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  • “The Telephone Property.”

    Images from page of report by Day & Zimmermann, Inc. Engineers, 1926.
    HLF Museum Collection

    “The Telephone Property.” Images from a page from report by Day & Zimmermann, Inc. Engineers, 1926.
  • 35 Reels of Telephone Cable on Munnatawket Wharf

    Munnatawket Hotel dock May 7, 1926.
    Photograph by Donald Hine. HLF Museum Collection

    35 reels of telephone cable on Munnatawket wharf, May 7, 1926. Photograph by Donald Hine. HLF Museum Collection.
  • Southern New England Telephone Company Crew

    This crew helped distribute new telephone cable to Fishers Island as part of the Olmsted Plan in the mid-1920s.
    Photograph by Donald Hine. HLF Museum Collection

    Southern New England Telephone Company Crew Posing by Truck, 1920's.  Photograph by Donald Hine. HLF Museum Collection.
  • Fishers Island Telephone Co. Employee

    Working on telephone box, circa 1926.
    Photograph by Donald Hine. HLF Museum Collection.

    Fishers Island Telephone Co. Employee working on Telephone Box, circa 1926. Photograph by Donald Hine. HLF Museum Collection.
  • New Telephone Poles and Lines

    East End Road near Chocomount Hill, Fishers Island, June 3, 1926.
    Photograph by Donald Hine. HLF Museum Collection.

    New Telephone Poles and Lines, East End Road near Chocomount Hill, Fishers Island, NY, June 3, 1926. Photograph by Donald Hine. HLF Museum Collection.
  • Laying New Southern New England Telephone Company Submarine Cable

    Merritt-Chapman & Scott Lighter laying submarine telephone cable between Groton Long Point, Conn. and Fishers Island, February 1928.

    Merritt-Chapman & Scott Lighter Laying Submarine Telephone Cable between Groton Long Point, Conn. and Fishers Island, NY, February 1928.
  • Richard Baker Testing Telephone Lines.

    circa 1951.

    Richard Baker Testing Telephone Lines, circa 1951.
  • Richard Baker in the Field

    circa 1951.
    After working for the Telephone Co. from 1949-1971, Mr. Baker served from 1971-1989 as General Manager and President of the Fishers Island Utility Co. and Manager of FIDCO.

    Richard Baker in the Field, circa 1951.
  • Rita Stefanini at the Telephone Co. Switchboard

    circa 1951.

    Rita Stefanini at the Telephone Co. Switchboard, circa 1951.
  • “The Telephone Property.”

    “The Telephone Property.” Images from a page from report by Day & Zimmermann, Inc. Engineers, 1926.

    Images from page of report by Day & Zimmermann, Inc. Engineers, 1926.
    HLF Museum Collection

  • 35 Reels of Telephone Cable on Munnatawket Wharf

    35 reels of telephone cable on Munnatawket wharf, May 7, 1926. Photograph by Donald Hine. HLF Museum Collection.

    Munnatawket Hotel dock May 7, 1926.
    Photograph by Donald Hine. HLF Museum Collection

  • Southern New England Telephone Company Crew

    Southern New England Telephone Company Crew Posing by Truck, 1920's.  Photograph by Donald Hine. HLF Museum Collection.

    This crew helped distribute new telephone cable to Fishers Island as part of the Olmsted Plan in the mid-1920s.
    Photograph by Donald Hine. HLF Museum Collection

  • Fishers Island Telephone Co. Employee

    Fishers Island Telephone Co. Employee working on Telephone Box, circa 1926. Photograph by Donald Hine. HLF Museum Collection.

    Working on telephone box, circa 1926.
    Photograph by Donald Hine. HLF Museum Collection.

  • New Telephone Poles and Lines

    New Telephone Poles and Lines, East End Road near Chocomount Hill, Fishers Island, NY, June 3, 1926. Photograph by Donald Hine. HLF Museum Collection.

    East End Road near Chocomount Hill, Fishers Island, June 3, 1926.
    Photograph by Donald Hine. HLF Museum Collection.

  • Laying New Southern New England Telephone Company Submarine Cable

    Merritt-Chapman & Scott Lighter Laying Submarine Telephone Cable between Groton Long Point, Conn. and Fishers Island, NY, February 1928.

    Merritt-Chapman & Scott Lighter laying submarine telephone cable between Groton Long Point, Conn. and Fishers Island, February 1928.

  • Richard Baker Testing Telephone Lines.

    Richard Baker Testing Telephone Lines, circa 1951.

    circa 1951.

  • Richard Baker in the Field

    Richard Baker in the Field, circa 1951.

    circa 1951.
    After working for the Telephone Co. from 1949-1971, Mr. Baker served from 1971-1989 as General Manager and President of the Fishers Island Utility Co. and Manager of FIDCO.

  • Rita Stefanini at the Telephone Co. Switchboard

    Rita Stefanini at the Telephone Co. Switchboard, circa 1951.

    circa 1951.

Island Telephone

1890’s ~ Fishers Island’s Telephone Co. is Formed

The Fishers Island Telephone Co. was formed in the early 1890s by the Ferguson brothers.

1920’s ~ Olmsted Plan

An infrastructure upgrade known as the “Olmsted Plan” brought brand new telephone lines and poles throughout the east end of Fishers Island in the mid-1920s.

By 1926, the company had 128 customers on Fishers Island’s west end and 14 customers at the east end. They reported that year that out of an island-wide total of  200 houses (175 west end and 25 east end), there were 164 telephone “stations” and 38 extensions.

Fishers Island’s telephone capacity was upgraded in 1928. The change was exponential and reflected the push for modernization that accompanied the Olmsted Plan’s development of the east end in the mid-1920s: “In the spring of 1928 the Southern New England Telephone Company laid a new submarine cable from Groton Long Point to Fishers Island, consisting of 28 quods, or 56 toll circuits, compared to the two toll circuits we had prior to this time.” – Quote from unidentified Telephone Co. brochure.

1950’s ~ A Unique Telephone Company

In 1951, The Telephone Bulletin, an industry journal,  published an article entitled “Fishers Island: Pint-sized Telco,” that celebrated the uniqueness of the Fishers Island Telephone Co. Richard Baker and his boss William A. Talmage, who were described as a two-man team handling the responsibilities of a whole department, functioning as framemen, central office repairmen, testmen, linemen, installers and repairmen.

Recent News

  • The History of Race Rock Light

    The History of Race Rock Light

  • The Second Floor Renovation of The H. L. Ferguson Museum

  • Fishers Island Lease 1746

    1741-2 Fishers Island Lease

    Museum Programs

    • Scotch on the Rocks (Updated)

    • Hawk Bird Watch

    • Ospreys: The Revival of a Global Raptor

    • iNaturalist Workshop with Murray Fisher

      Children's Programs

      • Pollinator Party

      • Fossils to Footprints

      • Full Moon Creatures

      • Fishers Island Nature Discovery (FIND)

        Photo Galleries

        • Water Filtration Plant
        • First Site of Post Office

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        Contact the Museum

        • 631-788-7239
        • fimuseum@fishersisland.net

        Museum Hours

        Sunday, June 30th to Labor Day:

        Tues-Fri: 10 AM – 12:30 PM; 2 – 4 PM
        Sat: 10 AM – 12:30 PM
        Sun: 11 AM – 12 noon
        Mon: CLOSED

        Off season hours are by appointment, call or e-mail

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