History Of HTC

History Of HTC
In 2005, HTC celebrated 100 years in the telephone industry. HTC has been a
reliable telephone service provider since 1905 when the company commenced
operation as the "Woodrow and Hickory Telephone Company", with only 13
subscribers. Over 100 years later, HTC has expanded to offer high speed
Internet and digital TV in addition to traditional telephone service.
Prior to HTC’s formation in 1905 there were only a limited number of telephones
in Hickory. These were found in a doctor’s office, a store, in several gas
companies, and in the home of Henry Kinemond. In addition, the public could
make calls from a pay phone placed in the Retzer store by Bell Telephone
Company in 1901. This system was part of the larger Pittsburgh-Wheeling Lead,
which relayed messages to Canonsburg where a connection with Bell could be
made. An additional pay phone was later added in a store owned by J.M.
Marquis.
In 1903 there was talk of placing a connection to the Pittsburgh-Wheeling Lead in
the Woodrow Supply Company building, owned by Squire James Buchanan and
operated by R.S. Flanegin. However, Squire Buchanan had the larger ambition of
beginning a phone exchange in his store, making telephone service available to
customers in their homes. At first, he was met with resistance, but by late 1904,
the Woodrow and Hickory Telephone Company was organized. A negotiation
with Bell Telephone Company allowed toll service to be provided to Woodrow in
January 1905. The original subscribers were: James McGugin, H. S. Buchanan,
Rev. J. W. Borne, W. M. Paul, James and Edward Caldwell, The McPeak Bros.
Lumber Co., Dr. D. L. McCarrell, Dr. McElroy, Dr. Conner, The J. M. Marquis
store, Squire Buchanan, Farmers National Bank and the Retzer store.
Early subscribers paid a membership fee of $10. The subscriber was responsible
for putting up poles and wire. Poles could be acquired by cutting down trees or
rented from the telephone company. The company would string up to a half mile

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of wire towards the house. In addition, anyone willing to allow telephone poles to
be placed on their land was given stock in the Woodrow and Hickory Telephone
Co. If they didn't want the stock, they were paid $10 a pole.

This is the Woodrow Supply Company building, where
the first telephone exchange in Hickory was held. The people are Mr. and Mrs. Flanegin,
and a niece, Miss Gorman.
In 1907, the phone company was moved to Hickory in a building originally meant
for the Woodrow Creamery Company. It was also the house of the Acheson
Family. Gertrude Acheson was the first operator. She received 15 dollars a
month for use of her house, furnishing the utilities of the company, and her
services as operator. The phone exchange was in a room on the bottom floor of
the house. The house, which is still standing today, is located next to the present
telephone company. The officers were Pres. Rev J. W. Borne of the Trinity
Lutheran Church, Vice Pres. James A. McGugin, Secretary R.S. Flanegin, and
Treasurer W. M. Paul. Paul was also the first manager.

The exchange was moved to this building in the room
marked with an X.

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Pres. Rev. Borne enforced several interesting rules. One such rule was that no
profane language would be spoken over the phone line. The fine for doing so
was $1. If the fine was not paid, service was disconnected. In addition, there was
a five-minute time limit for using the phone, also punishable by a $1 fine.
Common conversation was not permitted over the line when it was needed for
business.
In 1919, the company was incorporated. It took on the name of Hickory-Woodrow
Telephone Company.
Early telephone systems required operators. At the Hickory-Woodrow Telephone
Company, two operators worked at a switchboard at a time. There were three
shifts - a day shift, a 4:00 to 8:00 shift, and a night shift. A person wishing to
make a call would first ring the operator, by turning a crank on their phone. The
operator would insert the back answering jack into the line that was calling on the
switchboard. They then could connect the person calling with the person being
called, by inserting the front answering jack into the line being called on the
switchboard.
Usually five or six houses were on one line, called a party line. If anyone on the
line was using the phone, no calls could be made or received by any of the
houses. Every phone on the line rang for each call made. The phone would ring
differently for each house, telling the recipient if the call was for them. For
example, a phone number of 23 meant 2 long rings and 3 short rings. People
could easily listen to their neighbors' phone conversations by picking up the line.
If people were listening in on the line, it was more difficult for an operator to ring a
call through, because the telephone ring would be weakened.
Operators offered some helpful services to customers. One service was to refer
calls to another home if a person was visiting a friend or relative for the day. Also,
operators took messages for people who would be away. When a person
returned, they called the operator to get the messages that they missed while

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away. The operators ran a booth outside that would be like a pay phone today.
People stopped by off of the street to make calls and the operators placed the
calls for them.
Switchboard operators in
Hickory.
Vince Paul became manager of the Hickory-Woodrow Telephone Company in
the 1930's. In 1950, Lee Adamson took over the job until his death in 1985. His
son, Grier Adamson currently manages the company.
The company was moved several times before 1947, when it moved into the
Retzer and Scott General Store building. The telephone company and general
store operated in the same building until the building was condemned in 1956. A
new Hickory-Woodrow Telephone Office was built in 1956 on land bought from
Mrs. Jane T. Caldwell. The design for the building was drawn by John Douglas.
In 1962, an addition was made to the office. The addition was a mirror image of
the original design.

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The Retzer store once housed the telephone company.
This is the company building built in 1956.
At 12:00 A.M. Sept. 16, 1964, a toll dialing system was installed by ITT Kellogg.
This allowed long distance service without an operator. The system connected
subscribers of the company with 90% of the telephones in the continental United
States and many in Southern Canada.
In 1972, a poll was taken of the subscribers of the company to see if Extended
Area Service was wanted. The plan would increase the calling range outside the
356 area with no toll charge. However, rates would increase. The plan was voted
down. In 1977, the poll was taken again, on request by 88% of the customers.
This time, 89% of the customers voted and 70% were for the change. As a result
of this vote, digital equipment was purchased from North Electric. This equipment
allowed toll free calling in Washington and Canonsburg. It also provided touch-
tone calling, call waiting, and call forwarding to customers. The equipment
change was completed in 1979.
The name of the Hickory-Woodrow Telephone Company was changed to Hickory
Telephone Company or HTC Communications in 1981.

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Hickory Telephone opened ATS Mobile Communications in 1988, in Robinson
Township. It moved 3 years later to the Sewickley area, then merged in 1993
with the Hickory office, after additions were made in 1992. ATS provided
business mobile radio service, known as SMR or Specialized Mobile Radio. ATS
was discontinued in 1999.
In 1993, the MITEL GX5000 Digital Switch was installed. This new equipment
allowed caller ID, return call, repeat call, customer call trace, and remote
switching capability. The change was necessary to keep the independent
telephone company in competition with larger companies. A Tekelec Eagle STP
was also purchased to increase service and features to customers.
HTC added Internet to its many services in 1996, by installing an HP Redundant
Server and Backbone.
HTC's services expanded again in 1999 with the purchase of Nextlevel/Motorala
digital video equipment. HTC began offering DSL and Digital TV services shortly
after. HTC’s Triple Play (TV, DSL, and phone) is a popular package now
available in Hickory, Cross Creek, Woodrow, Avella, Studa, Southview, Houston,
and Chartiers areas.

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