Classic Telephone Exchanges

Back in the day, before mandatory 10 digit dialing, local phone numbers were easier to remember. They had something called "exchange names", which the first two digits of a seven digit local number were corresponded to a word, like those listed below. This is why phones today still have 3 (now 4 letters for 7 and 9) below each number. 

For example, if your number was (and this was one of my OLD phone numbers) 633-3703, with your exchange would be "Melrose" or some variation for 63 as listed below, then 3-3703 or "MElrose -3-3703". In fact, my business card back then actually listed my number as ME3-3703 (with the conventional 633-3703 in parentheses underneath.) Surprised a lot of the old timers!

This system was used widely from the '40s to the early '70s when it was phased over to 7 digit listings. It was immortalized in the Glenn Miller classic "Pennsylvania 6-5000" (which was the phone number to The Hotel Pennsylvania, which Miller frequented before his death in 1944.) Amazingly - it STILL IS.    

I still think it's a pretty classy way (if confusing way for those not in the know) to list a phone number......

(From The Bell System's "Notes on Nationwide Dialing, 1955")

22	23	24	25	26	27	28	29
ACademy BAldwin CApital CAstle	ADams BElmont BEverly CEdar CEnter CEntral	CHapel CHerry CHestnut CHurchill CIrcle	ALpine BLackburn CLearbrook CLearwater CLifford CLinton	AMherst ANdrew COlfax COlony COngress	BRidge BRoad(way) BRown(ing) CRestview CRestwood	ATlantic ATlas ATwater ATwood AVenue BUtler	AXminster AXtel CYpress
32	33	34	35	36	37	38	39
DAvenport DAvis EAst(gate) FAculty FAirfax FAirview	DEerfield DEwey EDgewater EDgewood EDison FEderal	DIamond DIckens FIeldbrook FIeldstone FIllmore FIrestone	ELgin ELliot ELmwood FLanders FLeetwood	EMerson EMpire ENdicott FOrest FOxcroft	DRake DRexel ESsex FRanklin FRontier	DUdley DUnkirk DUpont EVergreen FUlton	EXbrook EXeter EXport EXpress
42	43	44	45	46	47	48	49
GArden GArfield HAmilton HArrison HAzel	GEneral GEneva HEmlock HEmpstead IDlewood	GIbson GIlbert HIckman HIckory HIllcrest HIlltop	GLadstone GLencourt GLendale GLenview GLobe	HObart HOmestead HOpkins HOward INgersoll	GRanite GReenwood GReenfield GReenleaf GRover GRidley	HUbbard HUdson HUnter HUntley HUxley IVanhoe	GYpsy HYacinth HYatt
52	53	54	55	56	57	58	59
JAckson LAfayette LAkeside LAkeview LAmbert LAwrence	JEfferson KEllogg KEystone LEhigh LEnox	KImball KIngsdale KIngswood LIberty LIncoln LInden	(In 1955, this was reserved for radio telephone numbers)	JOhn JOrdan LOcust LOgan LOwell	(In 1955, this was reserved for radio telephone numbers)	JUniper JUno JUstice LUdlow LUther	LYceum LYndhurst LYnwood LYric
62	63	64	65	66	67	68	69
MAdison MAin MArket MAyfair NAtional	MEdford MElrose MErcury NEptune NEwton NEwtown	MIdway MIlton MIssion MItchell NIagara	OLdfield OLive OLiver OLympia OLympic	MOhawk MOntrose MOrris NOrmandy NOrth(field)	ORange ORchard ORiole ORleans OSborne	MUrdock MUrray MUseum MUtual OVerbrook OVerland	MYrtle OWen OXbow OXford
72	73	74	75	76	77	78	79
PAlace PArk(view) PArk(way) RAndolph RAymond SAratoga	PErshing REd(field) REd(wood) REgent REpublic	PIlgrim PIoneer RIver(side) RIver(view) SHadyside SHerwood	PLateau PLaza PLeasant PLymouth SKyline	POplar POrter ROckwell ROger(s) SOuth(field)	PRescott PResident PRospect SPring SPruce	STate STerling STillwell STory SUnset	PYramid SWathmore SWift SWinburne SYcamore
82	83	84	85	86	87	88	89
TAlbot TAlmadge TAylor VAlley VAndyke	TEmple TEnnyson TErminal TErrace VErnon	THornwell TIlden VIctor(ia) VIking VInewood	ULrick ULster ULysses	TOwnsend UNderhill UNion UNiversity VOlunteer	TRemont TRiangle TRinity TRojan UPtown	TUcker TUlip TUrner TUxedo	TWilight TWinbrook TWinoaks TWining
92	93	94	95	96	97	98	99
WAbash WAlker WAlnut WArwick WAverly	WEbster WElls WEllington WEst(more) YEllowstone	WHitehall WHitney WIlliam(s) WIlson WIndsor	(In 1955, this was reserved for radio telephone numbers)	WOodland WOodlawn WOodward WOrth YOrktown	(In 1955, this was reserved for radio telephone numbers)	YUkon	WYandotte WYndown WYman