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8352 E Main St
2nd Floor
Alexandria, KY 41001
(859) 635-6407
Office Hours:
Tues 10am - 5pm
Thur 10am - 2pm
Sat 10am - 2pm |
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The
1889 Cincinnati Bell Telephone Book
Transcribed
by Connie Adams-Pitt
This
is a transcription of the November 1889 telephone book issued by the
Bell
Telephone Exchange and City and Suburban Telegraph
Association. The
original included telephone numbers ranging from two to five numbers
but it was
decided that the numbers should not be transcribed since they provided
no
useful information. Most of the information is for Cincinnati
but the
reader will find listings for areas in Ohio, Kentucky and Indiana. (In
addition, when updating the site in 2015, we corrected some obviously
transposed letters in words describing occupations. It is unknown
if these were incorrect spellings in the original directory, or the
transcription; but this was done strictly for searching purposes on
this site. No names or addresses were changed.)
Connie
Adams-Pitt has given permission for the Campbell County Historical
Society to
display the following photos of her Grandfather's half-brother George
Adams who
worked for the phone company about 1900. She retains the
copyright on the
photos and they may not be sold, copied or copy written into any
publication.
Click
on the indivicual photos to open the larger image in a new
window.
George working on the phone lines 45 feet
above ground.
George and his boss cleaning crank telephones.
Be sure to read the
instructions on how to use the telephone at the bottom of this page.
Click
on the button below for the page you need to see. (As of 2/5/15
only pages A-P have been moved to this new section. As they are
finished, all the links will be updated.) The April &
June 1890 updated (supplemental) directories, along with the
location of public pay stations will be included.
The
phone book has instructions to aid people in using the
telephone:
 The number of each subscriber's line and ring is placed opposite his name in the alphabetic list of the directory.
| To Call The Exchange - Give one short ring and then at once place the Telephone to your ear. | The operator will immediately answer you through the Telephone. | Give the Number and Ring of the person you wish to speak with, and don't hang the Telephone up, but continue listening. |
The party called with either speak to you or the operator will inform
you that he is "busy" talking to some one else, or will not answer. | When done talking hang up the Telephone and give one short ring. |
The Exchange will call you by ringing your number on the bell. Don't
ring back but simply place the Telephone to your ear and answer through
the Microphone. | Answer your bell promptly. | When using the Telephone,
be sure to give your name when commencing conversation, and require
your correspondent to do the same; this will prevent
misunderstandings. |
The Telephone, when not in use, must always hang on the hook provided
for it; otherwise the bell will cut out, and no call can be heard. |
In using the Microphone, for ordinary tones, place the mouth about four
inches away from the opening, approaching nearer for lower tones.
Talking loudly near the instrument should be avoided. |
The use of profane, obscene, or improper language over the lines is
strictly forbidden. Subscribers will be held responsible for the
enforcement of this rule, and if such language is persistently indulged
in, the Telephone will be promptly removed. |
If your Telephone doesn't work right, report it to the Superintendent
of Exchanges, line 1053. If it is not remedited in reasonable time,
please report by letter or in person to the General Manager. | Subscribers
who wish a change in the location of their instruments will be charged
therefor only the actual cost of the change. |
W.
U. Telegrams By Telephone.
By arrangement with the Western Union Telegraph Company, subscribers to
our exchange may receive or forward telegrams by telephone free of
extra charge. Parties who desire to avail themselves of this privilege
can make arrangements by calling the office oth that Company. |
TOLL
LINES
Every subscriber should preserve a memorandum of each use ot Toll
Lines, in order to verify the account rendered by the Company when
presented for payment. Whenever, from poor service, or any other cause,
a subscriper thinks that no charge should be made, the fact must be at
once reported to the General Manager's office. All connections will be
charged, and no rebate allowed unless the claim is made with-in 24
hours. |
Subscribers using TOLL LINES will be called up every morning and
requested to verify the Company's charges for Toll Line service
rendered the previous day. After such comparison, no rebate or change
in the Company's accounts for this service will be made. ......... |
This Company does not undertake to deliver messages, and will
not, under any circumstances, be responsible for their delivery. | | The book has a list of Toll Call areas and the charges for a 5 minute call. | Areas such as Bellevue, Dayton, Independence and Florence KY cost 15 cents. |
Areas such as Batavia OH and Lawrenceburgh IN cost 25 cents. | Areas such as Lexington KY and Piqua OH cost 35 cents. |
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