Back in the summer of 1953, the Smethport Centennial Celebration was the first "special event" covered by WFRM, the new radio station in Coudersport just constructed by the Farm & Home Broadcasting Company. Broadcast lines were installed and temporary broadcast facilities were put in place in Smethport to cover many of the Centennial activities. Pete and Bill, the stars of the Morning Show, were photographed in the derby hats that everyone in Smethport was wearing as part of the celebration. That photo is still on the wall at WFRM. It would take nearly 40 years before WFRM would get a sister station, WQRM, which is located in Smethport.

But, let’s get back to the 50s. When the McKean County Fair came along again, radio was a big part. Gert Curley, who was widely known as "Betty Bradford" brought her popular WESB interview show to the fairgrounds. WFRM also came to the Fair. A large tent along the midway was filled with country music entertainers from McKean, Potter and surrounding counties. Crowds loved it.

Encouraged by the enthusiastic reception from folks in Smethport, WFRM decided to put a local office and studio in Smethport. It was located on the second floor of the Auto Parts store on West Main Street. Bob and Lois Johnson became the nucleus of the staff in Smethport and an effort was made to expand the service to this part of the WFRM Coverage area. Russ Wells was the announcer, and Bob Morrison was the engineer. An hour each day was broadcast over the radio from this studio. These daily broadcasts continued for about three years. Meanwhile, the Johnsons had relocated to Kane, and joined the staff that was building the new radio station there.

A few years later, Hamlin Redfield of Smethport applied to the FCC for a station to operate on 910 KHz with 1,000 watts and located in Smethport. This station was never built.

In 1990, The FCC opened up a channel for an FM station to be licensed to Smethport.  Farm & Home applied for and was granted a permit to build. The longtime cable tower atop Prospect Mountain was selected as the place for the antenna for the station that would be known as WQRM. This same tower would also be used by WHKS, Port Allegany, which was being built at the time.

A site in downtown Smethport was chosen for the studio and office. It was in the basement of the building at Fulton and Main Streets. However, the disastrous fire that destroyed that building forced the relocation of WQRM to a new office at 211 West Main Street. The station is heard at 106.3 throughout the area, but in Bradford, a special "translator" has been authorized to rebroadcast on 99.3, since the signal is weakened by the tall mountains surrounding the city.

Over the years, Rosalie Bishop has been the local manager and has been active in arranging the programming, news coverage and special events, as well as contact with businesses using radio advertising. She has hired and trained different persons to do broadcasting, news gathering and sales. Rose is well-known throughout the entire area. She and the staff try very hard to serve the needs of this part of the world that so many call "home". In addition to the regular music programming, there are many special events and programs.

Broadcasts from local and area churches are eagerly awaited by listeners, as well as local news and events from the Fairgrounds. Smethport Hubbers football and basketball games have always been popular with WQRM’s listeners, and in addition, some of the Otto-Eldred games are carried on the station. Sportscasters include Bill Lord, Dave Ezzolo and Ron Deibler.

At the present time, Carl (Bud) Rosenswie, a retired teacher, is a part-time staff member of WQRM, doing special broadcasts and contacting advertisers. Also on the staff is Brandon Abbott, PD and Morning Man. The station’s website, www.wqrm.net is popular with internetters who try to answer Q4U history questions and guess the Mystery Photos. Some of the winners are former residents who live in places such as Seattle, suburban DC, Florida, Arizona and some who used to live here and now live downstate.

Sadly, none of the broadcasters who came to Smethport fifty years ago to do radio coverage are alive to return. But, the WQRM staff members will be doing much of the same type of broadcasts as in 1953 – describing the parades and other events, and interviewing local people and visitors. And, the "new crew" will be just as excited as the earlier generation of broadcasters.

Things that go around, come around.