Dial 1 for The White House Mr. Treasurer

In 1879 when the White House first got their telephone service, there was only one other place to call. That place was the Treasury Department. This I just discovered today... Err...last night at Target when I found a juvenile book on the White House. The book is titled, "Where is the White House? I recommend the book. It is up to date by tenure. President Obama is bowling in the WH 

Laura's 1st telephone

I asked a source if she knew where I could find out the first telephone number of Laura Ingalls Wilder. She did not know. However, she does believe there is a corner where her Candlestick Telephone would have been placed. It's a start. 

Here is a picture of a candlestick telephone with box ringer. 

Area Codes started in 1947

In 1947 the nation received it's first area codes. There were 86 in total. Hard to believe California only had 3 area codes! Here is the link to the map of the area codes. It's followed by a copy of the image. I hold no copyrights to it. (http://www.lincmad.com/map1947.html)

 What was your area's first area code? Can you find the Wilder's homestead area code? Next up zip codes. 

The gentleman who originated exchanges for the telephone came up with the invention in 1891. He believed customers should have the ability to call other subscribers instead of operators. He was an undertaker at the time. The wife of his competition was a regular Harriet Oleson on the switchboard. She gave the undertaking business to her husband.  He was unhappy to hear that. Pissed really. Read more here. (http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Almon_Brown_Strowger) Almon Brown Strowger. 

Here is a dedicated page to manual relay for telephones. (http://www.technology.niagarac.on.ca/staff/mcsele/TelephoneSwitch.html)