Paris Among the Earliest Towns to Have Telephones

Yesterday, March 10th , marked the anniversary of Alexander Graham Bell’s historic 1st telephone call, made in his laboratory in Boston in 1876. Next, we all know the story of Paris being the site of the world’s first ever “long-distance” phone call on Thursday, August 10, 1876. But what happened after that? Less than four years after Alexander Graham Bell's historymaking “long distance" call between Paris and Brantford, Paris was one of 32 towns and cities where Bell Telephone Company exchanges were in operation. The Bell company was incorporated in 1880 and in the summer of the same year, purchased the Dominion Telegraph Company George Stanton became the first Paris agent. According to a report by the company in December 1880, the company then owned and operated more than 2000 miles of wire and served approximately 2000 customers In April 1881, William Duncan, a Paris Bookseller replaced Mr. Stanton as agent and a switchboard was installed in the rear of his store on Grand River street. In the same year, a long-distance line was constructed between Paris and Brantford. By the end of 1883, a

28-mile line had been constructed between Paris and Woodstock with an 11-mile loop to Brantford. Paris had also become connected with Hamilton. The Paris directory for January 1889 still listed Mr. Duncan as agent and subscribers numbered 25. Miss Anne Chambers was chief operator and E. Rehder (formerly Ella Brown) her assistant. Office hours were ordinarily from 8 am to 8 pm on weekdays and from 10 am until noon Saturday and 2 pm to 4 pm on holidays. John Kay succeeded Mr. Duncan as Paris agent in September 1889 He in turn was replaced by George Brown less than a year later and the Bell office was transferred to Mr. Brown's premises on Grand River street

The years that followed brought many improvements to telephone service in the town and the number of telephones increased noticeably. A Paris to Galt long-distance line was built in 1891 and the directory for that year listed 38 telephones. By December 1892, the number of telephones had risen to 50. Telephone numbers were assigned to customers in 1894. By this time the title “Agent” for telephone people had become obsolete and persons representing the Bell Company throughout Canada had become known as local managers. The Paris local manager's office number was 50 The town suffered a serious setback in September 1900 when fire swept through the business section.

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Many establishments were destroyed, including the Bell office which contained a great deal of valuable equipment. However, that year also marked an important step forward in Paris. Residents were informed they could place a telephone call anytime of the day or night something that had up until then been unheard of. Following the fire, the Paris exchange was re-established first in temporary quarters and later in a building constructed for Mr. Brown not far from the site of his old store. After almost 18 years of lengthy and distinguished service to company and community, Mr Brown gave up local managership in 1905 and was replaced by Clifford Barker The Paris directory for 1907 listed William Street as the Bell exchange's address. More than 142 telephones were now listed An outstanding event in the telephone history of the town was the changeover in 1912 from magneto to common battery. Apart from greatly improved service, the change meant residents no longer had to turn a crank to place a phone call. Other achievements during the year 1912 included the construction of a new company office in Paris and the construction of long-distance lines connecting Paris with both London and Princeton. W. H. Patterson replaced Mr Barker in 1913 as local manager at Paris a position he held until 1917. Mr. Patterson was succeeded by R. Calcott, who in turn relinquished his post to J. L. Dixon in 1920. Listed as representative at that time was Mrs Agnes Emerson The Paris directory for September 1923 listed R. L. Stratton as manager. Like his predecessor Mr Stratton was manager at Brantford where he resided. Mrs. Emerson attended to the business details in Paris. R. W Emerson was appointed by Mrs. Agnes Emerson who had served the Bell Company in Paris as chief operator and local representative and retired from active service in June 1932 Not only was she a life member of the Telephone Pioneers of America but she also was mother of two Pioneer sons. Mrs. Emerson's successor as chief operator was Miss Delia May Fielding. Miss Fielding served from 1932 until her retirement in July 1949 and she moved to Hamilton. The retirement of Miss Irene Hood in 1951 after 25 years' service with the company served to accentuate the important contribution of Parisians to the company and community alike. The advancement of Paris in the field of industry is indicated by the fact that in 1881 just five years after the world's first long distance call was placed the population was 3,173. By 1941 the number had increased to more than 4,500. In conformity with this Industrial growth the number of telephones also had increased considerably. There were more than 2,400 telephones in Paris by 1956

Friday, March 17

March Break Kinderplay on the Turf at the Syl Apps Community Centre! Kinderplay is for ages 1 to 6 years.

Monday, March 13-Friday, March 17