Business

FOWLER TELEPHONE COMPANY

Today anyone can see that there is money in the telephone business, but
twenty-two years ago it required vision of a high order and faith in the
future of Pella, on the part of the man who dared to stake his time and
capital in what was then an experiment in the minds of most people.

Pella owes the fact that we were in the forefront of the smaller cities
of Iowa, in securing a complete telephone system more than two decades
ago, and her present modern system, to the fact that W. H. Fowler,
(Wally), possessed that rare combination of vision and faith, combined
with the knowledge and executive ability, to develop his visions into
practical accomplishment.

The Fowler Telephone Company was organized in 1900, by W. H. Fowler, the
present owner, and was the first concern to give the farmers telephone
service. It started its business career with 41 telephones which were
solicited and ordered through efforts of George Stout, editor of the
Booster. During the last twenty years many changes have been made in the
equipment. All wires in the business district have been laid
underground. Five switchboards have been installed and discarded as new
improvements were discovered. Today the Company operates about 1500
phones in the city and country. It has in operation one of the latest
common battery switchboards. It connects with the Bell, long distance
lines which gives long distance service to all parts of the country. It
also owns thirty miles of long distance lines. Mr. Fowler was the first
to install a radiophone in the state of Iowa, which has been heard in
over eight states. A few years ago he erected one of the best and most
modern residence buildings in Pella.

MERCANTILE AND INDUSTRIAL CONCERNS OF 1922

General Merchandise

C. Boot
Doedyns & Son
Slob Bros. & Co.
G. G. Thomassen
Jas. Van Dusseldorp
F. R. Gambell
L. Popma
John Ulrich, Jr.
Farmers Exchange

Dry Goods

Y. T. Van Niewaal
H. H. Geelhoed

Clothing

D. Den Adel & Co.
Wormhoudt & Kempkes
Y. T. Van Niewaal
The Style Shop, Ladies Exclusive

Groceries

F. C. Warner
T. Plette
De Wit Bros.

Shoes

Vanden Oever & Van den Berg
L. Van Rees
Vander Wal & Valkenberg
D. G. Gosselink
Jos. De Koning

Veterinarians

Dr. T. G. Fultz
W. C. Ver Ploeg
A. J. Visser