N.L.’s oldest radio station off air for second time in 97 years after lightning

By The Canadian Press

Posted Aug 24, 2021 10:59:54 AM.

Last Updated Aug 24, 2021 11:09:15 AM.

ST. JOHN’S, N.L. — For the second time in its 97-year history, Newfoundland’s oldest radio station is off the air after its transmission tower went down in a storm.

VOWR station manager Doreen Whalen says the tower trouble began early morning on Saturday, when a rare lightning storm lit up the sky in the provincial capital.

Whalen says that since then, listeners hoping for VOWR’s signature easy-listening music have heard nothing but a fuzzy, humming sound at the station’s spot on the AM dial.

VOWR is based out of the Wesley United Church building in St. John’s and has been broadcasting since July 20, 1924.

Whalen says VOWR is the station of choice for many senior citizens, and she says her answering machine has been taken over with messages from confused seniors wondering what happened to their favourite music.

She says the last time the transmission tower went down was in January 1982, when it was toppled by high winds during another storm.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Aug. 24, 2021.

The Canadian Press

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