SOUTHERN BELL TELEPHONE EXCHANGE

The Southern Bell Telephone Exchange – A Building with Many Stories

The Southern Bell Telephone Exchange (1411 Evergreen Rd, Anchorage, KY 40223), now home to The Salon at Anchorage, has served the community in many unique ways since it was first built. Originally constructed as the town’s telephone exchange, the building played a critical role in modernizing Anchorage’s communication infrastructure, connecting local homes and businesses through one of the earliest forms of long-distance communication. Operators once worked within its walls, manually routing calls with switchboards—bringing the small town into the broader conversation of a rapidly modernizing world.

As technology evolved and the telephone exchange was no longer needed, the building found new life through a variety of uses that reflected the changing needs and creative energy of the community. Over the years, it has housed an art gallery showcasing local talent, a quaint bookstore filled with charm and character, and a tack shop catering to the area’s equestrian roots. It also served as a gift shop and later as a dental office, providing everyday services in a setting rich with history.

Perhaps most notably, the building once served as a temporary home to Anchorage City Hall, further cementing its place as a vital part of civic life. Each chapter in its story has added to its unique identity—always useful, always evolving.

Today, as The Salon at Anchorage, the building continues its legacy as a place of service and connection. With every transformation, it has remained an integral part of Anchorage’s historic fabric—adapting to the times while honoring its past.