Kawartha Lakes Memories and Moments
The Burnt River Telephone Co.
In January of 1891, Mr Scott, an agent for the Bell Telephone Company of Hamilton visited Fenelon Falls to encourage the expansion of the telephone line from Lindsay. Less than 24 hours into his visit, Mr. Scott received the promise of enough poles to continue the line into Cameron
On January 30th, 1891, Mr Wm E Ellis received by letter the confirmation of the contract An order was immediately given to Messrs McArthur and Martin to lay down 750 poles at $1.00 each.
The Bell Company also offered to build a line from Bobcaygeon to Fenelon Falls on the same terms, and at the same time By the first of September, 1891, both main lines were up and the central offices were in operation and telephone service was begun between Fenelon Falls, Lindsay and Bobcaygeon
Stock Certificate for the Burnt River Telephone Company Ltd Maryboro Lodge Collection
It was not until 1907, that a series of meetings were held in Fenelon Falls to consider the formation of a company to bring the line into the back part of Somerville Township At the cost of $5,000 00 (sold locally at $10 00 per share), the Victoria Telephone Company was launched The name was soon changed to The Burnt River Telephone Company Limited and the first switchboard, under the first operator Sam Suddaby, the switchboard was installed in Burnt River on December 9, 1909
The Burnt River Telephone Co Ltd adopted the following rules:
1. Don’t use the telephone when there is thunder.
2. Don’t imagine you have a monopoly of the telephone; other subscribers have the same rights as you No person has the right to keep the line more than five minutes at one time
3 Don’t forget to treat your telephone as you would like to be treated if you were a telephone
4. Don’t think about all the troubles you are in on the telephone.
5. Learn your ring and answer it. Let other people’s rings alone.
6 Don’t descend to the contemptible habit of listening to other people’s conversation
7 If any person not a subscriber wants to use your phone don’t forget to collect the charges The telephone lines are not kept in good order for nothing and the operator has instructions to watch parties who are good at giving away what doesn’t belong to them. Stealing telephone calls is stealing just as much as stealing money
8 Don’t forget that if your line and ground connections are alright your telephone will be alright
At a shareholders’ meeting held on March 23, 1967, it was agreed that the entire telephone system was to be sold to Bell Telephone Company. Share holders continued to manage the lines until 1970 when Bell Co took over operation
Source: Memories of Somerville Township, 1984
Source Memories of Somerville Township, 1984