Burke's Garden? - BRGRVAXA Updated: 12:28PM EST 10/15/2004 Operating Company: Burke's Garden Telephone Co., Inc. Former Operating Company(s): General Telephone & Electric (GTE)? Operating Company Number: 0220 Office Name: Burke's Garden? Location: Burke's Garden Rd. (Rt. 623) Burke's Garden, Tazewell Co., VA Colocated Carrier(s):

Comments:
Virginia's smallest telephone company which serves the secluded Burke's Garden valley area. Around 150 years ago this area was home to a large community of Amish potato farmers. Essentially unchanged the hamlet is reached from Bland County via an incredibly bzyantine dirt road that goes up Bushy Mnt. and then down Garden Moutain into Tazewell County. Additionally, the community is so secluded that traditional addresses are not used.

Like Pembroke Telephone Coop's Newport CO this office may have been once owned by GTE. There is some evidence that this office homes to GTE's Tazewell switch. GTE may also handle maintence for Burke's Garden Telephone Company. Or this office was originally owned by GTE and latter sold to BGT.

Finally, it seems that the current office is very new as next to it and attached at the power meter appears to be the original central office. It should be noted that the current office also has an extension in the rear as well.