Your tour through the Comporium Museum begins with a brief video presentation outlining the 100-year history of the company. Next you will learn how telephone poles were erected in the 1930's utilizing a 1927 Mack Truck. Continue your tour to a late 1800's telephone office. You get to use an original magneto telephone to call a friend at the opposite end of the first 25-year era (1894-1919). Venture into the 1930's to a typical hotel lobby where you can use a coin-operated telephone booth to call anyone in Rock Hill. Then use a switchboard where you become the operator.
The third 25-year era features displays of local telephone directories extending along a twenty foot wall. Be sure to look overhead and see a cable splicer working to connect the many wires in a cable. This is the perfect time to examine how a telephone switch station works when you use a rotary dial telephone to place a call.
Entering the last 25-year era you will see how communications developed from transistors to fiber optics. See the communications opportunities available to you now and investigate new ideas that will be available in the future.
Your 100 year journey is now complete. We look forward to continuing your journey into the future of communications with us, and thank you for letting us share our proud history with you.
Tours are available for school groups and day care centers. Call 324-4030 to schedule. The museum is open to the public Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday 10am-2pm.[ Back ] [ Return to Top ]
