Birthplace of GTE
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.
Marker is at the intersection of West 6th Street (U.S. 14) and North Orange Street (U.S. 14) on West 6th Street.
Courtesy hmdb.org
