The WFHB Story, Episode 14: An Angel

The history of Bloomington’s community radio station; a continuing series.

Brian Kearney persisted even after Bloomington Community Radio (BCR) was denied a license by the FCC in 1987. Persistence was a hallmark, a tradition among the members of the nonprofit group trying to start a community radio station here. Kearney might even have learned how to be persistent by watching Jeffrey Morris, who, by the late ’80s, had stuck with the idea for a decade and a half already.

Still working as a caretaker for Herman B. Wells, Kearney had gained the legendary Indiana University chancellor’s trust and had convinced him that the BCR was a serious, determined group. Kearney knew Wells could open doors for the BCR. By now entering his late 80s, Wells mentioned the name of another octogenarian, Cecile Waldron.

Waldron had worked in the old Bloomington city hall. Her late husband had been a very successful lawyer in town and she had a lot of money. The Bloomington Area Arts Council, which Kearney had joined as a board member, was hoping to take over the old structure as the city moved into new digs. The BAAC needed money, as did the BCR. Kearney thought the two groups should work together. Perhaps, he reasoned, Waldron might be persuaded to donate money to their joint efforts.

“There were a few years of cultivating that relationship,” Kearney says. “It wasn’t an overnight thing.” After learning in June 1989 the BCR would be denied the 95.1 FM frequency, Morris, Kearney, and Jim Manion scrambled, with the help of Ken Devine, to find another spot on the dial, 91.3 FM.

Cecile Waldron then agreed to give the BAAC and the BCR a hefty donation, enough to buy the old city hall as well as the attached old central  firehouse. The gift would be her legacy contribution to the city’s cultural and arts scene.

Now the BCR would have a home, the old firehouse. But Kearney et al still had to figure out the Channel 6 problem.

NEXT POST: 11 MILES

Come back for more tales from the WFHB genesis story in this space. We’ll be posting each week as WFHB celebrates its 31st year as Bloomington’s home of community radio.