Note: The following is one of a series of articles looking at events in the history of Bulloch County.

The Bulloch Times of March 8, 1894 stated "wire and instruments--excepting the jars, (arriving in) the next few days, were erected yesterday by Mr. J.H. Smith of Eden." 

Smith, the contractor, will be "setting up the poles, stretching the wire, and putting everything in readiness for the operation, to begin next Monday. Very soon Statesboro will be bound with wire to the rest of the world." 

The Statesboro Star's March 30, 1894 issue informed the public that "the stockholders of the new telegraph line held a meeting at the Bank of Statesboro on Wednesday afternoon, and elected officers."  

So, "Mr. J.A. Fulcher was elected President, Secretary, Treasurer, and General Manager. Messrs. D.R. Groover, A. Baum, and W.C. Parker were chosen as Directors." 

The Southern Historical Association's book, entitled Memoirs of Georgia Containing Historical Accounts, V. #2 (1895) lists James A. Fulcher as "President of the Dover & Statesboro Telegraph Co." 

The American Telephone Journal's magazine Telephony for March 25, 1919, revealed in its "Biographical and Personal Notes," that J.A. (or J.L.) Matthews was General Manager of the Statesboro Telephone Co. 

Continuing "In 1899, he bought the telephone exchange at Statesboro with 25 subscribers, absorbing and merging it with a 10-mile (Dover & Statesboro) telegraph line and a short (telephone) toll line." 

The March 15, 1901 issue of the Statesboro News reported that “The Western Union Telegraph Co. has poles along its lines from Bruton to Dover.” 

On April 26, 1901, the Statesboro News revealed that “the Western Union Telegraph Co. have completed their line in Statesboro, and some of the officials came over in their private car.” 

The paper stated “now we have direct telegraphic communication with the balance of the country over their lines which cover the U.S. like a spider’s web.” 

The Nov. 20, 1901 Journal of the Telegraph indicated Statesboro handled all telegraphs for Adabelle, Blitch, Blitchton, Brooklet, Clito, Hubert, Nellwood, Ogeechee, Parrish, Stilson, Undine and Woodburn. 

Then, the Statesboro News of June 28, 1901 heralded “Western Union’s New Lines.” It stated “The Western Union Telegraph Company has opened its lines along the Bruton and Pineora Railroad.” 

The paper reported it “is now giving a direct service to towns in that section of the state, since the Central of Georgia acquired the Dover and Statesboro railroad.” 

"With the completion of the Bruton and Pineora extension the Western Union has strung two wires from Savannah to Bruton via Dover and Statesboro having built an entire new line from Dover to Bruton.” 

So far, “the rate on telegrams from Savannah to Statesboro, Bruton, Adrian, Register, and Stillmore have been 50 cents, these points being reached over two lines.” 

With the new line, “All of these points are now reached by Western Union wires direct at a 25-cent rate. Savannah’s business men do a large business with towns along the Bruton and Pineora.” 

The American Telephone Journal issue of April 4, 1903 column, entitled "Georgia Independents Active", revealed that the principal company there was the Georgia Telephone and Telegraph Company. 

They operate "a local exchange in Savannah and long-distance lines that practically cover the state. We have just completed a line connecting the town of Statesboro with Savannah." 

And, "There is quite a flourishing exchange at Statesboro, and the local company there has a number of lines radiating into the surrounding territory.  

Furthermore, the American Telephone Journal revealed, "There is now much talk of connections being established between Statesboro and Augusta.

Roger Allen is a local lover of history who provides a brief look each week at the area's past. Email him at rwasr1953@gmail.com.