This Queen Street building, built in the circa 1880s, was home to the Bell Telephone Exchange for many years. The first operators hired were young men who had worked in telegraph offices, but they were later replaced with young women of the town. Niagara-on-the-Lake had telephone services to all hotels, Camp Niagara, two public phones on Queen Street, three long-distance lines (two to Toronto and one to Buffalo) and more than 100 subscribers using the party line system by 1916. Since then, this building also has been home to various establishments including, Rolly’s Jewellers, the Elsdale Shop and Silkeborg. Today, residents can enjoy a locally crafted beer in this heritage building courtesy of the Exchange Brewery. If you want to learn more, visit the NOTL Museum’s YouTube page for a digital Doors Open tour.