Telephone Exchange
Marker Text: Hand-cranked telephones first rang in Baker City in 1889. Not until 1898, however, did a company succeed in establishing 24-hour, central exchange service. When inaugurated, the system had 40 subscribers and one operator on duty.
The first exchange was in the Wisdom Drug Store at the southwest corner of Main Street and Valley Avenue.
Pacific Telephone and Telegraph (later to become Pacific Northwest Bell) acquired the system in 1900. In 1910, the company built this building for its exchange and offices.
The telephone company moved in 1954, and the building remained vacant for many years. It was renovated as a restaurant in the 1970s.
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