April 10, 1909 - Telephone Service

100 Years Ago: From The Rensselaer Eagle [NY 41 Rensselaer 93-32173].

WORK BEGINS MONDAY

Home Telephone Co. Will Begin Setting Poles at That Time

The Home Telephone Co. will begin setting its poles in Rensselaer on Monday and the work will be hurried along to completion. It will take several weeks to get all the poles in position, and then a big gang of line-men will commence stringing the wires. The cables and conduits will arrive in due season and will be installed as soon as possible.

Every day the company is receiving voluntary offers of patrons who wish to use its service as soon as it is ready for the public. Thus far nearly 300 [?] subscribers have been taken [?] and many more will follow when the lines are in operation.

It has not yet been decided whether there will be a "central" office located in Rensselaer or not. Officials of the company say it will expedite the installation of the local service to have a direct connection with the Albany "central" office and it will also mean an even quicker service. This would be accomplished by the laying of a big cable under the river. The company now has its request before the War department, and as soon as a determination is reached at that department the matter will be definitely decided.

The prospects for the new company are exceedingly bright.