"Number, Please?"

For many years, Lloyd V. Tuttle contributed historic photos and information to the Defiance Crescent-News for his column, "A Backward Glance."  This March 5, 1964, article discussed the development of the early telephone companies in Defiance.

According to Tuttle, "AFTER MARCH 15 your telephone number will be so long you will have to have a good memory when you start dialing.  As an example, the number of Holiday Inn will be 782-7015.  But back in 1900, you could pick up the receiver and a sweet voice would inquire, 'Number, please?'  You would maybe say 'Jones Livery Barn' and in a moment you were able to order a horse and buggy to take your best girl a ride that evening.  The service was so fast that traveling salesmen complained about it being too speedy.  They were not used to such speed.

THE PICTURE that was brought in by Mrs. Dan Kent, 819 Washington Ave., is that of the home-owned telephone company exchange in 1900.  The girl to the left of the ornate base burner stove is Bertha Davis.  The girl at the side of the stove, sitting at the table is Leah Dupont.  None of the rest have been identified as they picture was taken 64 years ago.  The exchange was located in second floor rooms that are now a part of the Huenefeld Furniture Store.

Notice the telephone switchboard, the baseburner hard coal stove and the scuttle of anthracite coal.

At one time Defiance had two telephone systems, the home-owned company and the Central Union (Bell).

Jack Phillips was manager of the home-owned telephone company and so well liked that when the company sold to outsiders and a new manager sent here, a petition bearing hundreds of signatures was presented the new company, asking that Mr. Phillips be retained."