Maine Memory Network

Telegraph relay, ca. 1900

Contributed by: Maine Historical Society Date: circa 1900 Media: Wood, brass, cast iron

Telegraph Block, Thomaston, ca. 1870

Contributed by: Thomaston Historical Society Date: circa 1870 Location: Thomaston; Thomaston Media: Photographic print

Maine and the Space Age

The small town of Andover landed on the international map in 1962 when the Earth Station that had been built there successfully communicated with Telstar, the first telecommunications satellite.

Wired! How Electricity Came to Maine

As early as 1633, entrepreneurs along the Piscataqua River in southern Maine utilized the force of the river to power a sawmill, recognizing the potential of the area's natural power sources, but it was not until the 1890s that technology made widespread electricity a reality -- and even then, consumers had to be urged to use it.

Lincoln, Maine - Telegraphs & Telephones

"The most common place to find a telegraph in Lincoln was at the railroad station. Telephone operator's building, Lincoln, ca."

Bath's Historic Downtown - Church Block

"The change took place at New England Telephone & Telegraph Company. H.H Fisher was the manager of the business when the change commenced."

Working as a telephone operator in the 1940s
by Doris Tardy

Working as a telephone operator in 1946 was new and exciting, and challenging.