Telephones
Original title: Telefones
History of the Funchal telephone network, opened on 5 October 1911 with its exchange in the town hall tower, and the unmet 1915 request to extend it island-wide.
The Funchal telephone network was opened on 5 October 1911. In 1908 the Municipal Council (Câmara Municipal) had laid down the conditions on which it allowed part of the tower of the town hall (Paços do Concelho) to be adapted as the central telephone exchange. The adaptation work did not begin until the following year. The late João Augusto Pereira, a former deputy for Madeira, contributed greatly to setting up Funchal’s telephone services.
On 6 August 1915 the Municipal Council resolved to petition the government to extend the telephone network to the whole island, but this improvement has not yet been granted to Madeira. (1921)
In this article
Time
Years mentioned · 04Place
Places mentioned · 02
- Funchal
City whose telephone network is described.
The capital of the archipelago and seat of the principal captaincy, where settlement began; it was made a vila c.1451–52. Its bay, the widest in the archipelago, lies between Ponta do Garajau and Ponta da Cruz and offers sheltered anchorage, though its harbour had never been studied oceanographically. The Elucidário discusses it as a health resort with climate data and records the January 1906 disturbances, the Danish prince's visit in May 1846 and recent volcanic cones in the area.
- Funchal town hall
Funchal. Its tower housed the central telephone exchange.
The Paços do Concelho is Funchal's town hall, a former residence of the Conde de Carvalhal. João IV was acclaimed there in 1641 and Maria II proclaimed there in 1834, and the Unknown Soldier's urn lay in state there. Its tower housed the central telephone exchange, and it was isolated from adjoining buildings during the 1943–44 works.
People
People mentioned · 01- João Augusto Pereira1857–1915
Former deputy for Madeira who contributed greatly to setting up Funchal's telephone service.