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The Telephone's Role in
Alberta >> Commercial Roles
The first telephones were often found in public places such as
the telegraph office, the railway station or a general store.
Private lines would often link a business with the home of the
owner or link several buildings belonging to the same business. This
allowed the owner or manager to keep in touch with staff, rather
like an intercom.
Telephones for social use in the home were installed somewhat
later. For example, Edmonton’s first phone was installed in 1885 but
the first residential phone was installed in 1889. Lines to offices
and stores were already in place by that year.
Professionals such as lawyers and doctors advertised that they
could be reached by telephone to attract clients and patients.
The Didsbury system published rules for subscribers that
indicated that the telephone was for business purposes and callers
should not tie up the lines with social chatter.
The Bell Telephone Company saw profitable service for business
and professional subscribers as their first priority.
When the Government of Alberta purchased the telephone system in
1905, service to rural areas and farms was given high priority. The
three principles of the new telephone system were:
1. to own and operate all long distance or trunk lines,
2. to own and operate exchanges where desired by the municipality,
and
3. to build, own and operate rural lines where no service
existed.
The government’s priorities reflected those of rural, farming
residents. Providing rural telephone was part of an effort to keep
young people from moving to towns and cities to escape isolation on
the farm.
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Heritage Community Foundation and
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