Downtown in Albany in Albany County, New York — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)
1st Telephone Central Office in New York State
Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, July 12, 2017
1. 1st Telephone Central Office in New York State Marker
Central Office
in New York State
opened near this site
March 18, 1878
Erected 1979 by Telephone Pioneers of America.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Communications. A significant historical date for this entry is March 18, 1878.
Location. 42° 38.981′ N, 73° 45.047′ W. Marker is in Albany, New York, in Albany County. It is in Downtown. Marker is on Broadway south of Maiden Lane, on the right when traveling south. Marker is located beside the sidewalk, in a small parking lot in the middle of the block, directly across Broadway from the US Federal Courthouse. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 446 Broadway, Albany NY 12207, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. The Fur Trade (within shouting distance of this marker); Building A Place to Live (within shouting distance of this marker); Anneke Janse Bogardus House Site (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Henry Hudson (about 400 feet away); Lydius Corner (about 500 feet away); Site of First Poor House in the United States (about 500 feet away); The Site of the Oldest Building in Albany (about 500 feet away); Second Albany City Hall (about 500 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Albany.
this page online
Regarding 1st Telephone Central Office in New York State. A Telephone Central Office is a term unique to North America. They are known elsewhere as Telephone Exchanges. Individual wires from all of the telephones in the surrounding area are routed to the Central Office building and terminated on equipment that allow telephone users to request a connection to any another telephone. Originally telephone operators manually connected calls using cord. Subsequently automatic switching equipment connected most calls.
Also see . . . Telephone Excahnge. Wikipedia entry (Submitted on March 15, 2022, by Larry Gertner of New York, New York.)
Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, July 12, 2017
2. 1st Telephone Central Office in New York State Marker (wide view)
Photographed By Howard C. Ohlhous, September 25, 2006
3. Central Office Marker in an Older Paint Scheme
Credits. This page was last revised on February 16, 2023. It was originally submitted on April 23, 2018, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. This page has been viewed 636 times since then and 41 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on April 23, 2018, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. 3. submitted on August 13, 2020, by Howard C. Ohlhous of Duanesburg, New York. • Andrew Ruppenstein was the editor who published this page.
