Goreville's First Telephone Service

Will Terry founded the Goreville Telephone Company before 1913.  The business was first operated from the family home located in "Old Town," on South Fly Avenue, known later as the "Newton Place." A family operated business, the Terry's had the switchboard in the northwest front room of the home, and across the hall, another front room served as the parlor.  The eight children and their mother, Necy, kept the company running.

Henry Terry, the last of those eight to die, said several years ago, that he remembered running the switchboard.  "I spent many hours running the switchboard."  "I spent many hours there, when I'd rather be outside playing."  His bed, a folding cot, was about three feet from the switchboard, and when the loud bell range at night, it was his job to answer and connect the parties.  Henry said, of eight children, he was probably the one who spent more time answering the switchboard.

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 Residents and visitors will benefit from this website

In a cooperative effort with the Johnson County Chamber of Commerce, The Vienna Times and Goreville Gazette has launched the only county-wide, interactive web portal. With the assistance of U of I Extension Service in Vienna, the site went live August 28.

New features are being added on a daily bases. Some of the sites unique features include:
• Breaking News link found on the home page, for those late breaking announcements.
• Live broadcast of Vienna/Goreville football games.
• A comprehensive, county-wide calendar of events that allows anyone to suggest events for posting.

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