An 1894 “Willimantic Journal” article about Willimantic said,” Three lines for telegraphic communication are available — the Western Union, United Lines, and the Mutual Union— and manufacturers and business men here get the benefit of the lowest  prevalent rates to all competing points: The telephone service is complete, and an electric light plant is in operation.” A photo of Main Street in 1894 shows utility poles of various lengths along the street. While telegraph service goes back to the 1860s and phone service to the 1870s in more populated areas, Willimantic and surrounding towns did not see the growth of either service until about 1880. Then, around 1887, electricity started to become available. The years from 1880-1888 were interesting and caused some challenging and frequently contentious situations in both Willimantic and surrounding towns as these three services became more popular and necessary. The earliest telegraph lines in the area followed the railroad lines. There were many different telegraph companies and therefore many different telegraph lines. Telegraph and railroad companies were a perfect combination since the telegraph needed railroad rights-of-way for their lines and railroads needed telegraphs for communication. The earliest telegraph company in Willimantic was The American Telegraph Company. It was soon followed by the Rapid Transit Company and at least three others. All were eventually swallowed up by Western Union which, itself, came under AT&T’s control in 1909. In 1880, telegraph lines were starting to be strung along Main Street in order to accommodate businesses that wished to subscribe. Lines were also being put up through Andover on their way to Hartford and through Windham and Scotland to Boston. But telegraph lines require poles for the wires and this was to become a problem. In general, those in Willimantic were not bothered with the poles which were being set along Main Street. In fact, it seemed almost as though people were proud of this new innovation. “The Chronicle” continuously reported on the placement of the poles and wires. For example, in May, 1880, it mentioned, ”A third wire was put on the poles of the Rapid Transit company through the village on Monday.” Then, in September, “The magnificent poles recently erected by the Rapid Telegraph Company have been beautified by the paint brush. Mr. James Dolan who has charge of the line in this vicinity has the faculty of making the company which he represents in this town the popular line, as he is himself a gentleman of good qualities and joviality. When an office is opened here, as it is the intention within a short time there is where the people will go”. The following week, “The Chronicle” reported that, “The telegraph poles through Main Street have received a second coating of paint, brown at the bottom and white at the top, which adds to their looks”. While this was happening in Willimantic, another company was busy stringing wires through Brooklyn. And, now the Mutual Union Telegraph Company petitioned Willimantic, Court of Burgesses asking for the location of a route through the borough, upon which they could erect their telegraph poles. They wished  to run a telephone wire on the new telegraph poles between Willimantic and Scotland and perhaps even to Westminster and Canterbury. “The Chronicle said that, “It will be a private enterprise, and not a very costly one if the use of the poles can be had for a reasonable sum. The idea is a good one and we hope to see it carried through”. The Burgesses gave their okay and the project was begun. The “Chronicle correspondent from Scotland wrote, “It is not often that we have a line of telegraph poles run through our little town, and the most extravagant rumors are rife concerning the one now in process of construction. The poles are very large and one rumor says that they will be made to support 30 wires.” In December, 1880, as the poles were being set in Scotland, so were the poles for the new telegraph line were being set between Willimantic and Andover although work was slowed by frost. Work was now being done in several areas but trouble was on the horizon. We’ll look into that next week.