Interesting Hamilton Facts

In 1901 telephone subscribers were charged $1.50/ month for a business phone, $1/month for residential phone and 75¢/month for a farm line.

In 1908 there were 1,634 telephone subscribers in Aurora. Today there are 5,146 access lines.

In 1901 the salary pay of a secretary, treasurer or general manager was $75 per month for each position.

In 1908 a bill for $10 was presented to board members from a lineman for horse feed. It was declined but later brought back in front of the board. The bill was approved to pay the lineman $10 a month for horse feed as long as he supplied the buggy.

In 1967 Mid-State Community TV began offering cable television programming with five channels and a weather channel at a cost of $4.95/ per month.

In 1995 Internet access was offered at a 14.4 Kbps dialup speed through a T1 line to Lincoln, Neb. Hamilton began publishing its telephone book in 1942 and has continued to do so each year since then, for a total of 69 telephone books published to date!

In 1942 a long distance station-to-station rate was based on a charge of approximately 5 cents for each 6 miles up to 24 miles and 5 cents for each 8 miles beyond that distance, with a minimum charge of 10 cents.

In 1950 monthly statements were not sent out in order to save money for the telephone company. Bills were payable in advance, before the 10th of the month.

In 1957 a long-distance call person-to-person from Aurora, Neb. to Washington D.C. cost $2.50 for the first three minutes during week days before 6 pm. Long-distance calls person-to-person from Aurora, Neb. to Portland, Oregon cost $2.65 for the first three minutes during week days before 6 p.m. The rate for an initial period of three minutes did not include the federal tax.

Hamilton directories began including a classified section in 1954.

Today, Hamilton employs 400-500 people nationwide.

Betty VanLuchene, Hamilton’s longest tenured employee, has worked at the company since 1965, for a total of 46 years.

Phil Nelson and Keith Penner were hired in 1967, each with 44 years of employment with Hamilton.

Hamilton continues to run as a family-and independently owned business.