John Peter "Johnny" Ernst

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NewHamburg-Telephone-001-WaterlooHistoricalSociety.jpg

The New Hamburg telephone office photo dates from the same time as the Elmira view, circa 1907. John P. Ernst, prominent businessperson, postmaster, store owner and machinist recognized modern technology and greeted it. He organized Elmira’s first telephone service, with the switchboard office situated beside his Huron Street store. Sophia Betzner is at the circuit board here and colleagues Vera Haussamen and Elena Betzner complete the telephonic trio. A short time after this photo, the building burnt down; within days, J.P. had a temporary system in place for the village’s 50 or so customers. - Waterloo Historical Society