The Founding of the Scarborough Amateur Radio Club, Incorporated

The Sound Bite

THE FOUNDING AND FOUNDERS

“The Original Five”

Soon after WWII, amateurs living in the vicinity of Kingston Road and Midland Avenue would get together and drive to meetings of the Wireless Association of Ontario held in the evenings at the University of Toronto.

Ken Tripp Sr. was the owner of Ken Tripp's ESSO Station on the North side of Kingston Road west of Midland Avenue and his son Ken Tripp Jr. later VE3DGM and his "ham" friends would borrow a car and together would drive to the evening meetings of the Wireless Association of Ontario.  During the drive, conversations took place about starting  a local club and beginning about December 1945 and into January and February 1946,  hams throughout East Toronto and Scarborough were contacted.
The Club's surviving founder, Vince Graham, VE3AXB confirms in an email dated February 19, 2011,  that the following account of the founding as written by Wilf Brown, VE3AJO on the occasion of Canada's Centennial Year, 1967 is accurate and conforms to Vince's memory of the event.
Wilf is the first known Club Historian and his verbatim account follows:

THE FORMATION OF THE SCARBOROUGH CLUB

One spring evening in the early part of April 1946, five hams sat in the car of Ken Tripp VE3DGM, after attending a meeting of the Wireless Association of Ontario.  Suddenly the idea arose – why not form a club in Scarborough.

On April 23, 1946 the following hams met at Ken’s home on Scarborough Crescent (160 Scarboro Crescent): Ken Tripp VE3DGM, Vince Graham VE3AXB, Jack McKenzie, (no call sign),  Chuck Harvey VE3ARC,  Jack Marr VE3BDO, and Al Wilson, VE3AMB.

The following officers were elected:  President, VE3AMB; Treasurer, VE3DGM, Secretary, VE3ARC, and Chairman – VE3BDO.

The meetings continued for one year and by this time Wilf, VE3AJO had joined the group.  By the fall of 1947 the Club was expanding and through the help of VE3AZC (Frank Stewardson), Oakridge Public School was procured as a meeting place.

Abut this time Barney, (VE3DVA)  now VE3MB, came into the picture.   The Club was showing growing pains again and Barney suggested we move to his recreation room at the rear of his basement and many enjoyable meetings were held there.

Quite a bit of carpentry work was added to make more sitting room and one night all the club turned out to paint the room.  A few enjoyable Christmas parties were also held there.

Later we moved to the Civil Defence on Eglinton Avenue.  Then to Cedarbrae.  On to the Scarborough Boys Club on Ellesmere.  Back to Cedarbrae , and now at the Scarborough (Foreign) Mission.

The first Field Day was held at the old Eatons’ Boys camp just west of the radar plant.  One field day at the Bluffs, due to heavy rain and mud, everything was hauled in and out on planks.  What Fun!

I would like to mention a few of our past presidents:  Jack Turner, VE3NZ; Tom Mcdonald, VE3JO; (all now deceased) VE3AZC  Frank Stewardson;  VE3ARC Chuck Harvey; VE3AMB Al Wilson, VE3DMB Fred Whitton; VE3BOX Art Wilkins;  VE3DVA Geoff Wade;  VE3TT Dick Guy (now VE7GG); VE3BZU Herb Lehman; VE3DZI Jim Leitch;  VE3BXM Norm Dickenson, VE3EBN Eric Squires and last but not least Bill Cate, VE3HR.

This completes roughly the story to 1967 – Centennial year.

Submitted by Wilf Brown VE3AJO

The above account of the Founding of Scarborough ARC is the result of reviewing historical records in the Club Archives and consultations with the sole, surviving founder, Mr. Vincent Graham, VE3AXB.  Over the years of my membership in the Club, I have heard mention of "The Original Five" from time to time which makes the account of Wilf Brown, VE3AJO prepared in 1967 (Canada's Centennial Year)  all the more compelling.   Any errors are my own and I welcome suggestions for improvement.

Scarborough, Ontario,  February 6, 2011, SARC's 65th Anniversary Year, Gordon Hogarth, VE3CNA. Updated February 25, 2011.