HISTORIES: "Telephone Communications" in Barron, Barron County, WI

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                         Telephone Communications

The first telephone company in Barron County was organized on February 5, 
1896. It was named The Barron County Telephone Company. A total of sixty 
three shares of stock were sold for $25.00 per share making a sum of 
$1,575.00. The first officers and directors were: President, DeWitt Post; 
vice president, N.M. Rockman; secretary, W.R. Brandt and C.C. Coe. On July 
14, 1896, T.W. Borum became director in place of C.C. Coe. On February 8, 
1897, A.M. Fenton and Dr. C.C. Coe replaced N.M. Rockman and W.H. Brandt 
on the board. T.W. Borum became secretary and A.M. Fenton became vice 
president at this time. On April 15, 1901, F.E. Horsman became vice 
president in place of A.M. Fenton.

When the project was started, exchanges were established at Rice Lake and 
Barron with toll stations at Rice Lake, Dallas, Cumberland, Mikana, Almena, 
Hillsdale, Haugen, Dobie, Cameron, Angus, Prairie Farm, Chetek, Campia, 
Horseman and Tuscobia. The toll lines connected with the toll lines of the 
Wisconsin Telephone Company's at Cumberland and Rice Lake, thus making it 
possible to communicate with almost all places in the United States.

In 1905, J.E. Horsman became secretary and also took over the active 
management of the Barron exchange. In 1909, A.C. Strand became a director; 
he succeeded Dr. G.C. Post. The other officers at this time were: President, 
DeWitt Post; vice president, T.W. Borum; secretary, J.E. Horsman; treasurer, 
C.J. Borum.

In February, 1922, much stock changed hands. It was decided that the 
headquarters should be moved from Barron to Rice Lake. The following 
officers were elected: President, Dr. O.M. Sattre of Rice Lake; vice 
president, Charles A. Taylor of Barron; secretary and general manager, 
J.E. Horsman of Barron; treasurer W.A. Demers of Rice Lake. A.G. Strand 
was also a member of the board.

By 1922, all the local exchanges except those at Rice Lake and Barron had 
been sold and the Company expended its efforts on expanding these two. In 
1922, the Rice Lake exchange had 1,716 subscribers, 1004 being in the city 
and 712 in the country. In this year the Barron exchange had 704 
subscribers, 402 were in the city and 302 in the country. In 1897 the
earnings of this company totalled $400.00. In 1920, they amounted to 
$50,000.00. The pole lines during this time increased from 100 to 600 miles.

DeWitt Post and J.E. Horsman are the two men whose industry and intelligence 
had a predominant part in the growth and success of this company.

The General Telephone Company of Wisconsin, formerly the Commonwealth 
Telephone Company, now owns this telephone system. In recent years, dial 
telephones have been installed for the convenience of the subscribers.


--From the Souvenir Historical Album of the Barron Centennial-1960
(used by permission)