USM’s radio station, WMPG, promoted its 30th birthday party Wednesday morning with a live broadcast from the top of 86-foot Portland Observatory on Munjoy Hill.
Starting at about 9:15 a.m. Sara Cox and Nate Schrock of the band The Coming Grass gave a stark and spirited performance of four songs. It was the first time in many years that music was performed at the Portland landmark, and their expressive singing and harmonies, backed by acoustic guitars, made the event something special.
The broadcast from Portland Observatory was a unique undertaking. WMPG Development Director Tom Flynn said the idea came from the artist who made their 30th anniversary poster, which illustrates radio signals transmitting from atop the nearly 200-year-old tower. Alan Claude of ACES Design chose to feature the Observatory in his poster because he felt that the Portland landmark was symbolic of WMPG’s role in the community.
“Both were started by an individual with a vision, [and] both [now] belong to the people,” Flynn said. WMPG was founded and originally run by former USM student Howard Allen and now offers all citizens the chance to broadcast. Portland Observatory is publicly owned by the city of Portland.
When Station Manager Jim Rand saw the finished poster, he remarked, “I wonder if we could broadcast from there.”
Flynn contacted Greater Portland Landmarks, who operate the building, and their response was enthusiastic. The organization had long been interested in bringing music back to the Observatory; the builder and original owner of the tower, Captain Lemuel Moody, often hosted bands and dancing to attract people to the site back in the 1800s.
What else connects the Observatory and WMPG? Flynn points out several similarities. The building was originally used as a signal tower (though with flags rather than radio signals) to notify shipowners of their approaching vessels. Captain Moody kept this service in operation by offering subscriptions to the shipowners (similar to how WMPG operates through listener support).
From its beginnings in founder Howard Allen’s Anderson Hall dorm room, WMPG has grown into an organization with over 200 volunteers and six paid staff members. Transmitting now from both Portland and Gorham, it is at the peak of its popularity.
Asked about the station’s plans for the future, Station Manager Jim Rand said his top priority is acquiring a larger building. He also cited digital conversion, increased community outreach, and more of a web presence as important goals.
“The current building is bursting at the seams,” said Development Director Flynn. The station has a music library of over 100,000 items, and space is so tight at the Bedford Street location that one of their production studios is located in a closet.
The Portland Observatory broadcast can be heard on the WMPG website at http://www.wmpg.org.
“We really want students to become involved at WMPG and we want them to know the door is open. WMPG is USM radio.” If you’re interested in volunteering at the station, contact Program Director Dave Bunker at 780-4598 or [email protected].
Brian O’Keefe can be contacted at [email protected]