THE HISTORY OF KEYSTONE ARTHUR TELEPHONE CO.

 These men also furnished the labor to build the lines, install the switchboard and telephones.

Mr. Bill Hill, maintenance man and manager, worked at this for a few years then left the company to work at the McGinley Ranch.  Mr. Cunningham replaced him but he did not stay very long.  Then due to financial difficulties, the organization sold the company to Mr. Hill for $1.00.  He remained as owner and manager until sometime in 1929.

At that time, he sold the company to the Central Nebraska Telephone Co. having its headquarters in Blair, Ne.  However, since they owned Sutherland, Grant and Keystone all billing was processed in Grant.  The switchboard being operated by Mrs. Winnie Carlin from 1929 until about 1934 and was still in the original building, which was located just north of the old Bank of Keystone building in the town of Keystone and near the Draucker Pool Hall.

When Mrs. Carlin quit, Mrs. Avis McNeil replaced her and during Mrs. McNeil's term of operations.  The switchboard moved twice, first to the Charlie Phillips house Lots 8 & 9 Block 7 of Keystone.  Then shortly before Mrs. McNeil transferred to Sutherland in August of 1939.  The company then moved to the present location of Lots 4 & 5 Block 6 of Keystone.

In August of 1939, Mrs. Fern Mathews took over operation of the switchboard but did not continue very long and she being succeeded by Viola Blomenkamp for just a short time.

In the middle of 1940, Ralph and Orvilla Blomenkamp maintained the lines and operated the switchboard.  To the best of our knowledge two other women operated it between the years of 1943, and 1945, but we are unable to find out their names.

In 1945, Mrs. Gar Draucker was the operator and held the position until 1949.  At this time, the Telephone Co. sold to Mr. Bob Harvey at Arthur and Mr. Harvey maintained the lines and hired Mrs. Paul Crofutt as operator.  Mrs. Crofutt was operator until April 1953.

The company sold to Grandpa William B. S. Hill of Arthur In December of 1952, Mr. Hill did not take possession until January, of 1953 and Mrs. Crofutt continued to work for him until April 1, 1953 at that time Mr. Hill moved with his family to Keystone.  The system at that time had only two blocks of metallic lines and the rest of the 88 pole line miles were grounded system and very very noisy.  Mr. Hill has stated that he and his son Bill at this time maintained the lines while his two daughters Mabel and Martha took their turns as operators for a number of years with no pay except for room and board.  These were mighty lean years. 

(Keith County News clip)
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At this time, the company was still using the original switchboard and in 1955, we updated the system by the purchase of a new switchboard and conversion to a metallic system.  The board still required an operator to connect the calling parties.

In 1957, the system enlarged by the building of 15 miles of line to Lemoyne and increasing our subscribers to approximately 90.

We again updated the company by the purchase of a dial system in 1962 and at that time, we incorporated changing the name to Keystone Arthur Telephone Co., Inc.  This improvement included four more toll circuits to Arthur Making a total of six.

In 1966, Charles Hill son of William B. S. Managed the company.

In 1969, we further improved the system by going underground from Keystone to Arthur at a cost of $85,000.00.  This put all our customers to the north on cable and the toll circuits between Arthur and Keystone.  At this same time, we put all of our subscribers in Keystone and the Feltz Ranch south to our connecting line with Northwestern Bell Telephone Co. on cable as well as the George McGinley Ranch Co. to the West.

In 1970, we purchased and installed a dial board for the Lemoyne area, thus establishing a toll circuit and E. A. S. from that area.  This was necessary because of the growth and demand for more service in the Lake region.

By request of the owners of the Thune Telephone Co. we further expanded our territory by the acquisition of ten more subscribers.

January 10, 1976, we spent  $85,000.00 to go under ground to Lemoyne in order to expand and give better service there. 

As of 1976, we had approximately a 219 pole line and underground cable in the system stretching from within four miles of Garden County line to the Anderberg Ranch in Arthur County - East to the Randall Rundback Ranch in McPherson County and Keystone proper.  Keystone Arthur Telephone Co. served 132 subscribers on the Keystone exchange and 75 subscribers on the Lemoyne exchange.

Mabel C Statler my mother has been around from the beginning of Keystone Arthur Telephone and has put her heart and soul into the very foundation of this company.

In 1976 John Elliott was hired on by William B. S. Hill.

In 1978 Charles Hill Son of William B. S. Hill sold his shares back to the company.

In 1980, Bill Hill jr. son of William B. S. Hill took over managing the company.

In 1983 Roberta Statler started working for the company.

In 1984, all our outside plant was underground.

January 21, 1985 we purchased two Stromberg-Carlson DCO Digital Switches. One in Keystone the other in Lemoyne. 

(Keith County News clip)
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Officers and directors of the Keystone Arthur Telephone Company July 22, 1985

In 1987 Lois Vath started working for the company.

In 1989 Bill Statler and Kelly Gies started working for the company.

August 16, 1990 Mr. Willima B. S. Hill passed away at the age of 94.
Picture of Mr. William Jennings Bryan Sampson Melson Hill.
Son of Charles Emmet Hill and Sarah Drucilla Brewington Hill.

January 1, 1993 we purchased two Northern Telecom DMS 10 Switches.

August, 1995 Hill Family Picture.

In 1995 John Elliott passed away.

In 1996, we installed fiber optic cable between Keystone, Lemoyne and Bell.

In 1997 Ron Hoff Started working for the company.

In 1997 Wes Holland started working for the company.

April 1, 1997 we started our own Internet server. http://www.lakemac.net

In 1999 Marcus Buffington Started working for the company.