Citizens Telephone Exchange Building

Dennis Tully: The Citizens Telephone Exchange Building was built on the northwest corner of Wisconsin Ave. and 5th St. In 1905. The first photo shows an early postcard view of that corner and the 2nd is an aerial view that shows the building under construction at lower left. The last photo shows a present day look at the RAMAC Building (Racine Area Manufacturers and Commerce)I have included a Journal-Times news story from 1985 that gives a great history of that company.

Two phone companies About the early 1920s, when I was a little girl and my mother would take me to downtown Racine, there was a brick building on the northwest corner of Wisconsin Avenue and 5th Street. High near the roof of the building, imbedded in cement, was the wording "Citizens Telephone Co." My mother, Mattie Fennell, was chief telephone operator for that phone company in the early 1900s before her marriage in 1907. She told me that, after working hours, she would solicit new customers; as a bonus, she would receive 25 cents per customer. At that time, there were two phone companies in Racine and not too many people had telephones. What can you tell me about this? Margaret Slafter Route 2, Box 195 Your question is a timely one in light of the current rivalry between the various telephone companies that are competing for our patronage. The building you refer to at the northwest corner of 5th and Wisconsin, now occupied by the Racine Area Manufacturers and Commerce Inc. (RAMAC), was originally constructed as the office and exchange of the Citizens Telephone Company. Incorporated in 1900, the Citizens Telephone Co. was a locally owned organization, totally independent from the Wisconsin Telephone Co. of the established provider of phone service in the area for more than two decades. Local men and money formed the basis of the company. Racine citizens could purchase shares of stock in the concern for $100 each and thereby participate in its operation. For the most part, the company's owners were prominent Racine manufacturers, merchants, businessmen, and professionals. Dr. C.I. Shoop, S.C. Johnson, Judge E.B. Belden and many other notables numbered among the stockholders. The company began operations in the spring of 1901, the exchange being located at 500 Main St., where the former Zahn's store now stands. Within just nine months the number of subscribers doubled to nearly 1,200. A few years later, the company erected its own building. The fact that there were two phone companies in town caused some confusion. Unlike today's phone companies, the Citizens and Wisconsin exchanges were not interconnected in any way, and calls would not be transferred between them. Businesses had to specify in their advertisements which company they used. In order to be accessible to all customers, many businesses had connections with both companies and advertised "both phones." Fortunate was the merchant who was able to get the same phone number with both companies. Phone numbers of the early 1900s consisted of from one to four digits (commonly three). Some numbers, especially the Citizens' ones, were suffixed by a letter. The Citizens Telephone Co. was not a long-lived venture. The split-phone system proved unsatisfactory, and in 1911 the services were consolidated when the Wisconsin Telephone Co. purchased the Citizens company. The number of telephone customers in the combined exchanges totalled at that time 5,517. The Citizens company building was later occupied by the Western Coil & Electrical Company for a number of years. Around 1930 or '31, it was renamed the "Three Hundred Building," because its address is 300 5th St.; it was thereafter used as an office building. The Wisconsin State Employment Service was in the building for a brief period in the mid-1930s. In the early 1940s, the Manufacturers Association of Racine moved into the building and has been there ever since, though now combined with the Chamber of Commerce. About 10 years ago the building was renamed the "Association Building," the name it still bears.
Racine Journal Times, December 7, 1985, by John Van Thiel

Two phone companies (Racine Journal Times, December 7, 1985 by John Van Thiel)

About the early 1920s, when I was a little girl and my mother would take me to downtown Racine, there was a brick building on the northwest corner of Wisconsin Avenue and 5th Street. High near the roof of the building, embedded in cement, was the wording “Citizens Telephone Co.”

My mother, Mattie Fennell, was chief telephone operator for that phone company in the early 1900s before her marriage in 1907. She told me that, after working hours, she would solicit new customers; as a bonus, she would receive 25 cents per customer.

At that time, there were two phone companies in Racine and not too many people had telephones. What can you tell me about this?

Margaret Slafter
Route 2, Box 195

Your question is a timely one in light of the current rivalry between the various telephone companies that are competing for our patronage.

The building you refer to at the northwest corner of 5th and Wisconsin, now occupied by the Racine Area Manufacturers and Commerce Inc. (RAMAC), was originally constructed as the office and exchange of the Citizens Telephone Company.

Incorporated in 1900, the Citizens Telephone Co. was a locally owned organization, totally independent from the Wisconsin Telephone Co. of the established provider of phone service in the area for more than two decades.

Local men and money formed the basis of the company. Racine citizens could purchase shares of stock in the concern for $100 each and thereby participate in its operation. For the most part, the company’s owners were prominent Racine manufacturers, merchants, businessmen, and professionals. Dr. C.I. Shoop, S.C. Johnson, Judge E.B. Belden and many other notables numbered among the stockholders.

The company began operations in the spring of 1901, the exchange being located at 500 Main St., where the former Zahn’s store now stands. Within just nine months the number of subscribers doubled to nearly 1,200. A few years later, the company erected its own building.

The fact that there were two phone companies in town caused some confusion. Unlike today’s phone companies, the Citizens and Wisconsin exchanges were not interconnected in any way, and calls would not be transferred between them. Businesses had to specify in their advertisements which company they used. In order to be accessible to all customers, many businesses had connections with both companies and advertised “both phones.” Fortunate was the merchant who was able to get the same phone number with both companies. Phone numbers of the early 1900s consisted of from one to four digits (commonly three). Some numbers, especially the Citizens’ ones, were suffixed by a letter.

The Citizens Telephone Co. was not a long-lived venture. The split-phone system proved unsatisfactory, and in 1911 the services were consolidated when the Wisconsin Telephone Co. purchased the Citizens company. The number of telephone customers in the combined exchanges totaled at that time 5,517.

The Citizens company building was later occupied by the Western Coil & Electrical Company for a number of years. Around 1930 or ’31, it was renamed the “Three Hundred Building,” because its address is 300 5th St.; it was thereafter used as an office building. The Wisconsin State Employment Service was in the building for a brief period in the mid-1930s.

In the early 1940s, the Manufacturers Association of Racine moved into the building and has been there ever since, though now combined with the Chamber of Commerce. About 10 years ago the building was renamed the “Association Building,” the name it still bears.