Spy Hill Rural Telephone Company Limited, 1916-1977

Local Government

Spy Hill Rural Telephone Company Limited, 1916-1977

• Spy Hill Rural Telephone Company

1916-1977

On March 25, 1916, five farmers in the Spy Hill, Saskatchewan district petitioned the Department of Telephones for the organization of a rural telephone company. The Spy Hill Rural Telephone Company Limited was organized according to the provisions of the Rural Telephones Act (S.S. 1908, c.7) and incorporated on May 31, 1916. The company was responsible for the construction, maintenance and operation of a telephone system for residents of the rural area around Spy Hill. The company's jurisdiction extended to the area in townships 18 and 19, ranges 30 and 31, west of the first meridian.

The company was managed by a president; vice-president; secretary-treasurer and board of directors, all elected at the company's annual meeting. The directors were responsible for deciding on rates, telephone extension applications, contracts and salaries. The secretary-treasurer attended all meetings, recorded the proceedings, and managed all financial transactions. The company had authority to enter land and premises in its jurisdiction in order to erect poles and string wires and cable, etc. The Department of Telephones provided advice and guidance to the company and ensured that the company's facilities met approved standards.

By the mid 1970s, the Saskatchewan Telecommunications Corporation (SaskTel) was able to provide rural areas with better quality and less costly telephone service than the rural telephone companies. In 1976, SaskTel established the Voluntary Assimilation Program, which encouraged rural telephone companies to wind-up their operations and transfer their assets and liabilities to the corporation. On November 30, 1976, the board of directors of the Spy Hill company passed a resolution accepting SaskTel's assimilation offer. The Spy Hill Rural Telephone Company Limited was dissolved in October 1977.

Rules for Archival Description (RAD)

Final

Authority record created on 2009-11-20. Approved 2012-03-06. Last modified on 2017-11-29.

AMICUS Authorities - no entry found.
Saskatchewan Department of Telephones records (R-899, file 1310)