New Jersey History and Sites

A privately owned telephone company, named the Vincentown-Tabernacle Telephone Company, operated in the early twentieth-century and was the last independent telephone company in South Jersey.

Before the building was owned by the Telephone Company, the building was used as a millinery shop, tinsmith’s shop, and a plumber’s shop.

The Vincentown-Tabernacle Telephone Company started with about thirty subscribers and many loyal locals. Much of the staff worked for the company for many years. Helen Joyce was the chief operator for at least 18 years, showing her years of dedication to the Company. The operators, including Carrie Hall, and other employees knew their customers extremely well and interacted with them on a personal level. The Company was part of such a small, close-knit community that employees would refer to their customers by their first names. The telephone office also functioned as the information center for many local people’s connection to the outside world.

On October 1, 1930, the Vincentown-Tabernacle Telephone Company was sold to the New Jersey Bell Telephone Company, also known as The Bell Company. The Bell Company already operated a telephone system in New Jersey. At the time of the sale, there were approximately 190 subscriber stations of the Vincentown-Tabernacle Company. The Bell Company bought the lines, real estate, leases, contracts, franchises, and physical property of the Vincentown-Tabernacle Company for $25,000. The Bell Company aimed to improve the telephone service in the Vincentown-Tabernacle area as the population in the surrounding area was growing, which was not a feasible possibly for the Vincentown-Tabernacle Company. The sale of the Vincentown-Tabernacle Company to larger Bell Company was seen as in service of the public’s interest because they were able to enhance the performance of the telephone systems in the area.

In 1975, the local township acquired the building and property. Today, the building is run by the Southampton Historical Society, who restored the building and hosts the Telephone Museum. The building was restored but still has the original clapboard siding, shop window, and doors. The first floor of the of the Museum explores the evolution of the telephone, and the second floor is an exhibit on the Vincentown-Tabernacle Telephone Company. While Township’s website is unclear about regular hours for the museum, it is recommended that visitors call ahead if they want to check out this museum.

Resources

Commission Leaflets No. 218-222: Containing Selected Commission Decisions. New York, NY: American Telephone and Telegraph Company, July 1930. https://www.google.com/books/edition/Commission_Leaflets/BfyKSzp5jscC?hl=en&gbpv=0

“Tours: The Vincentown-Tabernacle Telephone Building.” Southampton Township NJ. 2026 Southampton Township, New Jersey. Accessed April 12, 2026. https://www.southamptonnj.org/history/tours.php

“Vincentown-Tabernacle Telephone Company & Museum.” Visit South Jersey. Department of State Division of Travel and Tourism: Haddon Township, NJ. Accessed April 19, 2026. https://visitsouthjersey.com/directory/vincentown-tabernacle-telephone-company-museum/