The first records of a telephone company in Starbuck indicate that the White Bear Lake Telephone Company started in 1904.

In 1904, the switchboard was installed in the R. F. Case Drug Store and was managed and maintained by that firm. The first operator was Caroline Thompson Torgersen. Other operators in those earliest years were Gertie Johnson and Manda Dahl Stoen.

In those early years the townships owned, constructed and maintained their own lines. They were connected to the switchboard in Starbuck and for this additional service they paid a certain sum periodically. There was a Blue Mounds Telephone Company, Langhei Telephone Company, Minnewaska Telephone Company, Barsness Telephone Company, Walden Telephone Company, South Shore Telephone Company and Viking Telephone Company.

The first telephone office building was a small frame structure on the same site as the present office. The office hours were from 700AM to 900PM.

By March of 1906 the White Bear Lake Telephone Company incorporated and a sufficient number of shares had been sold to operate the telephone exchange. A stockholders meeting was held, and each stock holder was allowed one vote regardless of the number of shares owned. The following officers were elected : President, B. M. Tessem: Treasurer, H.L. Gorder: Secretary, G.h. Kjorstad. Other directors were: O. S. Ronnie, Carl Lingen, O. M. Baukol, P. S. Otteson and A.E. Anderson.

In reading the by-laws adopted, there were several amusing inserts such as the rule that children under ten year of age should not be permitted use of the telephone unless supervised by an adult. Another prohibited other persons from listening in to another conservation. If caught and found guilty, that person would be subject to a fine of five dollars plus their phone and telephone pole would be removed.

Our office hours are 800AM to 500PM, Monday - Friday, but we do close everyday from 1200PM to 100PM for lunch. Please call us during business hours for customer support or you are welcomed to call after hours and leave a detailed voice message fo the trouble you may be having with your phone service

If you are having trouble with your Telephone

Before calling into the pffice for technical help, we ask that you do some troubleshooting on your own. This can save a time consuming trip for your technican. If you have trouble with your telephone please try the folowing suggestions before calling the office. Thanks

• 1. Cordless phones and answering machines can cause a lot of phone trouble. Simply unplug the equipment from the telephone jack and the rest of the phones in the house may come back on line. If this happens, the equipment may be bad and in need of replacement.
• 2. Another suggestion is to unplug all phone lines in the house from their jacks ( this includes all fax and internet lines ) letting them "rest" for a few minutes. Plug them back in one at a time to see if one device is causing the problem.
• 3. Is your phone service cutting in and out? Please check your line cord for any cracks in it or a loose plug into the jack or handset. It may need replacement. A new one can be obtained by ttoppin into the office for a replacement at no charge

After trying these suggestions and your service has not been restored, please call the office and a techician will be sent to your location for repair.

If you are having trouble with your DSL Line

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After trying these suggestions and your service has not been restored, please call the office and a techician will be sent to your location for repair.

• Over 5 million miles of wire buried in 2004