Jacksonville was started with the cry of "Gold" in 1852, and within a matter of months grew to over 1000 people.
This was nearly a quarter of a century before the telephone was invented.
In late 1890 the first telephone line to Medford was built by Dr. Will Jackson and A.L. Reuter.
When the line opened for business it proved to be a great novelty for local folks. The rate was 15 cents for the first ten words and 10 cents for each additional ten words. There were only the two telephones, one at each end of the line.
By 1899 a regular telephone exchange was established. Ten subscribers were served by this exchange, which looked similar to the one being displayed at your right.
As time went on, Jacksonville phones grew to a dial system and moved into the computer age in 1973 with the most modern communications available.
However, the speed of communications today still can't compare with the speed with which the cry "that's Gold" spread through the area before the turn of the century.
The windows displays contain some very neat relics of the telephone age, like the switchboard, an old typewriter and other communications equipment. I think the Griffin Creek students did a great job compiling some great local history into a museum-like display for visitors to Jacksonville to enjoy.