Chapter 26
-- Compiled by the Cumberland Women's Club
and Published by the Cumberland Advocate
1874-1974
(used by permission of the Cumberland Advocate)
Donated by Linda Mott
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Telephone Company
The Cumberland
Telephone Company was incorporated February
19, 1898, under its present name, by Fred
Miller, S.H.
Waterman and F.L.
Olcott. About 1905 it was bought by E.V.
Benjamin who conducted it until his death
in 1919. In 1898 it had become incorporated. L.W.
Benjamin succeeded his father as treasurer
and general manager. The company had free service
with
the McKinley Telephone Company, and toll connections with the Barron
County Telephone Company, and the Wisconsin
Telephone Company. Mr. Ed Hunnicutt
became manager of the McKinley Telephone Company when it became a part
of the Cumberland exchange, and became plant superintendent of the Cumberland
Company. He worked in that capacity until his retirement in 1962 at the
age of 76. J.F. Benjamin
became manager of the company after the death of his father L.W. Benjamin
in 1935.
The Cumberland Telephone Company became an affiliate of Central Communications Corporation, a holding company based in Rushford, Minnesota, in 1969. J.F. Benjamin remained as manager and held that position until his death in 1971. Mr. Sam Williams, plant superintendent since 1971, was named manager after Mr. Benjamin's death and Lloyd Stoll, an employee of Cumberland Telephone for over 20 years, was named plant superintendent. In 1972 Mr. Stoll was named manager of the Cumberland Telephone Company.
Cumberland Telephone Company completed an upgrading program in 1974 which included new automatic switching equipment featuring an IBM computer, buried outside cable, and one-party service to all its subscribers.
References: Books--A.H. Miller,
Lorraine
Benjamin and Lloyd
Stoll.
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