Kerrville in Kerr County, Texas — The American South (West South Central)

Kerrville Telephone Company

Photographed by James Hulse, September 20, 2021

1. Kerrville Telephone Company Marker

Inscription. A.C. Schreiner and D.H. Comparette, Sr., started the Kerrville Telephone Exchange in 1896 with a handshake and $1,000. The first connection was between two Schreiner Wool Warehouses, and other businesses soon applied for service. In 1898, lines were extended from Kerrville to Rocksprings, Harper, Junction, and Medina. Many local ranches served as toll stations, a practice that continued until the 1950s. Incorporated in 1907, the Kerrville Telephone Company functioned for over a century as one of the few family owned and operated telephone companies in Texas.

Erected 1996 by Texas Historical Commission. (Marker Number 14386.)

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Communications • Settlements & Settlers. A significant historical year for this entry is 1896.

Location. 30° 2.714′ N, 99° 8.399′ W. Marker is in Kerrville, Texas, in Kerr County. It is on Water Street 0.1 miles south of Earl Garrett Street, on the left when traveling south. The marker is located along the corner of the Telephone building. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 812 Water Street, Kerrville TX 78028, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in the Hill Country.

Globally, it is in North America,

a Gulf of Mexico state,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Spain,

the Republic of Texas,

and one of the Confederate States of America.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Fawcett Furniture Building (1882) (a few steps from this marker); Masonic Building (within shouting distance of this marker); Piñon Tree (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Christian Dietert Mill (about 300 feet away); Captain Charles Schreiner Home

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(about 300 feet away); Captain Charles Schreiner (about 400 feet away); Schreiner's Roses (about 400 feet away); Old Kerrville Post Office (1936) (about 400 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Kerrville.

Also see . . . Telephone Service.

At the Philadelphia Centennial Exposition in 1876 one of the visitors, Col. A. H. Belo from Texas, became interested in an exhibit by Alexander Graham Bell of his new invention-the telephone. Belo, publisher of the Galveston News and later founder of the Dallas Morning News, determined to have one of the new instruments as soon as possible, and on March 18, 1878, he had a line installed between his newspaper office and his Galveston home. This telephone, according to some sources, was the first installed in Texas and one of the first 1,000 telephones installed nationwide. Source: The Handbook of Texas

(Submitted on September 21, 2021, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas.)

Telephone Company Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by James Hulse, September 20, 2021

2. Telephone Company Marker

Photographed by James Hulse, September 20, 2021

3. Kerrville Telephone Company Marker

Credits. This page was last revised on March 6, 2026. It was originally submitted on September 21, 2021, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas. This page has been viewed 656 times since then and 43 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on September 21, 2021, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas.