Prairie Grove in Washington County, Arkansas — The American South (West South Central)

1959 Prairie Grove Telephone Co. Phone Booth

Photographed By Duane and Tracy Marsteller, May 21, 2023

1. 1959 Prairie Grove Telephone Co. Phone Booth Marker

Inscription.
has been listed in the
National Register
of Historic Places
by the United States
Department of the Interior

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Architecture • Communications. In addition, it is included in the National Register of Historic Places series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1959.

Location. 35° 58.957′ N, 94° 18.6′ W. Marker is in Prairie Grove, Arkansas, in Washington County. Marker is at the intersection of East Douglas Street (Business U.S. 62) and Parker Street, on the right when traveling east on East Douglas Street. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 505 E Douglas St, Prairie Grove AR 72753, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Battlefield Park (within shouting distance of this marker); Historic Wall (within shouting distance of this marker); Hindman Hall Museum (within shouting distance of this marker); Generals James G. Blunt and Francis J. Herron (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Major General Thomas C. Hindman (about 300 feet away); Rhea's Mill (about 300 feet away); Battle of Prairie Grove (about 300 feet away); March of the Armies (about 400 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Prairie Grove.

Regarding 1959 Prairie Grove Telephone Co. Phone Booth.

Paid Advertisement

Click on the ad for more information.
Please report objectionable advertising to the Editor.

Click or scan to see
this page online

Excerpt from the National Register nomination for the site, the first – and so far only – phone booth on the registry:

The dramatic rise in cellular phone use and the dramatic decline in the use of pay phones almost took out the Prairie Grove Airlight Outdoor Telephone Booth in 2014. On June 7, 2014, the booth was damaged after being struck by an SUV whose owner had fallen asleep at the wheel. Due to the fact that the money raised by the booth – about $2.00 every six months - does not cover the booth's expenses, which includes the expense of maintaining the phone line and $5.00 a month for the electricity to light the booth's light, the Prairie Grove Telephone Company (PGTelco) considered disconnecting the phone booth. However, because of the local response on Facebook, the company instead took the booth to their warehouse and began the process of repairing and restoring the booth. Patrick Smith, who had used the phone booth on many occasions as a teenager to call home after attending a move at the 112 Drive In Theater in Fayetteville, did most of the work on the booth. After several weeks of work, the Prairie Grove Airlight Outdoor Telephone Booth was reinstalled outside of the Colonial Motel where locals and passersby can stop and take pictures or, if they choose, once again even make a phone call.

Also see . . .

Photographed By Duane and Tracy Marsteller, May 21, 2023

2. 1959 Prairie Grove Telephone Co. Phone Booth Marker

Prairie Grove Airlight Outdoor Telephone Booth (PDF). National Register nomination for the phone booth, which was listed in 2015. The nomination contains an extensive history of telephone use, especially pay phones. (National Park Service) (Submitted on June 3, 2023, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee.)

Credits. This page was last revised on June 3, 2023. It was originally submitted on June 3, 2023, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee. This page has been viewed 72 times since then and 26 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on June 3, 2023, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee.