Last town in Arkansas to get electricity now has fiber-fast internet
In the heart of Arkansas, nestled among the rolling hills and sprawling forests, sits the quaint town of Ben Hur. Despite its picturesque charm, Ben Hur remained untouched by the modern marvel of electricity long after neighboring towns had embraced it. Generations passed, and the townsfolk of Ben Hur lived by the soft glow of oil lamps and the crackling warmth of wood-burning stoves. Life moved at a slower pace, guided by the rhythm of nature.
However, change was on the horizon. In 1970, with most of the residents gathered inside the Ben Hur church, it became the last town in Arkansas to receive electricity. A teenager at the time, Freida (Ford) Grigsby, recalls everyone gathering in the church as local linemen turned the power on. Her family had used propane lamps to light their home, and Freida can remember driving home from the church and seeing light bulbs on inside the houses. Freida’s late father, Leon Ford, was given a television to commemorate the occasion. Freida recalls, “It was a small TV, but we were so proud to get it.”
Exactly 54 years after the arrival of electricity, in a landmark development, the rural town of Ben Hur is stepping into the digital age with the introduction of broadband internet access. This significant milestone marks a transformative shift for the community, bridging the gap between rural areas and urban centers in terms of connectivity and opportunities. Members of the board and leaders of Petit Jean Electric Cooperative recognized the urgent need for connectivity and collaborated to secure funding and resources for the broadband initiative.
With the rollout of broadband infrastructure, residents of Ben Hur now have access to high-speed internet, unlocking a world of possibilities. Students can engage in remote learning with ease, businesses can expand their digital footprint and reach new markets, healthcare providers can offer telemedicine services, and residents can stay connected with friends and family globally. And now, Freida (Ford) Grigsby alongside her husband, Mike Grigsby, are pictured here receiving their own smart television, as Petit Jean Fiber’s 5,000th subscriber recently connected to high-speed fiber internet.
What a full circle the Ford family has experienced with groundbreaking amenities in the Ben Hur area! First with the establishment of electricity in 1970, as the last town in Arkansas to do so, and now in 2024, with access to world-class, high-speed broadband internet.
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Ben Hur resident Leon Ford (left) receives a TV to commemorate having electric service from Petit Jean Electric Cooperative. |
Congratulations to our 5,000th customers of Petit Jean Fiber, Freida (Ford) Grigsby and Mike Grigsby (top from left). Celebrating with them are (bottom from left) Thomas Horton, Constance Eades, Kala Padilla and Jake Kyle of Petit Jean Fiber. |
