Take me back to the press release
1. What city was the first in America to implement 911?
A. Addison, Texas
B. Essex, Connecticut
C. Salem, Massachusetts
D. Haleyville, Alabama
2. What was the first town in America to be completely lit by electric light?
A. Ellenville, New York
B. Wabash, Indiana
C. Boulder, Colorado
D. Hamilton, Ohio
3. What was the first city in America to install a telephone exchange?
A. Salt Lake City, Utah
B. San Jose, California
C. New Haven, Connecticut
D. Madison, Wisconsin
4. What is the first town in America to deploy city-wide Wi-Fi Internet connectivity?
A. Grand Haven, Michigan
B. Spokane, Washington
C. Jacksonville, Florida
D. Cerritos, California
The Answers
1. D. Haleyville, Alabama. On Friday, February 16, 1968 the Speaker of the Alabama House, Rankin Fite dialed 911 in Haleyville Mayor James Whitt's office and Congressman Tom Bevill picked up the receiver in the Haleyville Police Station resulting in America's first emergency dial telephone service.
2. B. Wabash, Indiana. "Promptly as the courthouse clock struck eight, the thousands of eyes that were turned upward toward the inky darkness over the courthouse saw a shower of sparks emitted from a point above them, small, steady spots of light, growing more brilliant until within a few seconds after the first sparks were seen, it was absolutely dazzling. A loud shout went up from the crowd, and the band began to play..." "People stood overwhelmed with awe, as if in the presence of the supernatural. The strange, weird light, exceeded in power only by the sun, rendered the square as light as midday. Men fell on their knees, groans were uttered at the sight and many were dumb with amazement. We contemplated the new wonder in science as lightning brought down from the heavens." Excerpts from newspaper accounts describing the lighting of Wabash Indiana in 1880 with four 3,000 candlepower Brush arc lamps suspended over the courthouse.
3. C. New Haven, Connecticut. “January 28, 1878 was a mild winter day in New Haven, with temperatures well above freezing. On that day 100 years ago, 21 venturous citizens of New Haven became the world's first subscribers to telephone exchange service. For $1.50 a month they could talk with each other, provided two other conversations weren't already using the switchboard to its full capacity. The single handpiece was alternated between mouth and ear, and clear conversation was not the rule.”
4. A. Grand Haven, Michigan. On July 29, 2004, the Mayor of Grand Haven, Roger Berman, announced the completion and full operation of America’s first city-wide WiFi broadband network with coverage extending 15 miles into Lake Michigan. Wireless internet access is being embraced by residents, boaters, businesses, tourists, and city service providers. Others have claimed the prize, but history will show that Grand Haven is the real deal for city-wide WiFi. For more information, visit this link: And the winner is …. Grand Haven, Michigan?
Answer Sources
1. See: http://www.911dispatch.com/911_file/history/911history.html, and http://www.911dispatch.com/911_file/history/cong_record.html
2. See: http://www.ibew103.com/history.htm
3. See: http://inventors.about.com/library/inventors/bltelephone4.htm
4. See: http://www.ottawawireless.net – or call Ottawa Wireless founder and CEO, Tyler van Houwelingen at 616-842-2763.
No rights reserved. Feel free to use these questions and answers if you like. For more information on the Ottawa Wireless announcement, please feel free to call Glen Nelson of Walker Sands Communications at 847-549-1677 or email him at glen@walkersands.com.