BLOOMINGDALE – In the winter of 1904, a father saddled his horse and rode through the snow to save his infant son. That ride – urgent, determined, and fueled by love – sparked a movement that would connect generations.
Arthur D. Shaw, a farmer south of Bloomingdale, couldn’t call for help when his baby fell ill. There was no phone in his home, no line to the doctor in town. So, he rode to a neighbor’s house, borrowed their phone, and summoned Dr. Scott. The child recovered, but Shaw’s resolve was permanent: no family should be without a lifeline.
That winter, Shaw rallied his neighbors. Each contributed $14 – roughly $300 today – and together they built a telephone line. Poles were cut, wires strung, and the earliest version of Bloomingdale Telephone Company was born. By 1908, the “Shaw Line” had merged with the Kibbie Telephone Company, and a switchboard was installed in a home on Spring Street. The community had spoken – and connected.
Over the next century, Bloomingdale Communications would grow, evolve, and innovate. It absorbed neighboring companies, weathered economic storms, and embraced new technologies. In 1955, it transitioned from a cooperative to a stock-for-profit company, unlocking access to federal loans and modernizing its infrastructure. By 1957, automatic switching had arrived. By 1969, single-party buried lines were approved – thanks to the persistence of President Ralph Remington and a petition signed by the community.
The 1980s brought modular phones and new buildings. The 1990s ushered in DSL and digital switching. And by the early 2000s, Bloomingdale was offering long-distance service, satellite TV, and high-speed internet – becoming the first in Southwest Michigan to deliver DSL.
In the heart of Southwest Michigan, where rolling fields meet tight-knit communities, Bloomingdale Communications continues to write a story of progress – one mile of fiber at a time.
For over a century, Bloomingdale has stood as a pillar of rural connectivity. But in the last decade, its impact has accelerated, thanks to a series of transformative broadband projects that have reshaped how local families, schools, and businesses connect to the world.
It began in 2012, when the company was awarded a landmark $5.65 million grant under the Broadband Technology Opportunity Program. That investment led to the creation of the Van Buren Fiber Ring – a 137.5-mile network that linked schools, libraries, and anchor institutions across Van Buren County, including Pullman Elementary in the Bloomingdale School District.
Communities like Gobles, Lawton, and South Haven, once underserved, gained access to high-speed service for the first time.
“That ring wasn’t just fiber – it was a foundation,” said a company spokesperson. “It allowed us to reach places we’d only dreamed of serving and laid the groundwork for everything that followed.”
From 2018 to 2021, Bloomingdale returned to its roots with a $12 million USDA RUS loan, modernizing its historic Bloomingdale Telephone Exchange with Fiber to the Home. The project honored the company’s 120-year legacy while preparing it for the next century of service.
Then came the ReConnect era. In 2020, Bloomingdale secured $10.72 million in ReConnect Round 1 funding to expand fiber into rural Allegan and Van Buren counties. Despite pandemic-era setbacks – including supply chain disruptions and inflation – the project regained momentum thanks to supplemental support from USDA-RUS and local townships like Almena, Arlington, and Pine Grove.
By 2021, the company had earned another $6.72 million in ReConnect Round 2 funding, bringing fiber to two more unserved areas. Like its predecessors, the project was completed on time and under budget – a testament to Bloomingdale’s planning, grit, and community-first approach.
Today, Bloomingdale Communications stands not only as a service provider, but as a steward of rural progress. Its fiber lines carry more than data – they carry opportunity, equity, and pride.
“A history never ends,” the company reflects. “It merely pauses to note what was done.” and with each pause, Bloomingdale is already looking ahead – to the next mile, the next family, the next story waiting to be connected.
After more than a century of connecting communities across Southwest Michigan, Bloomingdale Communications is preparing to bring its trusted fiber broadband service to a new frontier: Barry County.
Beginning in Spring 2026, the company will launch its latest expansion project in rural Middleville, aiming to serve nearly 750 locations with high-speed fiber internet. The initiative is backed by a USDA-RUS ReConnect 5 grant/loan, continuing Bloomingdale’s legacy of leveraging federal partnerships to bridge the digital divide.
“This isn’t just about fiber – it’s about opportunity,” said Assistant General Manager Janeen Horton. “We’re proud to bring our values, our service, and our commitment to community into Barry County. Middleville deserves the same level of care and connectivity we’ve delivered for generations.”
The Middleville buildout marks the latest milestone in Bloomingdale’s long-standing mission to empower rural Michigan. From the Van Buren Fiber Ring to ReConnect deployments in Allegan and Van Buren counties, the company has consistently delivered projects on time, under budget, and with a deep sense of local pride.
Residents and businesses in Middleville can expect more than just fast internet – they’ll gain a partner who understands the rhythms of rural life and the importance of reliable service. With this expansion, Bloomingdale Communications continues to prove that progress and tradition can go hand in hand.
