The Mutual Telephone Company opened for business on November 1, 1897. It occupied three small rooms on the fourth floor of the Downing building. Wires were carried to the roof of the building, and from there over the roofs of buildings in all directions, a large number of them across State Street. The outside construction was the best of its kind at the time. The Mutual Telephone Company ran copper metallic circuits, while the only telephone service known in Erie before this time was a single iron wire with a ground return, the company never placed any poles on State street.
The first directory of the Mutual Telephone Company was a piece of cardboard containing 172 names. Mr. John Z. Miller, who came from Baltimore to engineer the original installation, was made the general manager of the company, a position he held for many years.
In 1900 the company erected its own building on East Ninth Street, near State, and equipped it with a new multiple switchboard, designed and patented by Mr. Miller. The telephone instruments and transmitters also were constructed under Mr. Miller's patents. At this time the company had grown to a far greater extent than its founders had anticipated.
Always on the lookout for the best equipment, the company repeatedly cast aside good equipment for that which would give its subscribers the advantages of the latest innovations. In 1907 a full common battery system replaced the first multiple board, and in 1918 this in turn gave way to the universally acknowledged standard telephone equipment — the automatic. Each one of these changes involved a very large expenditure of money, but the policy of the company was that its subscribers were entitled to the very best and most efficient apparatus and service.
The company acquired the long distance lines of the Union Telephone Company in Erie county and the exchanges at Girard, Corry and Union City. Extensive long distance connections were given over the independent toll lines. Through an arrangement with the American Telephone and Telegraph Company, the Mutual Company's subscribers were able to talk to any city in the United States and Canada. Besides its main exchange on East Ninth Street there were three branch exchanges: Wesleyville, Thirtieth and Cherry streets and Ferncliff. All these branch exchanges were of the unattended automatic type, which do not require the constant attendance of switchboard men.
All through its history the company was busy constantly keeping up with demands made upon it for extended service. Its property represented a value of more than $2,400,000. Connected to their lines was 15,000 telephones; 151 employees are upon its payrolls, receiving annually $196,980.73. It was a home company, owned and operated by Erie people. The popularity of the company was due largely to its square deal policy and that they never failed to provide its city patrons with connections as the service demanded. Even during the World War One, when telephone extensions were held up everywhere, the Mutual Company was able to supply heavy demands for increased service.
For many years William B. Trask was president of the company. Its successful start was due largely to his efforts and influence. To the time of his death, among all his varied business interests, he looked upon the Mutual with particular pride.
Officers and directors of the company were as follows: A. A. Culbertson, president; J. C. Spencer, vice-president ; John Z. Miller, secretary; A. W. Hayes, treasurer; E. P. Selden, James Burke and James Russell.
The various departments were under the efficient management of the following men and women: John Z. Miller, general manager; M. Victor Wright, plant superintendent; Frank C. Sparks, superintendent of line construction; Burt F. Huffman, superintendent of cable construction; Earl B. Glover, superintendent of installation; Charles F. Tess, auditor; D. W. Nichols, cashier; Harry M. Lewis, commercial manager; Miss Marion Lucey, long distance chief operator; Miss Mary Gordon, local chief operator; H. F. Gingenbach, wire chief.
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Mutual Telephone, East 9th Street, near State Street (1900) |
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| Mutual Telephone general manager “John Z. Miller” and his secretary “Enith Harris” in their office. |
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| Mutual Telephone Operator’s Room. |
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| Mutual Telephone’s switchboards. |
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| Workers installing a 400 line switchboard. |
