On May 22, 1880, the Gazette reported, "The telephone line between the Keystone Manufacturing Company and the Galt Bros. Bank works admirably, and has saved many steps already. Preparations are being made to run lines to the Central office... from the following places; Galt House, Reed & Son, Sterling Gazette Company, T.A. Galt's reisdence, Keystone Co., Rock Falls, Galt Bros. Bank, Dr. Gordon's office and probably from both depots."

The first Sterling-Rock Falls telephone exchange, opened in September 1880, was located at 8 W. Third Street, Sterling on the second floor. It wsa operated by the NOrthwestern Bell Telephone Company of Clinton, Iowa, with Simeon S. Crieder as the first telephone manager.

By January 1881 there were 28 telephone working in Sterling-Rock Falls, and the number was growing rapidly. On August 9, 1881, a line was opened to Morrison, Illinois, and other lines to Erie, Prophetstown, Lyndon and Tampico were operating by the end of 1881.

During the later part of the nineteenth century, the Bell System company serving Sterling-Rock Falls went through two reorganizations, First the Iowa Union Telephone Company succeede dthe northwestern Bell Telephone Company and then in 1899, the Central Union Telephone replaced the Iowa Union Company.

While the name of the bell company was changing, competition was developing from two independent telephone companies. in 1895 the Harrison Independent Telephone Company began serving Sterling-Rock Falls customers from an office at 114 E. Third St. Sterling. In 1900 the Farmers Mutual Telephone Company opened a small switchboard on the second floor at 207 W. Second St. Sterling. The Farmers Mutual service served about 40 farmers south of Rock Falls.

Competition meant a duplication of facilities in many homes. Having more than one phone in your home now is a convenience but from 1895 until 1919 it was a necessity for anyone who wanted to be able to reach all the telephone customers in town. In late 1901 the Interstate Independent Telephone and Telegraph Company purchased the Harrison Independent Tele. Co. and installed a new switchboard on the second floor of the Bickford Building, 306 First Ave. Sterling. During this peirod both the Central Union Tele. Co and the Union Tele. Co. and the Interstate Co. had wire circuits across the Rock River, on top of the old First Avenue iron bridge.

The Interstate Co and the Central Union Co. both served the Rock Falls area until 1919, when the Central Union Co. purchased the Sterling-Rock Falls properties of the Interstate Co. At the time of the consolidation, Central Union served 2538 telephones and Interstate 697.

On February 25, 1901, the Central Union Co. had moved across the street, from 8 W. Third St. to 7 W. Third St. Shortly after purchasing the Interstate Co. the Central Union Co. leased the second floor fo the building next door, at 3 W. Third St. The two buildings were connected on the second floor.

The name "Illinois Bell" came to Sterling-Rock Falls on December 1, 1920.....

From the Daily Gazette Sterling - July 25, 1967

The Sterling Gazette July 25, 1967