PrairieGrove

Focused On Progress PGTELCO History

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PGTELCO is family-owned and operated and has been since its incorporation in 1906. Since its inception, PGTELCO has always been committed to making the satisfaction of its customers its top priority. It began in 1888 when Dr. E.G. McCormick strung telephone lines rst the telephone line was a novelty, but soon Dr. McCormick discovered that there was a big demand for telephone service. Later that year, Dr. McCormick, with the help of Dr. Gladson and Jim McIlroy, established a line that ran from Fayetteville to Prairie Grove. This telephone line was reportedly one of the longest in the state of Arkansas at the time. In 1906 Dr. McCormick and M.M. Collier began the Prairie Grove Telephone Company and bought a switchboard to handle all of the calls. The company has grown steadily ever since, keeping up with the growth of West Washington County.

ce was located in a small room on the second oor of a main street building where a bundle of telephone wires ce was moved to its present location on Mock Street in Prairie Grove. rst as a switchboard operator then became General Manager and later President of the Prairie Grove Telephone Company. He operated the Telephone Company until his death in 1958. The company continued to grow, but during the Depression the growth began to decline when many of the customers returned their magneto (crank-style wall phones). Mr. Parks never disconnected a phone for non-payment, even after the Depression years had ended. Phone bills were often paid with eggs, vegetables, and an occasional cow.

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