Posted on 10/21/2005 12:28:51 PM PDT by cloud8
A simple wooden pole linked to the longest-running feature on CBC Radio, the 1 p.m. time signal from the National Research Council, seems about to vanish from an Ottawa neighbourhood over safety concerns.
Standing taller than the trees that surround it, the pole is located on what used to be the west-end Ottawa property of J.P. Henderson. He was an astronomer at the Dominion Observatory. Although an astronomer, Henderson did a lot of experimenting with radio and was one of Ontario's first ham radio operators. At his home on Perth Street, Henderson put up a pole for his antenna from which he broadcast, among other things, a time signal.
That was more than a decade before the Canadian Radio Broadcasting Commission was created in 1933 (it was renamed as the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation in 1936). The time signal has been heard every day on CBC since 1939, except during the recent eight week lock-out. Henderson "would almost certainly have done all of that work from home. At work, he would be interested in applying the fascinating new technology that he had developed at home," said Rob Douglas, the present-day timekeeper at the National Research Council.
Homeowner fears for children's safety
It's still unclear whether the pole now standing is the original pole erected by Henderson. It's possible he replaced it at some point. Henderson's property has since been subdivided. The pole now stands on the front lawn belonging to Kate Fildes, who's worried about the climbing pegs on each side that go right to the top. "We're concerned that the kids in the neighbourhood are going to climb the thing and fall off and hurt themselves, so we decided to have it cut down," she said.
Woodworker plans memorial benches
Her neighbour, a woodworker named Fred Dellamico, lives in the original Henderson home. He thinks the pole might have some historical value, but he's not optimistic about his chances.
"I could appeal to the neighbours, who are nice people, to save it," he said. "I already did that once two years ago. They wanted to take it down and I said, 'Well, I want to look into it.' So they postponed it."
If the pole does come down for safety reasons, Dellamico said he will offer to use his woodworking skills to turn it into benches.
Ping!
"A simple wooden pole linked to the longest-running feature on CBC Radio, the 1 p.m. time signal from the National Research Council"
Canadian technology at its finest...apparently no one up there has heard of the "Atomic Clock"!
Well that would be too American, eh ?
I couldn't think of a worse reason. But it's her property and she can cut it down if she wants.
http://inms-ienm.nrc-cnrc.gc.ca/en/time_services/shortwave_broadcasts_e.php
The daily 1 p.m. time signal orginally appeared on the CBC in 1934 using this pole. But it's now transmitted on radio station CHU (in the USA we have the equivalent radio station WWV.)
So just remove the pegs! Sheesh.
Oh no! Not the pole! We must save the pole! Canada would be nothing without that pole! It's historic! It's an historic pole, and a part of Canadian history!
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