Michigan Minute
Michigan Tech’s Start & First Phone Book | September 15
Today in 1886, Michigan Mining School held its first classes in Houghton Fire Hall, evolving into Michigan Tech. Meanwhile, in 1878, Michigan's first phone book, "List of Subscribers," was published in Detroit with 124 listings, predating the US's earliest phone book by months.
- Duration:
- 1m
- Broadcast on:
- 15 Sep 2024
- Audio Format:
- mp3
It's September 15th and this is your Michigan Minute. The first classes at Michigan Mining School were held today in 1886 in the Houghton Fire Hall. The school started with four faculty members and 23 students. The Detroit Free Press reports that the school, which was created to train engineers, later changed its name to Michigan College of Mines, then Michigan College of Mining and Technology, and finally, Michigan Technological University. At one time, Michigan Tech had a branch in Sault Ste. Marie. That branch became its own school, Lake Superior State University. Also in 1878, Michigan's first phone book was published, "List of Subscribers," it was called. The book listed 124 customers in Detroit, though the earliest phone book in the U.S. dates to February of that same year out of New Haven, Connecticut. It though was only 50 listings published on a single piece of cardboard and didn't have any numbers. Just listed the names of the businesses that had a telephone, and that is your Michigan Minute.