Valley Girl Views: When the Valley First Got Telephone Lines

Telephones first came to most of our valley in 1880. The photo above is what they may have looked like, in the offices and mills that had them installed that year.

Much like electricity, it's unclear exactly who "invented" telephones. In the 1870s, there were six different inventors working on electrical telephones, with "high levels of success."

And also like electricity, who first came up with the idea is not nearly as important as who made the first practical application. Ideas are great, but they won't illuminate a room, or transmit our voices across to another town, on their own.

The first practical, patented, telephone was invented by Alexander Graham Bell. At least that is what the courts decided, in the Gray vs Bell court ruling

In 1875, Bell theorized that you could send multiple signals along an electrical wire – as long as those signals differed in pitch. While experimenting, he realized he could hear the sound of a twanging clock spring, along the wire. Less than a year later, Bell successfully spoke through a telephone for the first time. His first call was to his assistant in the next room, saying “Mr. Watson, come here, I want to see you.”

A year later, in 1876 the first regular telephone line was completed, between Boston and Somerville Massachussetts.

It took a few more years for telephone lines to read the valley, but by February of 1880, there were many installed in Willaimsport, that by the end of the year, nearly all of the towns from Williamsport to Sunbury were connected.

Another example of a telephone from 1880

Each "instrument" (telephone) cost approximately $4 a month in 1880, which would be roughly $100 in today's money. "Those who have invested in this enterprise inform us that it works splendidly and they are more than satisfied that they went into the telephone business" reported the Lewisburg Journal.

The Warrior Run Telephone Company was chartered in the spring of 1880, with the goal of running lines between Watsontown, McEwensville, and Turbotville.

"It is the purpose of the company [Warrior Run Telephone] to proceed to put up new line immediately, thus connecting the three towns and giving the latter two places facilities and advantages they have never enjoyed" The Northumberland Democrat, May 14 1880

The first line connecting Watsontown to Turbotville was completed on September 3, 1880. The installer was James McGinn, who installed many of the lines throughout the entire valley.

Although the line was not completed until September 3rd, by it was already proved to be working. On August 27th, the North'd Democrats was reporting that the "ticking of a watch at Watsontown can be plainly heard at the Turbutville end of the line".

August 27, 1880, North'd Democrat

By Christmas day in 1880, the new exchange included Milton, Lewisburg, Winfield, , Sunbury, Shamokin, Turbotville, McEwensiville, and Watsontown. Having met their purpose, the Warrior Run Telephone Co. divested their interests, and the new telephone headquarters was in Milton.

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In May of 1880, The Warrior Run Telephone Company was officially organized.
Directors were: Oscar Foust (President), J.I. Highbee (Treasurer), & William F. Shay (Secretary), all of Watsontown, Rev. J.K. Mellet of McEwensville, and William F. Derr esq, of Turbotville. The main office for the company was in Watsontown, with branches in Turbotville & McEwensville.

"It is the purpose of the company to proceed to put up new line immediately, thus connecting the three towns and giving the latter two places facilities and advantages they have never enjoyed" The Northumberland Democrat, May 14 1880

Less than 7 months later, having fulfilled their purpose, the Warrior Run telephone Company "disposed of all of it's right, title and interest in the phone line."

By Christmas day in 1880, the new exchange included Milton, Lewisburg, Winfield, , Sunbury, Shamokin, Turbotville, McEwensiville, and Watsontown.

The exchange points in Watsontown were: The Watsontown Planing Mill, McKean's Tannery, Cook & Pardees Bill Mill, Squire Fousts Offfice and the Western Union Telegraph Office.

In Lewisburg, lines ran from Hoffas mill in Kelly township to his office in LEwisburg. Walls & Co had a line running to their office, and the line was being extended to the Union Furnace.
Nesbit Bros of "East Lewisburg" also had a connection.

The head office for the Telephone Co. was in Milton by December 1880.

In August of 1880, The Sun Gazette Reported that a charter had been formed for The Central Pennsylvnaia Telephone & Supply Co, with headquarters in Williamsport.
Lines had been installed in Williamsport as early as February 1880, including:
G.W. Maynard & Co., RJC Walker's Office, Ab. Bestman & Co, Cando & Munson, William H. Armstrong, Allen & Gamble, Emery and Reading Mill in Duboistown, Solar oil Company's office and works.

A Remarkable Conversation By Telephone

Written by Mark Twain

Published in the Lewisburg newspapers, 1880