Utilities in Mineola

As Mineola grew, residents sought better living conditions through water, telephone, gas, and electric service. The first water service, owned by A.W. Front, delivered water daily by one-horse wagon and also operated a community bathhouse. In 1886, an artesian well was built in the center of town to supply the downtown area, and an ice factory opened the same year. In October 1903, R.M. Stafford and Dr. A.L. Patten began furnishing water for Mineola until 1915, when the Mineola Ice & Water Company was established. Telephone service began in 1896 under Mr. Garrett, operating by day through the Garrett family and at night through E.A. Reeves; called The Globe, it was a one-phone system with runners delivering messages. In 1897, H.P. Davis established the Mineola Telephone Company and operated it until 1902, when Southwestern Bell purchased it. Natural gas has served the city since 1927, and United Gas Company began in Mineola in 1930 through Latex Gas Company, which later consolidated with United Gas Corporation. To build the gas infrastructure, a camp was established west of Mineola for workers laying a large gas line from east to west through the Magnolia Pipeline Company, and several weeks later lines were extended to customers' homes. Electric service began with the first plant in 1897, established by the Tilley Brothers Electric Company, which shared facilities with the R.J. Smith Chair Factory and was contracted to install arc lights on Mineola's streets. This infrastructure and these utility services helped develop Mineola.

Mineola, Texas · United States