As noted here throughout this year, in 2016 (October 12, to be exact) the Reformed Witness Hour radio program sponsored by the Protestant Reformed Churches turned 75 years old (1941-2016).
We have been marking this significant event with features on different aspects of the program. To this point we have not spoken much about stations, so today we will do that.
The RWH was first broadcast on WLAV-AM (yes, that’s correct, for those of you who know something about the FM station)! And, you may recall, in the early years these broadcasts were done live from the sanctuary of First PRC in Grand Rapids, MI.
But early on the RWH also contracted with the Christian station WFUR to carry the broadcast – on AM and FM. The William Kuiper family (owners) has been faithful supporters of our program over all these years, and you may know that they are still involved personally with the station as announcers (Steve and others). We are most grateful for their loyal support.
In the RWH files now preserved in the PRC archives I found an old contract with this station from 1950, as well as a coverage map. Both contain some interesting statistics as well as history.
Did you know that the station was owned and managed by the “Furniture City Broadcasting Corporation”? Maybe now you will figure out why the call letters of the station are what they are. You will see what the contract amount was back in 1950. What do you think it is today?
But here is a more important question: if you live in the Grand Rapids, MI area, do you listen to the RWH program each Sunday? It is broadcast twice – at 8 am and at 4 pm. If you are not a regular listener, don’t you think it’s about time you became one?:)
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