Odessa in Ector County, Texas — The American South (West South Central)
The Odessa Telephone Exchange
Photographed By Bill Kirchner, July 10, 2015
1. The Odessa Telephone Exchange Marker
Inscription.
The Odessa Telephone Exchange. . Began operation about 1897, with Edna Fielding as "central" (operator). After Miss Fielding's death in 1902, the Rev. G. B. Ely, a baptist minister, purchased the exchange. Pioneer rancher A. Quincy Cooper bought the system in 1911, and extended service to rural areas, utilizing barbed wire fences as telephone lines. While checking his repairs on a barbed wire line on Jan. 25, 1915, Cooper interrupted the first transcontinental telephone call between Alexander Graham Bell in New York and his assistant in San Francisco. In 1928, the exchange became part of the Southwestern Bell Telephone Company.
Began operation about 1897, with Edna Fielding as "central" (operator). After Miss Fielding's death in 1902, the Rev. G. B. Ely, a baptist minister, purchased the exchange. Pioneer rancher A. Quincy Cooper bought the system in 1911, and extended service to rural areas, utilizing barbed wire fences as telephone lines. While checking his repairs on a barbed wire line on Jan. 25, 1915, Cooper interrupted the first transcontinental telephone call between Alexander Graham Bell in New York and his assistant in San Francisco. In 1928, the exchange became part of the Southwestern Bell Telephone Company.
Erected 1974 by Texas Historical Commission. (Marker Number 3669.)
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Communications • Industry & Commerce. A significant historical month for this entry is January 1887.
Location. 31° 50.767′ N, 102° 22.108′ W. Marker is in Odessa, Texas, in Ector County. Marker is on North Grant Avenue, on the right when traveling south. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 205 North Grant Avenue, Odessa TX 79761, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Odessa Land & Townsite Company Marker (center) and Site of Livery Stable and Wagon Yard Marker (right)
Credits. This page was last revised on June 16, 2016. It was originally submitted on July 17, 2015, by Bill Kirchner of Tucson, Arizona. This page has been viewed 386 times since then and 14 times this year. Photos:1, 2. submitted on July 17, 2015, by Bill Kirchner of Tucson, Arizona. • Andrew Ruppenstein was the editor who published this page.
