SPECIAL NEWS RELEASE

November 2003

On August 23, 2003 the historic Amateur Radio site known as the "ENSOR PARK and MUSEUM", located at 18995 W. 183rd St. in Olathe, Kansas was nominated to become a National Historic Site, as well as placed on the Register of Historic Kansas Places.

Becoming a registered National Historic Place, gives notice to the world of W9BSPs "Teaching Radio by Radio", from the radio room of this farmhouse near the corn rows and serene pastures of rural Olathe Kansas. An Olathe High School Manual Arts instructor for 46 years, Marshall took three years off to serve in the Second World War at the Naval Station in Seattle Washington. His sister Loretta was always a great help to Marshall and was a licensed operator from the age of 17. Among other things she was the first woman to send her signal across the pacific. Loretta was also a founding member of the Young Ladies Relay League, and a member of over 50 years.

From his 1915 start in radio, it was in 1941 that Marshall H. Ensor, (W9BSP), became a local and national celebrity. The American Radio Relay League was the nominator to CBS head, William S. Paley’s last award for meritorious service to Amateur Radio and America. As one of few early ARRL authorized Code Practice Stations, Marshall's focused goal was to add new radio operators to the ranks of Amateur Radio. Between 1929 and the 1941 day that Amateur Radio was shut down for the duration of WW2, Marshall Ensor helped an estimated 10,000 people become FCC licensed operators which was a great aid to the military effort, and provided many careers in various electronic occupations. His radio transmitted teaching from Olathe, Kansas, reached the whole continent and was sent on a frequency tunable by average citizens on their living room receivers. The equipment used by Marshall and his sister, Loretta, W9UA, who aided him in the over the air classes, is well preserved and displayed at the radio Museum.

Assisting the Museum by being dedicated to its welfare, are members of the nationwide Marshall Ensor Memorial Organization Amateur Radio Club now holding the call W9BSP, which returns to the airways after 62 years when Amateur radio was closed in 1941. In the post war era, WØBSP was used until Mr. Ensors death in 1970. The club station is in the Museum and situated along side the famous kilowatt rig used in the latter years of the Ensor's radio instruction. Members will operate the special station and will demonstrate Amateur Radio to Museum visitors during open months. Many stations will receive QSL cards confirming contact with these historic call letters.

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The Grand Event of returning Marshall Ensor’s W9BSP call to the Amateur Radio bands is scheduled to take place on Saturday, December 6, 2003. This re-activation of the historic call will be from the Ensor Museum radio room, next to the beautiful 1937 kilowatt rig, hand crafted by Marshall H. Ensor. Almost exactly 62 years to the hour is when the last transmission using the W9BSP call was made. Numerous dignitaries and members of the press will be present. Members of the M.E.M.O. Amateur Radio Club will operate scheduled contacts with the American Radio Relay League station W1AW at the following times-:

ENSOR MUSEUM W9BSP EVENT SCHEDULE
December 6, 2003 (Saturday) - W9BSP scheduled contacts with W1AW;

              1900z (1 PM CST)            18.160 MHz + - 5/10 kHz
              1930z (1:30 PM CST)       21.390 MHz  + - 5/10 kHz
              2000z (2 PM CST)           14.290 MHz  + - 5/10 kHz

After the first few minutes of each contact, only W9BSP will continue to make general contacts before QSY to the next schedule frequency. W1AW will stand by but not make other contacts.

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The Museum opens for viewing in May, June, September, and October. Saturdays and Sundays 1 till 5 PM. For additional information visit this web site. <W9BSP-W9UA.org>