The office of the Rochester Telephone Company (organized in 1895) was located over Farm's Grocery Store on Zumbro Street West (now 2nd Street SW). ; The first telephone service for general use had 75 subscribers. This interior view shows women telephone operators working at the manual switch board (left to right): Lydia Witteau, Katherine Casey, Frances Lund, Carrie Hanson, Ophelia Delaney, Susie Arndt, Mabel Bascomb, Hilda Hanson.
Telephone switchboard in Mankato in 1899, picturing Kitty Corroll, Sybil Jewison, Mrs. Mason Hynson, Mr. Kellogg (contractor), and Mr. C. K. Willard (first manager), with note saying, "First switchboard installed in 1899."
Outside front view of The Detroit Record in Detroit, Minnesota (became Detroit Lakes, Minnesota, in 1926). The old courthouse can be seen to the right.
Wesley Nixon was a telegraph operator at the Bulwer Junction depot in New Brighton for over 40 years. His father, Charles Nixon, lived at the depot and was one of its first station agents. The New Brighton Area Historical Society has renovated the depot into the New Brighton History Center.