Bell Retirees Open House 2023

ALL Bell System Retirees
Family & Friends Open House
November 5, 2023
2:00 - 4:00 p.m.

Fun Get-Together For All

Celebrate Our New Educational Room
Fall Back to Standard Time Extra Hour

713 E. Grace Street Richmond, Virginia 23218
(804) 691- 3498 Voice Mail Only
E-mail: vtmrva@wcast.info

The Museum began assembly in 1991 in the back of the Pioneer Office at 3520 Elwood Avenue in Richmond, Virginia. Dedicated retirees gathered exhibits, wired switchboards to phones, set up displays, cataloged items and finally opened in May of 1993 during the annual Old Dominion Pioneer Reunion. Exhibits expanded over the years, with corporate contributions of equipment representing telephony over the years from outside plant, central offices, pbx's and private homes. Photos, tools, paper records, manuals and payroll cards represented a portion of items. Building signs, Vail Awards, photographs, newsletters and even some of a retiree's personal library accumulated in 1999. Bell Atlantic was completing a merger with Nynex and advised staff that the Ellwood building was to be vacated. That move was delayed until the GTE-Bell Atlantic merger formed Verizon. After things settled from that merger, Verizon provided space for the Museum in the 713 E. Grace Street building. Packing began in September 2004, with the move completed in October of the year. Setup at the new location was completed in the spring of 2005, with the official opening in June. All work after the move has again been done by retiree volunteers. The new location has a library space, which holds telephony and Pioneer items for research and simply browsing. Currently the museum is open by appointment, by calling 804-691-3498.
Special Links

Our Pioneer Educational and Training Center

Our Pioneer Reference Library on Site

History of the Telephone Pioneers

New Vision Pioneers

The Old Virginia Telephone Museum
1991-2005

Technology & Education

Early Period Hand-Held Receiver - 1877-1878

Museum Travel / Educational Displays

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