Richland Center in Richland County, Wisconsin — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)

MISSING

SEE LOCATION SECTION

Birthplace of GTE

Photographed by Keith L, May 5, 2009

1. Birthplace of GTE Marker

Inscription. General Telephone & Electronics Corporation, among the world’s largest businesses and a leader in telecommunications, is headquartered in Stamford, Connecticut but was born in Richland Center.

Officially founded in 1918 when John F. O’Connell and Sigurd L. Odegard purchased the Richland Center Telephone Company, the firm today called GTE grew rapidly and has telephone operations in 31 states. Designated Commonwealth Telephone in 1920 and Associated Telephone Utilities in 1926, the company became General Telephone Corporation in 1935.

The name General Telephone & Electronics was adopted in 1958 to more accurately reflect corporate diversification.

Erected 1980 by the Wisconsin Historical Society. (Marker Number 261.)

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Industry & Commerce. In addition, it is included in the Wisconsin Historical Society series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1918.

Location. Marker is missing. It was located near 43° 20.581′ N, 90° 23.354′ W. Marker was in Richland Center, Wisconsin, in Richland County. It was at the intersection of West 6th Street (U.S. 14) and North Orange Street (U.S. 14) on West 6th Street

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. Marker is at Krouskop Park. Touch for map. Marker was at or near this postal address: 460 West 6th Street, Richland Center WI 53581, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker was in the American Midwest,

on the Great Lakes,

in the Corn Belt,

and in the Driftless Area — Bluff Country.

Globally, it was in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it found itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture

and also the Northwest Territory.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 7 miles of this location, measured as the crow flies: Vernon W. Thomson (a few steps from this marker); Ada James (a few steps from this marker); Krouskop Park (a few steps from this marker); Wisconsin Purple Heart Memorial Highway (approx. 0.3 miles away); Boaz Mastodon (approx. 5.8 miles away); Rural Electrification (approx. 5.8 miles away); Richard M. Brewer (approx. 6.9 miles away); Ocooch Mountains (approx. 6.9 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Richland Center.

Also see . . . GTE History from Wikipedia. (Submitted on May 11, 2009, by Keith L of Wisconsin Rapids, Wisconsin.)

Additional commentary.
1.
Marker is no longer there.

— Submitted May 13, 2026, by Michael Allen Wilde of Madison, Wisconsin.

Photographed by Keith L, May 5, 2009

2. Birthplace of GTE Marker

Credits. This page was last revised on May 19, 2026. It was originally submitted on May 9, 2009, by Keith L of Wisconsin Rapids, Wisconsin. This page has been viewed 4,489 times since then and 114 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on May 9, 2009, by Keith L of Wisconsin Rapids, Wisconsin. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.