An ordinance approved by the city of Bowling Green on Feb. 18, 1884, authorized the East Tennessee Telephone Co. to operate a telephone exchange and marked the beginning of telephone service in Bowling Green. H.C. Hines was mayor.

According to Bowling Green’s first telephone manager, Edward Hoffman, the first telephone in Bowling Green was from the boat landing to J.H. Mallory’s Drug Store.

By 1885, there were 35 telephone subscribers in Bowling Green, including grocery stores, attorneys, an ax handle factory, a livery stable and a milling company.

The first operator in Bowling Green was Miss Lillian Atwood. Her pay was $8 per month. Her manager, R.M. Easly, earned $25 per month.

By 1918, the cost for a single telephone line in Bowling Green was $3 per month and a party line was $2.50.

Over the years, a number of companies began operating and providing telephone service in Bowling Green and the surrounding area.

The companies ultimately combined, and in 1926 telephone service was provided in Bowling Green by Southern Bell Telephone & Telegraph Co.

The telephone set evolved over the years from a heavy wall set made of wood to the candlestick desk set introduced in 1920.

The first cradle-type telephone was introduced in 1930.

Dial service was implemented in 1951.

In 1955, seven-character telephone numbers were first used in Bowling Green.

In 1968, people in Bowling Green began to dial their own long distance calls for the first time.

The Trimline phone was introduced in 1970.

The state’s first cellular network began in 1984.