Boston Telephone Exchange is established.

Operated by E.T. Holmes, it is located at 342 Washington Street (2-8 Harrison Avenue). The first telephone exchange in the U.S., it provides daytime service only to six subscribers. Miss Emma Nutt becomes the first female telephone operator in the U.S. on September 1, 1878. She is hired after complaints are made that the male operators are too gruff. The building where the exchange was located is demolished in 1967.