Friday, June 14th 1914 - Meriden, CT
Did you know that the first known persons in the city of Meriden to be publically acknowlged as "radio" enthusiasts goes back to an article in the "Meriden Daily Journal" in 1914 when a young Laurence Southwick, living with his parents on Curtis St. Meriden, CT along with two friends joined a newly formed club in Hartford called the "Hartford Radio Club".
They were one of the first (in Meriden) of 150 new Connecticut based members of the "Hartford Radio Club".
In 1912 the FCC was formed and from that time on, all "ham radio" operators had to be licensed. The new Hartford Radio Club, was formed in 1914 by Hiram Percy Maxim, son of Sir Horam Maxim (inventor of the gun silencer). It's purpose was to have free wireless messages radiated through a nation wide organization of amateur operators.
One of those first radio enthusists from Meriden to apply for membership was Laurence Southwick along with Godfrey Rockefeller, second son of William G. Rocketfeller, who is the correspondent at Greenwich and is the most prominent operator admitted to membership up to date.
Young Rockefeller and his brother, Stillman had been taking lessons from John Barrett, a jewler and an expert amateur operator. There was already a good amount of "spark" communications in the city of Meriden prior to that date in 1914. And those are just a few of the first "hams" to become oficially involved with newly formed "Federal Communications Commission" (1912) and later the "Hartford Radio Club" in 1914.
In case you didn't know .. "The Hartford Radio Club" within the next year, would go on to become what we now know as the ARRL.
And now you know the rest of the story. (apologies to fans of Paul Harvey)
Did you know that the first known persons in the city of Meriden to be publically acknowlged as "radio" enthusiasts goes back to an article in the "Meriden Daily Journal" in 1914 when a young Laurence Southwick, living with his parents on Curtis St. Meriden, CT along with two friends joined a newly formed club in Hartford called the "Hartford Radio Club".
They were one of the first (in Meriden) of 150 new Connecticut based members of the "Hartford Radio Club".
In 1912 the FCC was formed and from that time on, all "ham radio" operators had to be licensed. The new Hartford Radio Club, was formed in 1914 by Hiram Percy Maxim, son of Sir Horam Maxim (inventor of the gun silencer). It's purpose was to have free wireless messages radiated through a nation wide organization of amateur operators.
One of those first radio enthusists from Meriden to apply for membership was Laurence Southwick along with Godfrey Rockefeller, second son of William G. Rocketfeller, who is the correspondent at Greenwich and is the most prominent operator admitted to membership up to date.
Young Rockefeller and his brother, Stillman had been taking lessons from John Barrett, a jewler and an expert amateur operator. There was already a good amount of "spark" communications in the city of Meriden prior to that date in 1914. And those are just a few of the first "hams" to become oficially involved with newly formed "Federal Communications Commission" (1912) and later the "Hartford Radio Club" in 1914.
In case you didn't know .. "The Hartford Radio Club" within the next year, would go on to become what we now know as the ARRL.
And now you know the rest of the story. (apologies to fans of Paul Harvey)
Rich - WA1TRY
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