The history of Peninsula Telephone Company

Photo taken in 1888 at 14250 Center Road, Mapleton.
Peninsula Telephone Company was started in 1906 at 14250 Center Road. At that time, there was also a grocery store, stagecoach stop and telegraph along with living quarters for the family that ran the store and telephone company. Above the grocery store, there was a dance hall and gathering spot for the area. For several years there was another phone company across the street. One company handled local calls only with no access to long distance while the other handled the toll lines for calling other areas. Some customers had two telephones in their house, one for local and one for long distance.
Peninsula Telephone Company Company was the first telephone company in Michigan financed by funds from the Rural Electrification Administration (R.E.A.) to change to a dial system. In 1953, a major rebuild of the telephone company took place and service was upgraded from magneto cranker phones to dial service.
In 1965, calling Traverse City was no longer a toll call (E.A.S.). In 1975, another upgrade took place offering touch tone service and all one party service.
In 1989, the telephone company started the process of updating the billing and accounting system from manual ledger to an IBM computer system.
With the installation of fiber optic cable and the Digital Electronic Switch in 1990, we were able to offer many features including call waiting, call forwarding and speed dialing, computer, fax and high speed data communications.
The Peninsula Telephone Company provides state of the art communications to all subscribers in its exchange territory with an unlimited calling flat rate. The exchange provides equal one party service at a regulated cost throughout the exchange area. Currently, the Peninsula Telephone Company provides fiber optic based digital service to 1600 access lines in Peninsula Township, Grand Traverse County, Michigan. The telephone company also offers dial up and ADSL high speed internet access.
In 1991, Peninsula Telephone Company was instrumental in securing a Rural Development Loan for agri-businessman Robert Begin in his development of Chateau Chantal on the Old Mission Peninsula. Many Growers in this agricultural area have now diversified their main crop of cherry and apple production to include vineyards.
Years ago, the telephone was considered a luxury and not everyone had or needed a phone. Now, having a telephone is considered a necessity and many homes have more than one line. Many residents now have a business that they run from home and need a business line, fax line, computer line or a separate line for their children.
Jack and Vi Solomonson have managed this telephone company since 1949. The telephone service has gone from switchboard in the living room to cellular and digital high speed data circuits. The Peninsula Telephone Company currently has nine employees.