Manawa / Wisconsin / United States
AboutHistory of the Manawa Telephone Company Since 1899, Manawa Telephone Company has been committed to providing our customers with high quality communications and service. We take great pride in being an active partner in the communites we serve and look forward to keeping Manawa connected to the world !On May 18, 1899--- Mrs. Ida Stafford ( pictured above ) holds the distinction of being the first telephone operator for Little Wolf Telephone Company in Manawa. This switchboard was located in her home which today was the home of Mrs. Henry Jensen. She states that with the new switchboard called The Central we will have day and night service.Early in the 1900s U.S. Briggs owned a jewelry store in Manawa and was also proprietor of Manawa Telephone ExchangeIn 1920 L.M. Lamkins became Manager of the Manawa Telephone Exchange under the ownership of Mr. Penn.The year 1937 marked an important milestone in the history of Manawa Telephone Company with installation and cutting into service on April 1, of a new two-position common battery, non-multiple switchboard. Pictured above is the 1937 Operator Switchboard.Mr. Penn died in 1945 and in the following year ownership changed to Gladys Penn, Ann Pembleton and L. M. Lamkins as a partnership. About 1955 Gladys Penn and Ann Pembleton sold their interest to Mr. and Mrs. L. M. Lamkins and Mr. and Mrs. F.J. Binder.
