WestChesterBuzz.com

With the recent completion of some significant construction work, the National Voice of America Museum of Broadcasting re-opened for tours in July and will provide another opportunity for the public to tour the West Chester landmark this Saturday from 1 to 4 p.m.

The recent renovations included installation of a new roof and block maintenance on the rear of the building. West Chester Township will be reimbursed for the work through a $500,000 grant from the Ohio Cultural Facilities Commission.

As well as the recent grant, the township also received a $1 million grant in 2008 to repair the exterior facade, windows and entry doors, as well as some electrical.

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.

During the 2008 restoration, the township had to pay an additional $731,653. Overall, West Chester has spent around $1.68 million from its own budget on utilities and improvements since 2004.

• Story: Anniversary of VOA marks beginning of national museum
• Story: Voice of America Museum rich in Cincinnati history

With construction completed, it will soon be up to the VOA Museum board to raise approximately $12 million to make it a revenue-generating landmark.

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.

The National VOA Museum of Broadcasting consists of exhibits featuring the Voice of America at the VOA-Bethany 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.

To help lead future tours, board members of the facility have implemented a docent program for volunteers to learn about the museum. Those wishing to volunteer can contact Dave Snyder at DavidSnyde@aol.com.

The public tours of VOA are expected to continue on the third Saturday of each month from 1 to 4 p.m. Donations of $5 for adults and $1 for children under 12 are suggested.

For more information about VOA museums, go to www.voamuseum.org.

The museum is located at 8070 Tylersville Road in West Chester.

Posted in: Events, Government, News |

Tags: Tags: Jack Rouse Associates, Ken Riser, National VOA Museum of Broadcasting, National Voice of America Museum of Broadcasting, VOA Museum, VOA Museum of Broadcasting, Voice of America Museum

With the recent completion of some significant construction work, the National Voice of America Museum of Broadcasting re-opened for tours in July and will provide another opportunity for the public to tour the West Chester landmark this Saturday from 1 to 4 p.m.

The recent renovations included installation of a new roof and block maintenance on the rear of the building. West Chester Township will be reimbursed for the work through a $500,000 grant from the Ohio Cultural Facilities Commission.

As well as the recent grant, the township also received a $1 million grant in 2008 to repair the exterior facade, windows and entry doors, as well as some electrical.

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.

During the 2008 restoration, the township had to pay an additional $731,653. Overall, West Chester has spent around $1.68 million from its own budget on utilities and improvements since 2004.

• Story: Anniversary of VOA marks beginning of national museum
• Story: Voice of America Museum rich in Cincinnati history

With construction completed, it will soon be up to the VOA Museum board to raise approximately $12 million to make it a revenue-generating landmark.

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.

The National VOA Museum of Broadcasting consists of exhibits featuring the Voice of America at the VOA-Bethany 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.

To help lead future tours, board members of the facility have implemented a docent program for volunteers to learn about the museum. Those wishing to volunteer can contact Dave Snyder at DavidSnyde@aol.com.

The public tours of VOA are expected to continue on the third Saturday of each month from 1 to 4 p.m. Donations of $5 for adults and $1 for children under 12 are suggested.

For more information about VOA museums, go to www.voamuseum.org.

The museum is located at 8070 Tylersville Road in West Chester.

Posted in: Events, Government, News |

Tags: Tags: Jack Rouse Associates, Ken Riser, National VOA Museum of Broadcasting, National Voice of America Museum of Broadcasting, VOA Museum, VOA Museum of Broadcasting, Voice of America Museum

With the recent completion of some significant construction work, the National Voice of America Museum of Broadcasting re-opened for tours in July and will provide another opportunity for the public to tour the West Chester landmark this Saturday from 1 to 4 p.m.

The recent renovations included installation of a new roof and block maintenance on the rear of the building. West Chester Township will be reimbursed for the work through a $500,000 grant from the Ohio Cultural Facilities Commission.

As well as the recent grant, the township also received a $1 million grant in 2008 to repair the exterior facade, windows and entry doors, as well as some electrical.

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.

During the 2008 restoration, the township had to pay an additional $731,653. Overall, West Chester has spent around $1.68 million from its own budget on utilities and improvements since 2004.

• Story: Anniversary of VOA marks beginning of national museum
• Story: Voice of America Museum rich in Cincinnati history
• Follow Voice of America Museum news and updates on WestChesterBuzz.com

With construction completed, it will soon be up to the VOA Museum board to raise approximately $12 million to make it a revenue-generating landmark.

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.

The National VOA Museum of Broadcasting consists of exhibits featuring the Voice of America at the VOA-Bethany 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.

To help lead future tours, board members of the facility have implemented a docent program for volunteers to learn about the museum. Those wishing to volunteer can contact Dave Snyder at DavidSnyde@aol.com.

The public tours of VOA are expected to continue on the third Saturday of each month from 1 to 4 p.m. Donations of $5 for adults and $1 for children under 12 are suggested.

For more information about VOA museums, go to www.voamuseum.org.

The museum is located at 8070 Tylersville Road in West Chester.

Posted in: Events, Government, News |

Tags: Tags: Jack Rouse Associates, Ken Riser, National VOA Museum of Broadcasting, National Voice of America Museum of Broadcasting, VOA Museum, VOA Museum of Broadcasting, Voice of America Museum

With the recent completion of some significant construction work, the National Voice of America Museum of Broadcasting reopened for tours last month and will continue provide another opportunity for the public to tour the West Chester landmark this Saturday from 1 to 4 p.m.

Unique to the tours this Saturday will be the visit from longtime radio announcer Don Herman, who is celebrating his 51st year in Cincinnati this month.

Don Herman at WCKY. Photo provided.

Herman started in radio in 1947, at a station in Ann Arbor, Mich., where he was a staff announcer and disc jockey. He came to WCKY in Cincinnati in 1961 as a news host and announcer. While with WCKY, Herman covered the Hoffa Cincinnati teamsters debate, the Kennedy assassination and the 1974 tornadoes.

When the station switched call letters and formats in 1994 to Oldies WSAI, Herman enjoyed the unique status of having worked on the same AM frequency—1530—for 37 years. That frequency later switched back to WCKY and is now a sports station.

The public tours of VOA are expected to take place on the third Saturday of each month from 1 to 4 p.m. Donations of $5 for adults and $1 for children under 12 are suggested.

The museum’s board chairman Ken Rieser said the group hopes to kick off its fundraising efforts this year in order to make the historical venue a revenue-generating landmark for years to come.

If and when the fundraising is completed, early estimates show that it needs to raise approximately $12 million, the museum 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.

The National VOA Museum of Broadcasting consists of exhibits featuring the Voice of America at the VOA-Bethany 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.

For more information about VOA museums, go to www.voamuseum.org.

The museum is located at 8070 Tylersville Road in West Chester.

Posted in: Business, Events, Government, News |

Tags: Tags: Don Herman, Jack Rouse Associates, Ken Riser, National VOA Museum of Broadcasting, National Voice of America Museum of Broadcasting, VOA Museum, VOA Museum of Broadcasting, Voice of America Museum

With the recent completion of some significant construction work, the National Voice of America Museum of Broadcasting is ready to reopen its doors for regularly scheduled monthly tours beginning this Saturday from 1 to 4 p.m. Future tours will take place every third Saturday of each month.

The recent renovations included installation of a new roof and block maintenance on the rear of the building. West Chester Township will be reimbursed for the work through a $500,000 grant from the Ohio Cultural Facilities Commission.

As well as the recent grant, the township also received a $1 million grant in 2008 to repair the exterior facade, windows and entry doors, as well as some electrical. During the 2008 restoration, the township had to pay an additional $731,653. Overall, West Chester has spent around $1.68 million from its own budget on utilities and improvements since 2004.

With construction completed, it will soon be up to the VOA Museum board to raise approximately $12 million to make it a revenue-generating landmark.

“It would certainly be a real asset to West Chester and draw people all over the country and the world,” Mark Hecquet, executive director of the Butler County Visitors Bureau, said in an interview with WestChesterBuzz in February.

“Hopefully it comes to fruition because it is a one of a kind thing and we should do all we can to make it a reality.”

According to board chairman Ken Rieser, the group hopes to kick off its fundraising efforts this year. However, the process is contingent on getting a working agreement in place with the township. Rieser said that the board is “in the final stages of the process.”

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.

The National VOA Museum of Broadcasting consists of exhibits featuring the Voice of America at the VOA-Bethany station; Media Heritage’s Greater Cincinnati Museum of Broadcast History; the Gray History of Wireless Museum; and the West Chester Amateur Radio Assn.

For more information about VOA museums, go to www.voamuseum.org.

The museum is located at 8070 Tylersville Road in West Chester.

Posted in: Business, Events, Government, News |

Tags: Tags: Butler County Visitor's Bureau, David Snyder, Ken Riser, Mark Hecquet, National VOA Museum of Broadcasting, National Voice of America Museum of Broadcasting, Ohio Cultural Facilities Commission, VOA Museum, VOA Museum of Broadcasting, Voice of America Museum

With the recent completion of some significant construction work, the National VOA Museum of Broadcasting will open for tours on the third Saturday of each month from 1 to 4 p.m. starting July 21.

The recent renovations included installation of a new roof and block maintenance on the rear of the building. West Chester Township will be reimbursed for the work through a $500,000 grant from the Ohio Cultural Facilities Commission.

As well as the recent grant, the township also received a $1 million grant in 2008 to repair the exterior facade, windows and entry doors, as well as some electrical. During the 2008 restoration, the township had to pay an additional $731,653. Overall, West Chester has spent around $1.68 million from its own budget on utilities and improvements since 2004.

With construction completed, it will soon be up to the VOA Museum board to raise approximately $12 million to make it a revenue-generating landmark.

“It would certainly be a real asset to West Chester and draw people all over the country and the world,” Mark Hecquet, executive director of the Butler County Visitors Bureau, said in an interview with WestChesterBuzz in February.

“Hopefully it comes to fruition because it is a one of a kind thing and we should do all we can to make it a reality.”

According to board chairman Ken Rieser, the group hopes to kick off its fundraising efforts this year. However, the process is contingent on getting a working agreement in place with the township. Rieser said that the board is “in the final stages of the process.”

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.

The National VOA Museum of Broadcasting consists of exhibits featuring the Voice of America at the VOA-Bethany station; Media Heritage’s Greater Cincinnati Museum of Broadcast History; the Gray History of Wireless Museum; and the West Chester Amateur Radio Assn.

For more information about VOA museums, go to www.voamuseum.org.

The museum is located at 8070 Tylersville Road in West Chester.

Posted in: Business, Events, Government, News |

Tags: Tags: Butler County Visitor's Bureau, David Snyder, Ken Riser, Mark Hecquet, National VOA Museum of Broadcasting, National Voice of America Museum of Broadcasting, Ohio Cultural Facilities Commission, VOA Museum, VOA Museum of Broadcasting, Voice of America Museum

For the first time since December, the National VOA Museum of Broadcasting will be open for tours this Saturday and Sunday.

There were a few public tours in late 2011 before construction forced the budding museum to close its doors. Prior to those tours, the museum had been closed to the public for two years.

“We are just finishing some major construction work, so some items may not be redisplayed by those tour dates and some areas may not be as organized as they will be later,” said Ken Rieser, VOA museum board chairman. “We are opening to accommodate the many requests in association with the Dayton Hamvention and others.

“What you will be able to see is how wonderfully the building has been restored.”

The latest restoration work, which has forced the museum to be closed for tours so far in 2012, included installation of a new roof and block maintenance on the rear of the building.

In addition to a $500,000 grant from the Ohio Cultural Facilities Commission, which will reimburse the township for the latest restoration work, the township also received a $1 million grant in 2008 to repair the exterior facade, windows and entry doors, as well as some electrical. During the 2008 restoration, the township had to pay an additional $731,653. Overall, West Chester has spent around $1.68 million from its own budget on utilities and improvements since 2004.

If and when the museum 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.

“It would certainly be a real asset to West Chester and draw people all over the country and the world,” said Mark Hecquet, executive director of the Butler County Visitors Bureau.

“Hopefully it comes to fruition because it is a one of a kind thing and we should do all we can to make it a reality.”

Once construction is completed, it will be up to the museum’s board of directors to raise approximately $12 million to make it a revenue generating landmark.

The National VOA Museum of Broadcasting consists of exhibits featuring the Voice of America at the VOA-Bethany station; Media Heritage’s Greater Cincinnati Museum of Broadcast History; the Gray History of Wireless Museum; and the West Chester Amateur Radio Assn.

This weekend’s tours will take place from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday and from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday. On Saturday, there will be a $5 per car parking fee for The West Chester Liberty Rotary Club and the Cincy Blues Society’s Backyard Bash to held at the museum. On Sunday, parking will be free, but there is a suggested $5 donation per adult and $1 donation per child to tour the museum.

Board members of the facility plan to set regular tour hours in the near future and are implementing a docent program for volunteers to learn about the museum and lead tours. Those wishing to volunteer can contact Dave Snyder at DavidSnyde@aol.com.

For more information about VOA museums, go to www.voamuseum.org.

The museum is located at 8070 Tylersville Road in West Chester.

Posted in: Business, Government, News |

Tags: Tags: Butler County Visitor's Bureau, David Snyder, Ken Riser, Mark Hecquet, National VOA Museum of Broadcasting, National Voice of America Museum of Broadcasting, Ohio Cultural Facilities Commission, VOA Museum, VOA Museum of Broadcasting, Voice of America Museum

Terry Jacobs. Photo provided.

Four new board members, Terry S. Jacobs, Chris Wunnenberg, James L. Jaeger and Melinda Zemper have joined the National Voice of America Museum of Broadcasting in West Chester.

“We’re happy to have such dedicated new talent on the board and look forward to continuing to make great progress in developing the museum,” said Ken Rieser, museum board president.

Jacobs is chairman and CEO of The JFP Group, LLC, a real estate development company, and chairman emeritus and founder of Jamos Capital, LLC, a private equity firm specializing in alternative investment strategies. He is founder and former CEO of radio station holding companies Jacor Communications and Regent Communications, and is chairman of the board for Adelante Media Group, LLC, a privately held radio and TV company specializing in Spanish language programming.

Chris Wunnenberg. Photo provided.

Wunnenberg is development director of Schumacher Dugan Construction, LLC, where he has worked for the last 36 years. Wunnenberg is a 24-year West Chester resident and is vice-chairman and central committee member of the Butler County Republican Party.

Jaeger is a mechanical engineer and entrepreneur who co-founded Cincinnati Microwave, manufacturer of the Escort Radar Warning Receiver. He has worked for Motorola Corp. and R. L. Drake Co., where he was system designer on the TR-7 HF Amateur Radio transceiver. He has been an amateur radio operator since 1964.

• Follow VOA Museum news and events on WestChesterBuzz.com

Jim Jaeger. Photo provided.

Zemper is president of Oak Tree Communications, a West Chester publicity and media relations company. A former educator at Miami University, Zemper has lived in West Chester for 24 years.

Other museum board members include Rieser, Mark Hecquet, Patti Alderson, Clyde Haehnle, Jeffrey P. Monroe, Gary West, Clifford Perry, Greg M. Stevens, Mike Martini, Susan Redman-Rengstorf, Bob White and Dave Snyder.

The board is implementing a docent program and is seeking volunteers to learn about the museums and help lead tours. Those wishing to join the VOA Museum docent family can contact Dave Snyder at DavidSnyde@aol.com.

Melinda Zemper. Photo provided.

The National VOA Museum of Broadcasting consists of exhibits featuring the Voice of America at the VOA-Bethany station; Media Heritage’s Greater Cincinnati Museum of Broadcast History; the Gray History of Wireless Museum; and the West Chester Amateur Radio Assn.

For more information about VOA museums, go to www.voamuseum.org.

The museum is located at 8070 Tylersville Road in West Chester.

Posted in: Business, Government, News |

Tags: Tags: Bob White, Butler County Visitor's Bureau, Chris Wunnenberg, Clifford Perry, Clyde Haehnle, David Snyder, Gary West, Greg M. Stevens, James Jaeger, Jeffrey P. Monroe, Ken Riser, Mark Hecquet, Melinda Zemper, Mike Martini, National VOA Museum of Broadcasting, National Voice of America Museum of Broadcasting, Ohio Cultural Facilities Commission, Patti Alderson, Susan Redman-Rengstorf, Terry Jacobs, VOA Museum, VOA Museum of Broadcasting, Voice of America Museum

Voice of America, which sent its original broadcast overseas 70 years ago this month, will see backers of its first-built transmitting station begin fundraising this year to become a national museum.

The impact of the local transmitting station was felt in 1944 when the building and its six 200-kilowatt transmitters were completed about a year after groundbreaking. The station was instantly able to broadcast news to Europe, Africa and South America.

“What happened here is something that I suppose only a few of us in the community understand or realize the significance of,” National VOA Museum of Broadcasting board president Ken Riser said. “None of this had been done before. They couldn’t just pull things off a shelf. They had to actually design, build and construct it all from scratch.

“These were things that were probably equivalent of going to the moon in the ‘60s.”

Currently, the old VOA Bethany Relay Station is undergoing approximately $500,000 worth of exterior restoration work that includes installation of a new roof and block maintenance on the rear of the building.

Once completed in the spring, it will be up to the museum’s board of directors to raise approximately $12 million to make it a revenue generating landmark.

“When they are finished, the building will be pretty well secure from the elements. From there it is our job to raise the funds to turn the building into a first class museum,” Riser said.

Securing the building has been the responsibility of West Chester Township since 1998, three years after new technology caused the U.S. government to close Bethany Station in 1995.

In addition to a $500,000 grant from the Ohio Cultural Facilities Commission, which will reimburse the township for the restoration work, the township also received a $1 million grant in 2008 to repair the exterior facade, windows and entry doors, as well as some electrical. During the 2008 restoration, the township had to pay an additional $731,653. Overall, West Chester has spent around $1.68 million from its own budget on utilities and improvements since 2004.

If and when the museum 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.

“It would certainly be a real asset to West Chester and draw people all over the country and the world,” said Mark Hecquet, executive director of the Butler County Visitors Bureau.

“Hopefully it comes to fruition because it is a one of a kind thing and we should do all we can to make it a reality.”

Before the latest restoration project, the VOA museum opened its doors briefly in the fall of 2011 for the first time in two years to provide public tours. This year, the museum is expected to open after the roof work is completed while it attempts to raise funds.

“Most of the transmitter stations have been decommissioned. There is nothing left, not even a marker to show what was there,” Bethany Station’s last plant supervisor David Snyder said.

“When we open, we will have a lot of information on Voice of America and its history. It will be exciting to come here and see something, which the American public knows very little about.”

While Americans may not be aware of Voice of America’s history during World War II and the Cold War, since it only transmitted broadcasts oversees, many should be able to identify with the other two museums that are located in the same building – The Gray History of Wireless Museum, which features one of the country’s largest collections of antique radios, and The Media Heritage’s Greater Cincinnati Museum of Broadcast History, which boasts local radio and television programming memorabilia.

Today, Voice of America is still operational and is funded by the U.S. government. VOA now broadcasts through the Internet, mobile, social media, radio and television in 43 languages and reaches a weekly global audience of 141 million.

Locally, Clyde Haehnle, who was one of the original engineers who helped design and build the transmitting station in West Chester, takes great pride knowing the station’s impact on the outcome of World War II.

“To see it still here and be preserved and restored for historical purposes is a great thrill to me,” said Haehnle, who will turn 90 in October.

“I hope I can see it finished.”

Posted in: Business, Government, News |

Tags: Tags: Butler County Visitor's Bureau, Clyde Haehnle, David Snyder, Ken Riser, Mark Hecquet, National VOA Museum of Broadcasting, National Voice of America Museum of Broadcasting, Ohio Cultural Facilities Commission, VOA Museum, VOA Museum of Broadcasting, Voice of America Museum