The Vidette-Messenger Centennial EditionThe 1936 special edition celebrating Porter County's centennial year . . . .
The following article has been transcribed from the August 18, 1936, issue of The Vidette-Messenger, published in Valparaiso, Indiana. This particular special edition focuses on Porter County's centennial celebration and contains a 94-page compendium of Porter County history up to that time.
Return to the index of articles from The Vidette-Messenger's Porter County Centennial special edition.
Source: The Vidette-Messenger, Valparaiso,
Porter County, Indiana; August 18, 1936; Volume 10, Section 1, Page 22.
CITY ONCE ON RADIO CHARTS BUT TUNED OUT
Valparaiso was
once on the radio map in a big way. That was back in the period from 1924 to
1929 when through the efforts of Rev. George F. Schutes, then pastor of Immanuel
Lutheran church, and members of the congregation, the city had a radio station
known as Station WRBC, which means "World Redeemed by Christ."
For four years the station functioned, giving program at various intervals and
receiving considered recognition throughout the country.
Between $5,000 and $10,000 was invested in the plant which was located in the
rear of the church building on North Washington St.
When the license was obtained there were few radio stations in the country.
Then came an order one day from the Federal Radio Commission at Washington, D.
C., to the effect that the commission in an attempt designed to clear the air of
interferrance and hetrodyning between stations too close together, assigned a
new wave length of 241.8 meters, and increased the watt strength of the local
station from 250 to 500.
The order also included that the local station go on a daylight broadcasting
schedule. Members of the local church board ordered a discontinuance of program
from the station upon receipt of the order and immediately sought a modicifation
of the decree.
The order practically amounted to ruling the local station off the air. The fact
that no application was filed for a renewal of the license made it mandatory for
the station to stand trial before the license could be renewed.
Rev. Schutes made a valiant fight to save the station for more than a year after
it had been assigned the new wave length. He made several trips to Washington,
D. C. to appear before the federal radio board but his efforts were
unsuccessful.
In 1930 when it was seen that there was little hope of obtaining another
license, the station was dismantled and the apparatus sold.
Today there exists only a memory of the programs sent out over the ether waves
from the local station by local artists and others.
On of the innovations enacted at the local station was a "radio wedding" in
which Mabel Josephine Anderson, Westville school teacher, became the bride of
---?--- Seels, of Chicago. Miss Edith Weems of Valparaiso, was maid of honor,
and Miss Morse, of Westville was bridesmaid. Dr. George Grundy, of Chicago, was
best man. Rev. Schutes performed the ceremony. A listener in was the
eighty-year-old father of the bride living in Minnesota. Relative in George also
heard the words of the Minister.
Article transcribed by Steven R. Shook