Alberta Government Telephones
Transcribed from the history book " A Light into the Past" , A history
of Camrose -1905-1980
page 55
It cannot be argued that the telephone is not the
best communication vehicle available in today's society . It is an instant
communication , cheap, available and popular.
We are greatly indebted to Tony Cashman , the author
of Singing Wires and the Public Relations Officer for Alberta Government
Telephones , for the research done for your editor on the Camrose Telephone
system. For the most part, the following is quoted directly from Tony's
study.
On page one of the Camrose Mail, October 24th, 1907
, there is a report that the provincial telephone men arrived in town the
previous evening and " got busy "at once. A phone was placed in the "central
"in the Red Cross Store and connected with an outside line to Wetaskiwin.
The men left for Bawlf in the morning to do similar work there and by evening
service was to have been completed to Ohaton , Bawlf , and Daysland. In
anticipation of a visit from the employees , a large consignment of telephones
, wire and other equipment had arrived for installation of the local exchange.
The first employee , construction superintendant
Jim Grierson , was hired in September , 1906, and his first task was to
install a long-distance line, with exchanges in towns enroute, the first
major project in the first year of operation of Alberta Government Telephones
. In 1907 , as mentioned above, a line was completed from Wetaskiwin to
Daysland .
Some 50 residents in Camrose signed up for telephones
on the AGT exchange and their names appear in the first directory issued
in June 1908.
Telephone subscribers in Camrose in 1908.
Camrose , D.D. McLaren, Agent
12 Adams;Francois -Residence
29 Adams ;Francois-Office
6 Arlington Hotel - Hotel
4 Battram;T.C.- Residence
26 Burgess; J.K. - Office
20 Burgess; J.K. - Residence
28 Burgar; Davidson Co,- Hardware Store
1 Camrose Lumber Co. - Office
18 Camrose Mail - Office
35 Camrose Canadian Club -
16 Code; A. -
13 C.P.R. Station - Station
22 Creamery -
3 Darling; H. - Residence
17 Duggan and Twomey- Store *
51 Duggan; W.M. - Residence
28 Dyer; B. - Residence
9 Erickson; C. - Livery
21 Farley; F. - Residence
41 Farley; F. - Office
9 Fire Hall - Office
36 Harris and Harrower - Office
11 Harris ; J. -Residence
30 Hills and Saunders - Druggists
48 Hjelm; E. -Meat Market
15 Kennedy's Drug Store - Druggist
14 Lamb; Dr. - Office
19 Lamb; Dr. - Residence
46 Larsen; Larse - Store
42 Layton ; F. - Office
10 Layton; F. - Residence
25 Merchant's Bank -
44 McLeod ; K.C. - Residence
43 Monsen and Larsen - Butchers
24 Philips ; Thos. - Residence
40 Price ; R.B. - General Store
34 Rowsell ; F. - Residence
37 Rushton; R.L. - Residence
32 Sampson ; D. - Office
49 Spokely ; J.E. - Residence
31 Stewart ; Dr. - Residence
45 Shea ; Dr. - Residence
47 Skagen ; Theo. - Residence
23 Smith ; Constable - Residence
50 Thompson ; Dr. - Residence
33 Thompson and Dahl - Wholesalers
27 Twomey ; D. - Residence *
2 Windsor Hotel - Hotel
5 Windsor Stables - Stable
7 Wright ; J.S. - Livery
39 Young Bros. - General Store
* Editors note-
In the original document the surname Twomey was mispelled as Tworney. This
surname is a long time surname in the Camrose area and I have taken it
upon myself to correct this. If for some reason the surname was originally
spelled in this manner or was not a mistake, I will change it back to it's
original spelling.
