WWSC countdown to 75 — ‘Crusade for Freedom’

This is the latest in an occasional series of posts leading up to the 75th anniversary of Glens Falls radio station WWSC on Dec. 18, 2021.

Glens Falls Mayor Milton Tibbets on Oct. 2, 1950 proclaimed it “Crusade for Freedom Week” as WWSC radio championed local participation in a national campaign to raise funds to expand the Radio Free Europe network to deter the spread of communism.

WWSC woman’s editor Penny Hitchcock was chairwoman of the local effort that would raise $1,508. 37 in Glens Falls — the equivalent of $15,818 in 2020 dollars — and $414.47 in Hudson Falls and surrounding Washington County communities.

Local contributions went toward a national goal of adding seven more “freedom stations” broadcasting 24 hours a day, seven days a week into communist countries.

“At the present time Radio Free Europe is broadcasting seven days a week to five Iron Curtain countries in six different languages,” The Post-Star reported.

Throughout the region, 8,904 people signed petitions of support for Radio Free Europe.

WWSC announcers James Sowden, Earl Showland, E.V. Wiley and Carl Mattison were among volunteer campaign speakers in the community.

Local Girl Scouts and their leaders staffed donation cartons during the campaign at The Economy Store, Merkel and Gelman and Fowler’s department stores downtown.

Local Boy Scouts drew posters and distributed publicity materials.

On Sept. 29, a replica of the Liberty Bell that was touring the country on a flat bed trailer was parked for the day in front of Kresge’s in downtown Glens Falls.

The campaign concluded on Oct. 12 with about 100 volunteers going door-to-door in Glens Falls in the evening to collect donations and signatures.

Sources: The Post-Star Sept. 20, 30, Oct. 2, 15, Nov. 3, 1950

Click here to read the most recent previous post in the series.