Toledo Telephone
PROUDLY CONNECTING OUR COMMUNITIES

The Toledo Telephone Company is a Local Exchange Carrier serving the community of Toledo, Washington,USA. Toledo Telephone has been a family-owned and operated organization since 1938. Owned by the Ramseys, Toledo Telephone has been a community oriented company with a deep involvement in local activities that are meant to try and make Toledo a great place to live and work.

The History Of The Toledo Telephone Co., Inc.

In 1906, the Home Telephone Company was granted the right to erect, maintain and operate a telephone business in Toledo. In 1910, an ordinance was passed by the council which gave the Farmers Independent Telephone of Salkum a franchise. For a short time, two telephone companies operated in Toledo. In 1915, George Blair was owner and operator of the Toledo Telephone Company and later Roy O. Jackson became a partner. In 1918, his interest was sold to his sister-in-law, Mrs. Jesse Jackson.

L. J. Weatherwax purchased the Toledo Telephone Company in 1920, and called it the Toledo Telephone Exchange which he operated until 1936. At this time he sold to Allen Fletcher of Nampa, Idaho, who operated it for only a few months. Mr. Weatherwax took over again until 1938 when he sold to R.B. Cummings of Forest Grove, Oregon. His sister-in-law, Orvilla Ramsey, was named Manager. There were 150 subscribers.

Mrs. Ramsey managed the company until 1943 when she married Elof F. Roselle, who took over as plant superintendent. In 1944, the Roselles purchased the Telephone Exchange from Mr. Cummings. In 1948 it was moved from the location on Silver street to Cowlitz street. At this location bordering Highway 99, a new building was erected for the new dial equipment which was an additional $33,000. The cut over to dial took place on August 6, 1952, with 429 subscribers.

In July of 1951, The Toledo Telephone Company was incorporated. In 1959, Glenn Ramsey, son of Mrs. Roselle, returned to work for the company.

The storm on Columbus Day, 1962, demolished the major part of the aerial plant outside the city limits, with no appreciable damage within. Many weeks were spent rebuilding. In 1966, the company cut to direct distance dialing.

The business office was moved out of the Roselle home to downtown Toledo in 1970. A new headquarters was erected on South 2nd in 1973, which today houses both the central office and the business office. The outside plant was 99 percent buried in 1974.

In June of 1984, Elof F. Roselle, longtime president of the Company died. Orvilla Roselle assumed the position of President until her death in 1993.

Current officers are Glenn Ramsey, (President), Russell Ramsey, (Vice-President), and Alice Ramsey, (Secretary-Treasurer). 

In 1995, The Toledo Telephone Co., Inc. began a four year construction project of modernizing the outside plant with fiber optics and initiated construction of a new warehouse site on Plomondon Road. As of January 2007, the company has approximately 2,300 access lines and provides such advanced communications services as Voice Mail, Caller ID, Internet Access. Other advanced calling services will be implemented in the near future.

In 2006, Toledo Telephone started to offer Broadband Internet Access in the neighboring community of Winlock, Washington, with Fiber-To-The-Premises(FTTP) technology, via its Competitive Affiliate, Toledo Telenet. Eventually Toledo Telenet will be able to offer Digital Television Services (IPTV) and Digital Telephone Services (VoIP) via its PON Services.