1878
'Hello, Central!'
Telephone switchboard operators are hired. The operator drags a wire
across the floor and plugs one telephone subscriber into another on the
switchboard. At first, men are hired as operators, but subscribers don't
like their telephone manners.
 |
|
 The
first telephone in the White House is installed during 19th President
Rutherford B. Hayes' administration (1877-1881). |
The
first switchboard operator is George Willard Coy of New Haven, Conn.
He answers the phone, saying "Hello, Central!" indicating he was speaking
from the central exchange.
The first
telephone directory is published by New Haven (Conn.) District Telephone
Co. It lists 50 names.
The first
female telephone operator is Emma M. Nutt, who works for Telephone
Despatch Co. in Boston.
