W1AW 1941 Hartford, Connecticut
Operator: George Hart W1JTD / W1NJM
This is a later version of the
classic W1AW QSL. We see the notation of W1JTD/W1NJM
on the front of the card, who are both shown on
the back in a view of the W1AW equipment area.
W1JTD, Hal Budd, and W1NJM, George Hart were the first and second
operators, respectively, of the new Maxim Memorial Station,
W1AW, both being hired in 1938.
ARRL co-founder and first President Hiram Percy Maxim, W1AW,
went SK, on 17 February 1936, at the age of
66, after 22 years at the helm of the league.
The original Headquarter's station, W1MK, located at Hartford's
Brainard Field, was totally destroyed by the waters of the
Connecticut River during the devastating New England
flood of March 1936.
No trace of the antenna structure remained after the flood waters
receded!
The traffic handling work of W1MK, was picked up by the League
club station, W1INF, located in nearby West Hartford.
December 1936, at the request of the ARRL Board of Directors, the
FCC assigned the W1AW call to the league in memoriam. The first
action of it's kind.
A new 7 acre site, in Newington, purchased for $2,200, would
become the site of a new station in memoriam of Maxim,
co-founder of the ARRL.
The Maxim Memorial Station, W1AW, was dedicated on 2 September
1938. The dedication being broadcast nationally through the
facilities of WTIC Hartford.
QSL + Info courtesy of W4WJ