Ukiah in Mendocino County, California — The American West (Pacific Coastal)

Ukiah Telephone Exchange

Photographed by Barry Swackhamer, July 21, 2016

1. Ukiah Telephone Exchange Marker

Caption: March 2, 1917 - Pacific Telephone & Telegraph Company Building at Church and School Streets; new Home of Ukiah's "Hello Girls

Inscription. On June, 28, 1897 Ukiah became the 118th telephone exchange in California, when the Sunset Telephone Company started providing service. Minnie Smith Scott was the first manager and operator. Female operators were fondly called "Hello Girls", There were 75 telephones in town by 1899. Pacific Telephone and Telegraph bought up the Sunset Telephone Company in 1906 and by 1915 had over 450 phone numbers listed in the Ukiah directory. PT&T built a new fire-proof building in 1917 calling it the Ukiah Central Office Building Exchange. Using Bell Systems technology PT&T switched from magnetos to batteries, which provided 255 lines and 615 stations. The first call on the new system was placed by J.I LeRoy, pharmacist, on his personally chosen business "jinx" number 13. The above photo taken in 1929 shows the newly remodeled and expanded building; necessary to meet demand. In 1948 PT&T went from 5 digit numbers to a 7 digit exchange name. Ukiah's prefix became the HOmestead2 prefix. They moved into a larger facility and their former building went on to house other businesses and government offices. The structure was extensively remodeled

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in 1990 and again in 2013.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Communications.

Location. 39° 8.96′ N, 123° 12.5′ W. Marker is in Ukiah, California, in Mendocino County. It is at the intersection of South School Street and West Church Street, on the right when traveling north on South School Street. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 189 South School Street, Ukiah CA 95482, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in California’s Wine Country,

in the North Coast,

and specifically on the Coast Ranges.

It is also on the American Pacific Coast

and in the Pacific Northwest.

Globally, it is in North America,

on the Ring of Fire,

in the Pacific Rim,

in the Western Hemisphere,

in the Western World,

and in the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Spain

and also Mexico’s Alta California.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 3 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Masonic Temple History (within shouting distance of this marker); 116

Photographed by Barry Swackhamer, July 21, 2016

2. Ukiah Telephone Exchange Marker

& 118 South State Street (within shouting distance of this marker); The Marks Building (within shouting distance of this marker); Gambrel-Hawn Building (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); IOOF Lodge #174 (about 600 feet away); Eversole Building (about 700 feet away); Sun House (approx. 0.2 miles away); Ukiah Vichy Springs Resort (approx. 2.9 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Ukiah.

Another marker is no longer nearby. Ladies of the Night (was within shouting distance of this marker but has been confirmed missing).

Credits. This page was last revised on August 5, 2016. It was originally submitted on August 5, 2016, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California. This page has been viewed 661 times since then and 25 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on August 5, 2016, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California.