Kalama Telephone Company

Kalama has been engaged in telephone communications since the year 1904, when the Pacific Telephone Company set up the very first telephone toll station within Green Coffey’s Pool Hall. In that same pivotal year, Coffey took the initiative to install the inaugural local telephones throughout the town, laying the groundwork for future connectivity. By 1905, this endeavor led to the establishment of the Kalama Telephone Exchange, marking a significant milestone in the region’s communication history. Fast forward to 1923, and the community boasted over 200 telephones. Following the illness of his father, Darrel Coffey assumed control of Kalama Telephone. Remarkably, the family-run business endured the challenges posed by the 1948 flood, even traveling to work by rowboat. In 1953, the company officially incorporated as Kalama Telephone Company, with Darrel Coffey serving as President and his son Ron as Secretary/Treasurer. Today, the Kalama Telephone Company continues to thrive, maintaining its legacy.