Inside WHQR

Our 30th Anniversary

WHQR | By Michelle Crouch

Published April 22, 2014 at 9:23 AM EDT

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WHQR's original station manager, Michael Titterton, during a 1993 pledge drive.

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A visitor to the WHQR studios, with Bill DiNome, Beth Becka, Michael Titterton, and guest.

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Jim Polson, News Director and Host of "Sounds Local."

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The Greenfield Street strip mall WHQR once called home

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The view from midway up the radio tower

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Another 4-legged visitor, with Beth Becka, Development Director, in 1996.

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A General Meeting in the space that would become the MC Erny Gallery (and the membership office).

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Bob Pratt, news host, and Trish Snyder, original Development Director, outside the Greenfield Street station.

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Sam Burke, Music Director, and Jim Trimble, Operations

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Anne Brennan curating the first show in the WHQR Gallery (now the MC Erny Gallery) -- featuring artwork celebrating radio.

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William "Paco" Strickland, hosting "Flamenco Cafe" live during a pledge drive

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Joe Kessler, host of "The Cargo Joe Show"

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Nancy Geimer, on-air host and Operations Manager

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Jerry Nolan, opera expert and one of WHQR's founders

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Another view from the tower in Winnabow

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Norman Bemelmans, first Music Director

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Kara Chiles (red apron) and Lynne Rosetto Kasper (blue shirt), host of "The Splendid Table," at CFCC for a WHQR special event

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Mike Glancy, Lolo Shannon, Kathleen Shannon Glancy, and Lynne Rosetto Kasper

WHQR went on the air on April 22nd, 1984. The first sound the station played? A newborn baby's cry.

Ben Steelman's 1984 StarNews article about the advent of public radio in Wilmington

WHQR originally set up shop in a converted bar in a strip mall on Greenfield Street. Founded by displaced opera lovers, the original Friends of the Opera, the station thrived by truly becoming a community station, supported and staffed by public radio lovers. Ten years to the day it first went on the air, the station moved to a new home, a renovated building on Front Street, in the heart of historic downtown Wilmington. WHQR continues to grow and evolve every day (Facebook and HD streaming, anyone?) while staying true to its roots and mission.

We're excited to celebrate our 30th anniversary of providing listener-supported public radio to the Cape Fear region. All through 2014, we'll be honoring the station and the community with special events. Click below to see photos from the events that have already happened or to find out more information about those coming up:

January 10th: Day Sponsor Thank You Party

February 7th - 9th: A Baroque Weekend with Suzanne Bona

April 24th: Table Host Luncheon with Robert Siegel

June 14th: The Great American Songbook Live

August: Volunteer Thank You Party, hosted by the WHQR Board of Directors [details TBA]

September: Ice Cream Social [details TBA]

October: Our Big 30th Birthday Bash [details TBA]

December: Homemade Holiday Shorts [details TBA]

We'll update this post whenever there's new event information, so we encourage you to check back often!