First Telephone Exchange

First Telephone Exchange
Former U.S. National Historic Landmark
The site of the First Telephone Exchange in 1973
Location	New Haven, Connecticut
Demolished	1973
Significant dates
Added to NRHP	October 15, 1966
Removed from NRHP	1973

The First Telephone Exchange was a historic site located in New Haven, Connecticut, notable for being the site of the world's first commercial telephone exchange. The exchange was established by George W. Coy, proprietor of the District Telephone Company of New Haven, in 1878. Coy had built the world's first commercial telephone switchboard, and with investors Herrick P. Frost and Walter Lewis, had established the District Telephone Company of New Haven in January 1878. The company soon grew quickly, servicing much of southern New England. In 1882, the company renamed to Southern New England Telephone (SNET). The company remained independent until it was acquired by SBC Communications in 1986.

The site of the First Telephone Exchange, which was located in New Haven's Boardman Building, was listed as a National Historic Site on January 29, 1964. In 1968, the New Haven Redevelopment Commission acquired the building with the intentions of tearing it down and building a parking garage in its place. The building was demolished in 1973 and the site was stripped of its NRHP designation that same year.