June 11, 1896 – The city council granted Iowa (Union) Telephone company the right to erect and maintain poles and wires on streets of the city.
October 21, 1897 – Telephone connections were made with Collins and the world beyond this afternoon. The office of the Iowa Telephone Company is in Fred Leonard’s hardware store, from which place you can talk to the people of the surrounding towns and adjoining counties.
April 14, 1898 – The telephone rates were reduced April 1. A full three minutes talk to Des Moines now costs but 25 cents, to Rhodes, 20 cents, to Nevada 20 cents.
October 24, 1901 – A phone company has been formed here for the purpose of putting in a telephone exchange. The company is composed of F. A. Leonard, W. H. Thompson, C. L. Fish, Fred Graef and J. Lingenfelt, all enterprising business men of Collins, and their purpose is to put in an exchange and run lines into the country, giving the farmers the same convenience that the town citizen has. They ask a twenty-year franchise from the city and the council has ordered a special election to determine the question.
November 21, 1901 – The Telephone Franchise proposal carried 48-1.
January 19, 1903 – The Collins Telephone Company now serves 152 patrons, 76 town and 76 country. These are party lines, generally 5-8 users per line. Each user has a specified ring such as; 2 rings(R), 3-R, 4-R, 5-R, 1 long and 1 short R, l long and 2 short R, 2 longs and 1 short R.
January 28, 1909 – Farmer Phone bills to be paid quarterly.
April 7, 1927 – The Collins Telephone Co. is sold to Central Iowa Telephone Co. headquarters at Traer, Iowa.
1980 update - Telephone company now part of network of stations managed by General Telephone Co., headquarters at Grinnell, Iowa. The phones are now private or serve private lines with direct dialing. The local operator, called “Central ” of the early days, is eliminated. Pearl Torry, Cora Crabb, Bessie Dodd, Grace Perrin and Frances Gilley are central operators still living in Collins.
October 4, 1897 – Council permits any resident wishing to place a Gas Light Generator in the street or alley in a manner as not to obstruct general traffic. March 23, 1899 – F. A. Leonard has a new lamp on exhibition that is attracting considerable attention. It is called the White Light Gas lamp and is well named. Gasoline is used in this lamp with perfect safety.
May 8, 1902 – Committee on Street Lamps (Thomas Holmes, Paul Stevens, H. J. Patterson) reported had purchased lamp that has tested satisfactory for $12.00. Committee authorized to buy 2nd lamp. It was made the duty of the “town