Special Recognition Award
Where were you in the 1950’s? Some of us were not born.
But if you were around, you know it was a turbulent year for America. The Korean War began, President Harry Truman escaped assassination, and Diners Club started a business called credit cards.
Fortunately, there was some good news: the Wellesley Amateur Radio Society (WARS) was born. Today it’s celebrating 75 years as a vibrant amateur radio club serving the town of Wellesley Massachusetts and surrounding areas.
The Town of Wellesley formed its Civil Defense Agency in the fall of 1950 and appropriated $31,955 to get Civil Defense started and $2,480 for the first year for a CD radio system. Irving P. Gramkow was the first Director who then appointed MIT ’39 graduate and WWII veteran U. S. Navy Lt. Commander Donald W. Scully as Deputy Director of Communications of the town’s Civil Defense. Don and Wellesley hams formed a Civil Defense-based Wellesley Amateur Radio Society to support the town and bring in new prospective hams in February of 1951. The first“Civil Defense Communications” meeting was on February 10, 1951, at the Wellesley Hills Library. The club advertised their meetings and classes in the local newspaper The Wellesley Townsman. WARS has had a long fruitful history.
In 2020 COVID-19 WARS moved monthly meetings to Zoom and posted some of its historical items online.
Through these years, WARS supported the Boston Marathon with volunteers and allowed them to use their radio system for the race.
WARS strives for inclusion and instruction, helping each member to have an enriched radio experience while serving the public.
Today the Wellesley Celebrations Committee, a standing committee of the Select Board, Town of Wellesley, honors WARS with a Special Recognition Award.
Thank you WARS you make our town a special place.
