Historical Images of Porter County

Northwestern Indiana Telephone
Valparaiso, Indiana

Date: 1911
Source Type: Photograph
Publisher, Printer, Photographer: Joseph Decker
Postmark: Not applicable
Collection: Steven R. Shook
Remark: This structure was built in 1911 at a cost of $11,460 and was located on North Lafayette Street. Henry Lembke was the builder of the structure. It served as the operational headquarters for the Valparaiso Telephone Exchange, founded by James H. McGill in November of 1894. The Valparaiso Telephone Exchange had received a franchise from the Valparaiso City Council to provide telephone service to the community. Harry Harrold was the first employee of the Valparaiso Telephone Exchange, while Harry Slagle served as the first plant foreman. Harvey R. Ball was named manager of the company in 1901, which led to considerable growth. As telephone companies began consolidating, the Valparaiso Telephone Company became part of the Indiana Associated Telephone Company, which itself later merged to become part of GTE. The structure was razed in November of 1983.

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Image and related text prepared by Steven R. Shook