First Building Built Expressly For Telephone Company

Reprinted from "Crown Jewels of the Wire", May 1984, page 28

The following is reprinted from the July-August 1983 issue of "The Information Desk" with permission of Telephone Museum, San Francisco, California.

When the town of Redding was surveyed it was named by the railroad engineer who located it, in honor of B. B. Redding, the Central Pacific Company's land agent. After a few years a move was started to change the spelling to Reading in honor of Major P. B. Reading, the California Pioneer to whom Rancho San Buena Ventura was granted by the Mexican government in 1844. A bill was passed by the state legislature changing the name from Redding to Reading. Since there were ten other Readings in the United States, the railroad and federal government refused to change the name. The citizens were forced to petition the legislature to restore the town its original name of Redding.

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Redding California Main Office -- 1929

Local telephone service of a sort was established in May, 1881 by Captain Charles E. Berry who set up a telephone line between his shop and his home. The equipment was all made locally. Later in the year, similar lines were constructed by other merchants in town.

In spite of the periodic fires which destroyed early Redding, the town flourished. It was centrally located to serve the surrounding counties as well as southern Oregon. In 1886, the county seat was relocated from Shasta to Redding.

The Sunset Telephone Company came to Redding on March 4, 1884 to investigate the possibility of the establishment of telephone service on a local basis by the Sunset Company.

After interviewing the local businessmen, some 30 persons agreed to patronize the system for one year if the company should decide to install it. The "Automatic System" was to be used, by which it would be unnecessary to ring for Central when desiring to communicate with another subscriber. The Sunset Company also stated that the long distance line would be extended from Colusa to Red Bluff in the near future and that Redding would be connected in due time, thus giving it direct communication with Sacramento and San Francisco. They also advised that lines would be run between Redding and neighboring communities. 

Local telephone service was first established in Redding during the summer of 1894 by the Sunset Company, using the "Village" or "Automatic" System. This automatic system was not very satisfactory and was shortly replaced by central office switching. The office was established in Mr. Eaton's drug store. Mr. Eaton, as the company's agent, employed Miss Villa Thompson as his first operator at $15.00 per month, which she considered a very fine salary, and for which she worked 10 hours per day. On December 1, 1897, 24-hour service was established with Mr. James Bigham as night operator. Mr. Bigham was the night druggist for M. Eaton, the agent, and in those days the drug store remained open all night.

The San Francisco--Redding portion of the San Francisco--Portland long distance line was completed as far as Redding in May, 1898. The Portland--Redding section of the through-circuit was completed in August, 1898. Both sections terminated at Redding which necessitated all north and south traffic to be switched at Redding.

Late in 1899, due to an increase in business and subscriber stations, the exchange was changed from an agency to a company-operated basis and was moved to a new location in the Swasey Building on Yuba Street, between Market and California.

The Redding Central Office remained in the Yuba Street location until 1907 when it was moved to 504 California Street, in the premises previously occupied by the Shasta County Bank. The new location was specially fitted up for the telephone company. A new No. 9 common battery switchboard was installed in the new office with three local and two toll positions. 

With the change from Magneto to common battery, the entire outside plant was rebuilt. All poles in the business section were placed in the alleys and crossarms on house tops were removed and poles installed to carry them. The greater portion of the new outside plant was lead covered aerial cable.

In July, 1926, a new building was commenced at 1629 Market Street at a cost of $60,000 to house telephone equipment valued at $250,000. On January 12, 1927, the building was completed and the new business office was opened to the public. On March 6, 1927, the exchange was cutover from the California address.

DONATIONS TO 
OUR COLLECTIONS

Gifts continue to find their way to the museum. During July and August, we have received nine telephones, the newest being a 1930 desk set, five test sets, a collection of 45 photographs, a talking book reproducer by Stromberg Carlson, an operator's service observing head set and a step by step switch complete with its associated bank.

Perhaps the largest single donation we have ever received came from the estate of Leland O. Reeder. The number of items were in excess of 300. They included books, pamphlets, binders and other paper items. There were five relay racks and many equipment units, most of which can be mounted on relay racks along with several associated test sets. There were also several teletypewriters, a desk and chairs and file cabinets. Our library probably benefited the most from the gift. However, other sections of the museum added interesting new items also. This was indeed a most welcome gift.