Michigan Bell Telephone

In the early days of telephone usage in Manistee, the local telephone company operated out of an office on River Street. However, after a large increase in telephone subscribers, it was announced in February 1906, that the telephone company would be constructing a new two-story building on the corner of Water and Oak streets that would house the offices as well as the local switchboard. In the late 1920s, Michigan Bell Company took over local telephone operations. In 1957, a new building for the company was constructed on Oak Street which is located directly behind the Water Street structure. Local attorney John Hart would later occupy the building as a law office.