Lakeview in Chicago in Cook County, Illinois — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)

First Telephone System

Photographed by Sean Flynn

1. First Telephone System Marker

Inscription. On this site stood John N. Hills' residence, which boasted one of the three telephones of Lake View's first telephone system. The others were in the Town Hall and Pause's Saloon.

Erected by Chicago's Charter Jubilee
Authenticated by Chicago Historical Society

Erected 1937 by Chicago's Charter Jubilee.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Communications. In addition, it is included in the Chicago's Charter Jubilee series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1878.

Location. 41° 58.031′ N, 87° 40.006′ W. Marker is in Chicago, Illinois, in Cook County. It is in Lakeview. It is on Leland Avenue east of Clark Street, on the left when traveling east. The marker faces Leland Avenue on the left side of an apartment building. The marker is somewhat obscured by a tree in the parkway next to the street. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 1464 West Leland Avenue, Chicago IL 60640, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in the American Midwest

and on the Great Lakes.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western

Paid Advertisement

Click or scan to see
this page online

Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the Viceroyalty of New France,

the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

and the Northwest Territory.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: St. Boniface Union Soldiers Monument (approx. 0.3 miles away); Carl Sandburg (approx. 0.3 miles away); St. Boniface Cemetery (approx. 0.3 miles away); Essanay Studios (approx. 0.4 miles away); Getty Tomb (approx. half a mile away); Burnham Island Bridge (approx. half a mile away); Andersonville (approx. 0.6 miles away); John Peter Altgeld (approx. 0.6 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Chicago.

More about this marker. This plaque is one of 78 placed throughout the city by Chicago's Charter Jubilee, in celebration of the 100th anniversary of Chicago's city charter. A seal of the City of Chicago is at the bottom of the marker.

Also see . . .
1. Telephones, 1877-1892: Technology That Changed Chicago. From the Chicago Public Library, a 2013 article about the history of the telephone in Chicago. Based on

Photographed by Sean Flynn, November 4, 2023

2. First Telephone System Marker

Shadowed by the nearby tree, it is visible on the left end of this apartment building.

the information in the article, Mr. Hills's telephone was likely installed in 1878. (Submitted on November 5, 2023, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois.)

2. The History of the Chicago Telephone. (Submitted on November 6, 2023, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois.)
3. Ask Geoffrey: Historical Markers That Don’t Quite Hit the Mark. A 2020 article from WTTW Channel 11 in Chicago looks at the Chicago's Charter Jubilee historical markers (and their historical veracity).

Excerpt: "You can still visit a plaque marking the first home with a telephone in the Lakeview neighborhood at 1464 N. Leland. It belonged to John N. Hill, and the only two other phones in town he could call were in the town hall and a local bar. To be fair, who else would you need to call?"

(Submitted on January 23, 2026, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois.)

Photographed by Sean Flynn, November 4, 2023

3. First Telephone System Marker

The marker is in the shadows on the left side of the building.

Credits. This page was last revised on February 26, 2026. It was originally submitted on November 5, 2023, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois. This page has been viewed 1,296 times since then and 54 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on November 5, 2023, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois. • Andrew Ruppenstein was the editor who published this page.