You have to be older to recall this station. Inspired by a post says what station you'd love to know about past or present, I thought of this one.
Here;s the deal. I lived in Richmond until the first part of 4th grade. My Dad, to pick up extra bucks, sold church pews. I got to travel with him if I wasn't in school. I loved seeing new places and I took command of the maps and the radio. One stop was near Deerfield. It wasn't much of a town as I recall. The station was playing country with a bit of bluegrass perhaps. I was a top 40 kid but I loved radio, any format.
Remembering that trip, years later, about 1980 with a couple of years of radio under my belt, I somehow found Ralph O. Hamilton, the guy listed as station manager in an old 1974 SRDS Directory I had. He told me the station moved to Churchville and sold just after. He reflected on the country and gospel music WABH played and the live music events the station covered. I recall the new buyer had gone to a religious format and Ralph felt there needed to be some music between the teaching programs in order to digest the message. He wasn't fond of the contemporary songs, preferring the old time gospel style and traditional hymn. He says WABH while in Deerfield did just fine financially and had the listeners up and down the valley.
If any of you have a clear memory of 1975 and before, had heard or known of WABH, would you be kind enough to share your memories.
What was WABH in Deerfield is WNLR in Churchville today, now 2,500 watts days and 35 watts nights as New Life Radio.
Here;s the deal. I lived in Richmond until the first part of 4th grade. My Dad, to pick up extra bucks, sold church pews. I got to travel with him if I wasn't in school. I loved seeing new places and I took command of the maps and the radio. One stop was near Deerfield. It wasn't much of a town as I recall. The station was playing country with a bit of bluegrass perhaps. I was a top 40 kid but I loved radio, any format.
Remembering that trip, years later, about 1980 with a couple of years of radio under my belt, I somehow found Ralph O. Hamilton, the guy listed as station manager in an old 1974 SRDS Directory I had. He told me the station moved to Churchville and sold just after. He reflected on the country and gospel music WABH played and the live music events the station covered. I recall the new buyer had gone to a religious format and Ralph felt there needed to be some music between the teaching programs in order to digest the message. He wasn't fond of the contemporary songs, preferring the old time gospel style and traditional hymn. He says WABH while in Deerfield did just fine financially and had the listeners up and down the valley.
If any of you have a clear memory of 1975 and before, had heard or known of WABH, would you be kind enough to share your memories.
What was WABH in Deerfield is WNLR in Churchville today, now 2,500 watts days and 35 watts nights as New Life Radio.