Members of the board of the Voice of America Museum of Broadcasting in West Chester visited the VOA offices in Washington, D.C. this week to learn more about the organization.
Clyde Haehnle, who is also on the board of directors, provides a tour of VOA Museum. He was a project engineer at the Voice of America Bethany Relay Station and was involved with the project when it was built in 1944 under the direction of Powell Crosley Jr. Photo taken by Tony Jones.
“The VOA is a best-kept secret for many Americans, but is a primary source of accurate news for 134 million people each day in 45 languages,” said Ken Rieser, VOA Museum board chair. “Its mission has always been to broadcast accurate news in oppressed countries that are media-censored or democracies at risk.”
The VOA Museum in West Chester is the only attraction in the U.S. that shares the history of the VOA and Cincinnati radio’s role during World War II and the Cold War.
Earlier this year, West Chester Township Trustees entered into a lease agreement with the museum’s board, putting them in charge of maintaing the landmark and allowed them to raise funds as a non-profit corporation.
It will take roughly $12 million to convert it into the revenue-generating museum.
Before that happens, people can tour the museum, 8070 Tylersville Road, this Saturday and Sunday from 1 to 4 p.m. For more information, visit www.voamuseum.org.
The National Voice of America Museum of Broadcasting will once again be open for tours this Saturday from 1 to 4 p.m. The West Chester landmark has opened on the third Saturday of each month since July, so the public can have the opportunity to learn about the history of Voice of America.
Since the building, the Bethany Relay Station, was built in 1944 until 1994, it delivered U.S. news in a total of 52 different languages throughout the world and was originally created under the direction of Powell Crosley Jr. to combat Germany and Japan shortwave transmitters, which shared anti-American propaganda to the world.
“Locally we want people to understand the history that has been made in West Chester and all the history of broadcasting that has been developed here in Greater Cincinnati,” VOA board chairman Ken Rieser said in a recent interview with WestChesterBuzz.com.
“There is also a certain draw to the people behind the Iron Curtain, the people in China and places where there have been problems understanding and knowing what the truth was. This place is a draw for them. They just want to see it.”
To see it for yourself, donations of $5 for adults and $1 for children under 12 are suggested.
Clyde Haehnle, who is also on the board of directors, provides a tour of VOA Museum. He was a project engineer at the Voice of America Bethany Relay Station and was involved with the project when it was built in 1944 under the direction of Powell Crosley Jr. Photo taken by Tony Jones.
The West Chester Board of Trustees agreed in late March to contribute $85,000 to the board of the National Voice of America Museum of Broadcasting. Earlier that month, the trustees officially agreed to enter into a five-year lease with the museum board. The lease agreement put the museum board in charge of maintaining the landmark off Tylersville Road and allowed them to raise funds as a non-profit corporation.
It will take roughly $12 million to convert it into the revenue-generating museum.
As of right now, it consists of exhibits featuring the old relay station; Media Heritage’s Greater Cincinnati Museum of Broadcast History; the Gray History of Wireless Museum; and the West Chester Amateur Radio Association control room.
In addition to Saturday’s tour, the museum is looking for volunteers and docents.
The West Chester Township trustees, once again, agreed to enter a five-year lease with the Board of the National Voice of America Museum of Broadcasting. This agreement, which was made official Tuesday night at the latest trustee meeting, will put the museum’s board in charge of maintaining the landmark and will allow them to raise funds as a non-profit corporation.
In December, the trustees agreed to enter the lease, but the deal still required the approval from the Secretary of the United States Department of Interior.
The lease agreement did receive approval from the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Interior, but with the approval it came back with some minor changes, according to Barbara Wilson, public information officer for West Chester Township. Since there were changes, the trustees had to vote again.
According to Wilson, the minor changes reflected wording that any modifications to the building would have to be submitted to the National Park Service for approval. Furthermore, the Program for Preservation and Utilization for the VOA Building was updated. This dictates how the building is to be used and what needs to be preserved.
Clyde Haehnle, who is also on the board of directors, provides a tour of VOA Museum. He was a project engineer at the Voice of America Bethany Relay Station and was involved with the project when it was built in 1944 under the direction of Powell Crosley Jr. Photo taken by Tony Jones.
Since the township acquired the property in 1998, it has undergone numerous restoration projects that were finally completed in the summer of 2012.
Through those improvements and utilities payments, the township has spent around $1.68 million from its own budget on the building since 2004. Additionally, according to the museum’s board, $1.5 million from the Ohio Cultural Facilities Commission has been used to repair the structure built in 1944.
Since its inception to 1994, the Bethany Relay Station delivered U.S. news in a total of 52 different languages throughout the world. It was originally created under the direction of Powell Crosley Jr. to combat Germany and Japan shortwave transmitters, which shared anti-American propaganda to the world.
“Locally we want people to understand the history that has been made in West Chester and all the history of broadcasting that has been developed here in Greater Cincinnati,” VOA board chairman Ken Rieser said.
“There is also a certain draw to the people behind the Iron Curtain, the people in China and places where there have been problems understanding and knowing what the truth was. This place is a draw for them. They just want to see it.”
For any person to see it the way the VOA Museum board wants it to be presented, approximately $12 million will need to be raised to make it a revenue-generating landmark. (more…)
The National Voice of America Museum of Broadcasting will once again be open for tours this Saturday from 1 to 4 p.m. The West Chester landmark has opened on the third Saturday of each month since July, so the public can have the opportunity to learn about the history of Voice of America.
Since the building, the Bethany Relay Station, was built in 1944 until 1994, it delivered U.S. news in a total of 52 different languages throughout the world and was originally created under the direction of Powell Crosley Jr. to combat Germany and Japan shortwave transmitters, which shared anti-American propaganda to the world.
“Locally we want people to understand the history that has been made in West Chester and all the history of broadcasting that has been developed here in Greater Cincinnati,” VOA board chairman Ken Rieser said in a recent interview with WestChesterBuzz.com.
“There is also a certain draw to the people behind the Iron Curtain, the people in China and places where there have been problems understanding and knowing what the truth was. This place is a draw for them. They just want to see it.”
To see it for yourself, donations of $5 for adults and $1 for children under 12 are suggested.
Clyde Haehnle, who is also on the board of directors, provides a tour of VOA Museum. He was a project engineer at the Voice of America Bethany Relay Station and was involved with the project when it was built in 1944 under the direction of Powell Crosley Jr. Photo taken by Tony Jones.
In the near future, the museum’s board is planning to begin fundraising so it can turn the old Bethany Relay Station into a revenue-generating museum. According to Rieser, it will take roughly $12 million to convert it into the museum his board wants it to be.
As of right now, it consists of exhibits featuring the old relay station; Media Heritage’s Greater Cincinnati Museum of Broadcast History; the Gray History of Wireless Museum; and the West Chester Amateur Radio Association control room.
In addition to Saturday’s tour, the museum is looking for volunteers and docents.
The National Voice of America Museum of Broadcasting will once again be open for tours this Saturday from 1 to 4 p.m. The West Chester landmark has opened on the third Saturday of each month since July, so the public can have the opportunity to learn about the history of Voice of America.
Since the building, the Bethany Relay Station, was built in 1944 until 1994, it delivered U.S. news in a total of 52 different languages throughout the world and was originally created under the direction of Powell Crosley Jr. to combat Germany and Japan shortwave transmitters, which shared anti-American propaganda to the world.
“Locally we want people to understand the history that has been made in West Chester and all the history of broadcasting that has been developed here in Greater Cincinnati,” VOA board chairman Ken Rieser said in a recent interview with WestChesterBuzz.com.
“There is also a certain draw to the people behind the Iron Curtain, the people in China and places where there have been problems understanding and knowing what the truth was. This place is a draw for them. They just want to see it.”
To see it for yourself, donations of $5 for adults and $1 for children under 12 are suggested.
Clyde Haehnle, who is also on the board of directors, provides a tour of VOA Museum. He was a project engineer at the Voice of America Bethany Relay Station and was involved with the project when it was built in 1944 under the direction of Powell Crosley Jr. Photo taken by Tony Jones.
In the near future, the museum’s board is planning to begin fundraising so it can turn the old Bethany Relay Station into a revenue-generating museum. According to Rieser, it will take roughly $12 million to convert it into the museum his board wants it to be.
As of right now, it consists of exhibits featuring the old relay station; Media Heritage’s Greater Cincinnati Museum of Broadcast History; the Gray History of Wireless Museum; and the West Chester Amateur Radio Association control room.
In addition to Saturday’s tour, the museum is looking for volunteers and docents.
The National Voice of America Museum of Broadcasting will once again be open for tours this Saturday from 1 to 4 p.m. The West Chester landmark has opened on the third Saturday of each month since July, so the public can have the opportunity to learn about the history of Voice of America.
Since the building, the Bethany Relay Station, was built in 1944 until 1994, it delivered U.S. news in a total of 52 different languages throughout the world and was originally created under the direction of Powell Crosley Jr. to combat Germany and Japan shortwave transmitters, which shared anti-American propaganda to the world.
“Locally we want people to understand the history that has been made in West Chester and all the history of broadcasting that has been developed here in Greater Cincinnati,” VOA board chairman Ken Rieser said in a recent interview with WestChesterBuzz.com.
“There is also a certain draw to the people behind the Iron Curtain, the people in China and places where there have been problems understanding and knowing what the truth was. This place is a draw for them. They just want to see it.”
To see it for yourself, donations of $5 for adults and $1 for children under 12 are suggested.
Clyde Haehnle, who is also on the board of directors, provides a tour of VOA Museum. He was a project engineer at the Voice of America Bethany Relay Station and was involved with the project when it was built in 1944 under the direction of Powell Crosley Jr. Photo taken by Tony Jones.
In the near future, the museum’s board is planning to begin fundraising so it can turn the old Bethany Relay Station into a revenue-generating museum. According to Rieser, it will take roughly $12 million to convert it into the museum his board wants it to be.
As of right now, it consists of exhibits featuring the old relay station; Media Heritage’s Greater Cincinnati Museum of Broadcast History; the Gray History of Wireless Museum; and the West Chester Amateur Radio Association control room.
In addition to Saturday’s tour, the museum is looking for volunteers and docents, and is planing a Work Day to help clean the interior of the museum on Saturday, Jan. 12.
Adults and high school students are urged to participate. Teens, who need community service hours, will receive a letter from the museum board after completion of their cleaning chores.
“We’ve had a lot of exterior improvements to the museum over the past couple of years, and our inside housekeeping has suffered from outdoor foot traffic,” Rieser said. “We’ll have a list of specific cleaning projects we want to accomplish by Jan. 12, but are looking for people with good attitudes who can dust, clean display cases, move boxes and materials and help clean floors.”
The “last piece” to make West Chester Township’s Voice of America Bethany Relay Station a museum may finally be in place.
During its Tuesday night meeting, township trustees unanimously agreed to enter a five-year lease with the Board of the National Voice of America Museum of Broadcasting, which will put the museum’s board in charge of maintaining the landmark and will allow them to raise funds as a non-profit corporation.
While the board of trustees approved the lease, it still requires approval from the Secretary of the United States Department of Interior. Township administrator Judith Boyko said she doesn’t expect an objection from the U.S. government.
“It is the last piece to put us in position to actual begin the museum’s development,” VOA board chairman Ken Rieser said.
“Bethany Station is truly a national treasure, it is West Chester’s good fortune that it is here. I have no doubt that it will bring national and international fame to West Chester.”
Since the township acquired the property in 1998, it has undergone numerous restoration projects that were finally completed in the summer of 2012.
Clyde Haehnle, who is also on the board of directors, provides a tour of VOA Museum. He was a project engineer at the Voice of America Bethany Relay Station and was involved with the project when it was built in 1944 under the direction of Powell Crosley Jr. Photo taken by Tony Jones.
Through those improvements and utilities payments, the township has spent around $1.68 million from its own budget on the building since 2004. Additionally, according to the museum’s board, $1.5 million from the Ohio Cultural Facilities Commission has been used to repair the structure built in 1944.
Since its inception to 1994, the Bethany Relay Station delivered U.S. news in a total of 52 different languages throughout the world. It was originally created under the direction of Powell Crosley Jr. to combat Germany and Japan shortwave transmitters, which shared anti-American propaganda to the world.
“Locally we want people to understand the history that has been made in West Chester and all the history of broadcasting that has been developed here in Greater Cincinnati,” Rieser said.
“There is also a certain draw to the people behind the Iron Curtain, the people in China and places where there have been problems understanding and knowing what the truth was. This place is a draw for them. They just want to see it.”
For any person to see it the way the VOA Museum board wants it to be presented, approximately $12 million will need to be raised to make it a revenue-generating landmark.
Its first large contribution could come from the township itself. In January of 2013, the trustees are expected to vote on a financial contribution schedule. Amounts could change, but the contributions, if approved, will descend from $85,000 in the first year, to $75,000 in years two and three and to $50,000 in years of four and five.
“It is important to all of the board that this facility be able become an independent unit,” said West Chester Trustee President Catherine Stoker, who has been trustee since 1994.
“This is a tremendous opportunity to bring West Chester before the world.
“We have had people come over, for example, from Ukraine, who specially came to West Chester to see that building because during the Cold War they would secretly listen to Voice of America so they could find out what was going on. They were just in tears when they played some old broadcasts for them. It was just a wonderful experience.”
If and when the fundraising is completed, it is expected to attract 25,000 visitors, bring in $475,000 in out of area direct spending and provide an overall economic impact in excess of $1.7 million annually, according to estimates by museum design firm Jack Rouse Associates.
Currently, the unfinished museum off Tylersville Road has been open from 1 to 4 p.m. on the third Saturday of each month since July of 2012.
As of right now, it consists of exhibits featuring the old relay station; Media Heritage’s Greater Cincinnati Museum of Broadcast History; the Gray History of Wireless Museum; and the West Chester Amateur Radio Association control room.
The Sept. 17 tour will be the first of several tours planned before the museum closes again for a few months this winter to complete installation of a new roof and block maintenance on the rear of the building.
“We’re looking forward to greeting the public again and sharing information about the great contribution Cincinnati has made to freedom and the world of broadcasting,” said Ken Rieser, National VOA Museum of Broadcasting board chairman.
Donations of $5 for adults and $1 for children under 12 are suggested. For more information about the VOA museum, go to www.voamuseum.org.
The museum is located at 8070 Tylersville Road in West Chester.
