The New Haven District Telephone Company was established on January 28, 1878. It was the first public telephone company in the world. On February... Show moreThe New Haven District Telephone Company was established on January 28, 1878. It was the first public telephone company in the world. On February 21, 1878, the company established another first, that of producing the first ever telephone directory. The company soon became known as the Southern New England Telephone Company and provided telephone service to the state of Connecticut until 1998. Show less