Fishers Island Telephone Corporation History

July 1885

The first submarine cable between the mainland and Fishers Island was laid by the New London and Fishers Island Telegraph Co.

1889

Fishers Island Telegraph Co. was purchased by the Ferguson brothers.

Early 1890’s

The Fishers Island Telephone Co. was incorporated and new cables were laid by the Southern New England Company in July 1892.

Mid-1920s

An infrastructure upgrade was part of the Olmsted Plan with brand new telephone lines and poles being set up throughout the east end of Fishers Island. 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.

1928

A new submarine cable was laid from Groton Long Point to Fishers Island. 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.

1992

In order to provide call-waiting and other new features to it’s services, the telephone company installed a digital switching system.

Early 2000s

A microwave tower was installed to offer internet service.

Today

Today there are 1,000 dedicated telephone lines in service on Fishers Island.

Photo Gallery
Telephone Employee 1920s
Island Telephone, A Brief History – View photo gallery on The Henry L. Ferguson Museum website.