Jim Irby, WB4EJR, writes:
On August 22nd at around 10:00 AM, twenty-one amateur radio operators who were attending the Northeast HamXposition in Marlborough, Massachusetts boarded a bus for the 90-minute trip to ARRL Headquarters in Newington, Connecticut (https://www.arrl.org/inside-w1aw). The trip was organized by Bob DeMattia (K1IW, HamX) and Bob Inderbitzen (NQ1R, ARRL).
Once on site, the group was given a tour of the station by Bob Inderbitzen and John McAuliffe (W1DRF). They pointed out early transmitting equipment used by ARRL founder Hiram Percy Maxim, and they discussed the history of the ARRL. Equipment used to send code practice training transmissions throughout the world was seen as well as new conferencing facilities. Vintage Collins and Drake line equipment was also on display. One or two of the attendees made QSOs from W1AW.
For lunch, Bob DeMattia organized delivery of more than enough subs to feed the tour group. Lunch was taken outside the W1AW building on picnic tables under a beautiful stand of trees. The tour group returned to Marlborough by mid-afternoon.
Thank you, Bob DeMattia, Bob Inderbitzen and John McAuliffe, for this wonderful trip. It was beautifully organized, and it fulfilled a dream many of us have had for many years!