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Wednesday, January 17, 2007 · Page 9 CELEBRATING 100 YEARS ­ Gosfield North Communications Co-operative Ltd. general manager Paul Meanwell says a celebration is in the works for the company's 100-year anniversary. The GNCCL began in 1907 and currently serves 1,700 customers in and around Cottam. CORN - PELLET - GRAIN HEAT YOUR HOME FOR APPROX. $100.00 PER MONTH! NEGATIVE PRESSURE MULTI FUEL STOVES. OLIVIA OR BIXBY (13,500 to 42,000 BTU's) Local communications company celebrates a century of service BY DANIEL SCHWAB One hundred years ago, a handful of residents of the former Gosfield North Township wanted a better way to communicate with their family and friends than by mailing letters. They put together a rudimentary telephone system that quickly caught the interest of other members of the community. Over the winter of 1907, a petition circulated through the area receiving many signatures asking for a local phone system. The following March, bylaw 178 was passed to authorize the construction of a telephone system and Gosfield North Communications Co-operative Limited (GNCCL) was born. Now, the century-old company is planning celebrations for the landmark anniversary later this year. "We've got some exciting times coming up at Gosfield North," said general manager Paul Meanwell. The area was one of the first places in Essex County to have a telephone system. According to Meanwell, the small company "grew and grew" and in 1920 it had about 345 customers paying an annual phone bill of $11. As time went on and technological advancements improved the company's service, the customer base continued to expand. In 1964, GNCCL went from magneto service, which was a wind up crank method to signal the operator with a patch board, to a more modern dial system. The cost was $150,000, Meanwell says, a significant expenditure for the day. Twenty years later, the installation of a digital switch allowed for touch tone service and included for customers all the features currently offered with a phone service including call display and call answer. In 2001, the most recent technological improvement came when the GNCCL introduced high-speed Digital Subscriber Line Internet service. The company now serves about 1,700 customers. Meanwell is convinced that with further improvements in technology on the horizon, the future of the company looks bright. "One day I think an amazing amount of our world will be Internet-based," he said. "We're just delighted to be a part of it." Being an independent communications company is a rare thing these days, Meanwell said. "It used to be quite a bit more common," he said. "At one point there were several hundred independent telephone companies in Ontario. Gradually they became taken over or merged with each other to the point where there are probably only three dozen or so left in Canada. So it's not so much that we grew from something to be independent, it's that we've stayed independent back where our roots are." This year, the GNCCL is planning to expand its fibre optics network and is hopeful that the demand for Internet service continues to grow. "There's going to be some exciting technology coming in down the road," Meanwell said. "It's an industry full of technological changes and it's a very exciting industry to be in." With the Town of Kingsville taking steps to address sewage treatment capacity issues in Cottam that would potentially expand residential development in the area, Meanwell says the company is prepared to expand its customer base over the next few years. R.R.#3, Essex, ON. Forced Air Grain Furnace (110,00 BTU's) also available. 519-723-2792 Cell: 519-980-4926 SUPPLIES FOR GRAIN ON LOCATION Laser Hair Removal with lightsheer ... one less thing to worry about Free Underarm or Bikini Treatment With purchase of 3 more. *With coupon Essex Laser Studio Expires Feb. 28, 2007 Permanent Hair Reduction For Women Debbie Eyraud Certified Laser Technician Private & Comfortable setting, personal service Complimentary Consultations! 2035 Hopgood Road, Essex (519) 776-8216