The coastland times. [volume] (Mnateo [i.e. Manteo], N.C.) 1947-1959, 1952-03-28
ANOTHER 5O-YR. ANNIVERSARY
LOOMS UP in DARE COUNTY'S
MATCHLESS CHAIN OF HISTORY
Perfection of Wireless Telephone on Roanoke
Island in 1902 This Spring To Be RecOgniz-
ed During The Tourist Season; Fessenden
Memorial Committee Met Saturday to Dis
cuss Plans For Delayed Memorial Project.

The delayed plans for the memo
rial to Prof. Reginald A. Fessen-
den, pioneer radio inventor, who
brought into being the wireless
telephone on Roanoke Island in
1902 this spring, came to the fore
when the committee of the AssO-
citation met Saturday in the Dare
County courthouse to revive the
project, and began the campaign
to build the memorial.
The committee approved DR.. C.
C. Crittenden, Secretary of the
State Historical Association, to go
to Chicago on April to receive on
the behalf of the Fessenden Me-
mortal Association, and North
Carolina, an award for Professor
Fessenden's work.
The award will be made by the
Radio Pioneers of America, an or
ganization of some $50 persons in
terested in broadcasting. Carl Hav-
erlin is President of the Associa-
ton, and former President Hoover
is Honorary Chairman. Lee De-
Forest, aged radio inventor, will
be one of the many honor guests.
The Fessenden National Memo
rial Association, organized in
Washington, D. c., shortly before
the war, started out with hold
tplan to erect memo iai on Roam
oke Island on the site of Fessen-
den's old wireless Station"
Funds were raised, the property
was acquired. Governor Brough-
ton, who had promised to build a
bridge across Croatan Sound near
this point was one of the principal
hackers, as well as Josephus DAN
iels, Senator Bailey, and many
prominent notables in the world Of
radio, and Army and Navy Of.
lfieials.
The widow Of Prof. Fessenden
was pleased with the idea, but died
shortly after it was launched.
However, her son, Col. Reginald X.
Fessenden was much interested in
the project, and before his death
in 1945, gave to the Association
his fathers files and records, and
personal souvenirs, which are now
stored for safe-keeping in the
vaults of the Archives of History
in Raleigh.
Through efforts of the Associa-
ton the Navy named destroyer
in World War II for Prof. Fessen-
den, and it was christened at
Orange, Texas, March 9, 1912, at
which time an impressive ceremony
was held. Commander Walter G.
Etheridge, USCG, of Manteo, rep
resented Governor Broughton of
North Carolina. Victor Meekins,
one of the organizers, and the Sec
rotary of the Association was pres
ent.
Previously, in August, 1871, the
Association had dedicated the 40
acre tract west of Fort Raleigh on
Croatan Sound as Fessenden Me-
mortal Park. A considerable event
was staged on Sunday, August "a,
1941, at Fort Raleigh, with Cover
nor Broughton and George Gordon
Battle, a distinguished Carolinian
living in New York, on the pro-
gram. Also present was Mrs. Will
liam L. Edison of New Jersey, an
old friend of the family.
Col. Fessenden before his death
in 1916 set up trust fund to aid
the memorial.
The Association of necessity be-
came inactive because of the inter-
ruption of the war, and in the in
.tervening years, many of the prime
movers of the Association died.
Because of the delay, it was con-
sidered more propitious to wait I'M
til the 50th anniversary of Fessen-
den's achievement on Roanoke Is
land, inasmuch as there Were many
other unfinished projects in this
small community.
1t was SO years ago, Prof. Fes-
sender concluded his satisfactory
experiments of his invention ON
Roanoke Island, and left Dare
County.
And so, Dare County, which has
See CHAIN. Page 3