Telephone office one of finest in state

Hannah Gross 
NLJ Correspondent 
With Leonard Cash
 
After wrapping up his series on Ranch A near Beulah, historian Leonard Cash returns to Main Street by discussing the short history of the telephone office at 20 S. Sumner Ave., across the alley from Isabella’s and next to the former Smith building. 
Before diving into its history, Cash wanted to give a brief rundown on the surrounding buildings. Many years ago, before the office was built, an old-two story house stood at that location. When the telephone company set up its office there, the house was moved to a lot near the Howdy Drive-In and Subway area, according to Cash. Through the years, the house was used both as a private home and to house various businesses. However, it no longer exists. 
“It was a pretty good-sized house,” Cash said. “A few years ago, the firemen burned it down.”
There’s another “little building” behind the telephone office on the same lot, and it was built of rock. Cash said it was about 12 feet by 12 feet, with a “flat cement roof.” It had two double doors, and although Cash can’t remember what it was used for, he said it was built sturdy enough to store anything, including ammunition. 
“It was a well-built building,” Cash said. “And now we can go to the telephone office.” 
The March 25, 1920, edition of the News Journal, reported that excavation had begun on Seneca Street for a new telephone office “beyond the Newcastle Mercantile company warehouse and will be thoroughly modern and up-to-date.”
The Feb. 12, 1920, issue announced that a wire extension was run by the local telephone company into the Aimonetto building.
According to the May 13, 1920, edition of the News Journal, the new telephone building was to be a two-story, fireproof building. The top floor would be for the Raymond and LaFleiche law firm, while the telephone company and Western Union’s uptown office would occupy the ground floor. 
“The site is about a block south of the First National Bank,” the article says. The location is two houses up from the present-day Black Hills Dental, according to Cash. 
“Newcastle is to be congratulated on the acquisition of this addition to the desirable buildings of the business section,” the article says. 
An article from July 24, 1930, reported that the Newcastle Telephone exchange was moving to the Aimonetto house in the back of the Antlers hotel, which is “the middle house across from the Methodist church,” Cash said. 
Mountain States Telephone and Telegraph Co. manager Gerald Lansing said that as they moved the switchboards from one location to
the other, services would be interrupted on July 26, but he assured they would “be restored by an early hour.”
“Sunday morning calls for physicians, police officers and other calls of like importance will be taken care of during the move in order to protect the community, Mr. Lansing says,” the article reports. 
A Jan. 12, 1936, article, reported that Hays and Thompson were awarded the contract to construct a new building for the telephone office on the vacant lot next to the post office on Warren Avenue (block 9, lot 7, according to courthouse files). It was to be a one-story building with dimensions of 25 feet by 50 feet, made of brick and stone. 
The building was almost completed by July 24, 1937, and the paper reported that the “office is considered one of finest in state and includes all new equipment.” It was one of the most “modern” buildings in town, complete with an air-conditioning furnace. It also included a “bath and rest room,” as well as garage and storage rooms. 
“As long as it takes to say the word ‘cut,’ the old office will be out of use and most of the equipment ready to be discarded,” the article says. “The new attractive building is considered one of
the finest telephone offices in the state and also aids in beautifying the downtown section of Newcastle.” 
On Aug. 11, 1937, manager Fred Wollenzien announced that an open house would be held on Aug. 14, from 2 to 4 p.m. and again from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m., according to the Aug. 12, 1937, paper. Attendees were to be treated to a demonstration of how local and long-distance calls were operated, as well as other information and history relating to the telephone. 
The Feb. 13, 1941, issue reported that a new switchboard was going to be added, under the direction of R.N. Farmer of Texas from Western Electric because of the increasing number of phones in town. It would create an additional 60 numbers for users, as well as provide another job because an additional operator was needed. Patty Jackson of Osage filled the position. 
By Feb. 16, 1950, the telephone business in Newcastle was growing rapidly and had made some huge strides in growth since 1937. Additionally, another switchboard was to be added soon, creating 100 more lines. 
In July of that year, the paper reported that the 1,000th phone was installed in Newcastle at the Berry Hotel. 
Due to health, manager Clyde Heck was “relinquishing” his position, and John Lindsey became the new manager of the telephone company in Newcastle. He was a young man at 26, married with two children. 
Heck was going to continue his involvement with the telephone company, but first he was going on vacation. Heck had replaced Homer Reymond in 1945, and worked at the office for 22 years. Dale Hill replaced Lindsey shortly after, according to an article from Jan. 31, 1952. 
Next week, Cash will continue discussion on the telephone office with the construction of the new building.