The South Hardin Signal Review
October 23, 1996
"Hi There" by Irene Gogerty
I read where Radio Station WHO has been sold and thus an era ends and a new owner takes the helm. It is a reason to reflect and to remember. There was, in the neighborhood where I lived, a most generous and hospitable family. The Chas. Fosseens, residing abut three miles north of Radcliffe. They lived in a fine new house and the red carpet was extended to the neighbors, of that group was our family. Fosseens owned the first radio receiver in the community and we were often invited to spend a Saturday evening listening to the wonder the age, a radio.
"Station WHO, Bankers Life, Des Moines" was the identifying call letters and I assume Banker's Life had something to do with the station although it was a Palmer Co. Enterprise. (Again I am assuming). The program of the evening was the WHO Barn Dance Frolic. Here was music, and comic sketches, and some nonsense and a few commercials, the latter being innocent and non-offensive. A brand of popcorn as I recall and also yet another wonder - the Aladdin Lamp, a kerosene fueled table lamp that out-shone all the other non-electric lights known to man. Those were the days....
We sat grouped about the radio in unspoken awe at this marvelous gadget that could bring to us, in a farmhouse a long way from the Shrine Auditorium in the big city of Des Moines, 60 minles away, voices and music and jokes and news....What has God wrought, yet again?
