Twin Lights, Highlands, NJ |
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(WA2GM is operated by the Marconi Chapter 138 of the Quarter Century Wireless Association) |
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Brief History of Marconi in New Jersey |
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View across the harbour at Highlands, NJ |
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(Photograph reproduced by kind permission of Lola Adolph, Atlantic Highlands, New Jersey, USA) |
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On top of a bluff in the Highlands, NJ overlooking Sandy Hook and the Atlantic ocean is the site of the Twin Lights Lighthouse used by many ships since 1828 to navigate the waters into New York Harbor. On a clear day one can see over 25 miles across to New York City and out to sea. This is the location where the marvel of wireless telegraphy using high intensity sparks was first introduced to America by 25 year old Guglielmo Marconi. The events that transpired in September and October of 1899 on the hills of the Navesink Highlands by actions of young Marconi, opened up the world to wonder of radio communications. |
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Photograph reproduced by permission of Pat McCarthy, Wall Township, New Jersey, USA |
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Before the races could begin off Sandy Hook, Marconi was asked to report on the early triumphant return of Admiral George Dewey and his fleet to New York from his victorious Battle of Manila Bay in the Spanish American War. On September 30, 1899, Marconi equipment was used to report the progress of the fleet. This was the first practical wireless telegraphy demonstration to the American metropolitan public. On October 3, the first of 13 America’s Cup races began. The races themselves were rather tedious events to report because "the winds were light and fickle" and the race merely "drifted" along. But, during the races Marconi had an opportunity to send a report of an accident at sea right after it had occurred. Other information flashed to the Herald reported the safe sighting of a lost vessel that had been falsely rumored to have sunk. The advantage of ship-to-shore communication was quickly realized. The Herald and the general public were impressed. Onboard the "Ponce", a US Naval Observer stated "Marconi passed the stage of uncertainty – this was sure to be adopted at sea". The Marconi equipment was rigorously tested on US naval vessels. This led directly to demonstrating the incalculable value of wireless telegraphy and the Government law for installing "Marconi’s" on all commercial and naval vessels. Many timely rescues were a direct result of these actions. The most famous was the rescue of 705 survivors from the Titanic. When the invitation came from the NY Herald to provide live reporting of the New York Yacht Club’s America’s Cup challenge race off Sandy Hook in October 1899, Marconi was ready to come to America and was confident of success. The races were between the "Shamrock" of Sir Thomas Lipton, of the Lipton Tea Company, and the "Columbia" of J.P. Morgan, American financier and NYYC Commodore. The NY Herald was looking for first class publicity that only Marconi could create. More than one hundred years ago on September 21, 1899 this young Italian stepped off the steamship "Aurania" in New York harbor to a wild reception. Guglielmo Marconi, the inventor of wireless telegraphy and the father of radio, was now in America to show the world the marvel of wireless telegraphy. Many onlookers greeted him because they wanted a glimpse of this electrical ‘magician’. Scientists greeted him because they wanted to know more about his apparatus that could send signals over the air without wires could defy known scientific principles. Skeptics were there in an attempt to show that Marconi was a fake. There were also many reporters who asked hundreds of questions about his success with wireless telegraphy in Europe, especially his successful trials with the Italian Navy, which were commonly quoted as the first example of mobile naval wireless signaling system. To the reporters sent to meet him at the dock, Marconi had a prepared statement, which was half-confident and half- defiant. It read, "We will be able to send the details of the yacht racing to New York as accurately and as quickly almost as if you could telephone them. The distance is nothing, nor will the hills interfere." After gathering his wireless equipment together, Marconi and his assistants set off for New Jersey. Once unpacked, Marconi immediately went to work setting up wireless stations onboard the new ocean-going steamer "S.S. Ponce", on which Marconi spent much of his time, and the "S.S. Grand Duchess". At Twin Lights, a wireless station with a direct telephone line to the Herald in NY City was established. Antennas were erected to heights of over 100 feet. He also arranged to have current NY Stock Exchange price quotations transmitted from New York to the many guests onboard the steamships. The Ft Monmouth, New Jersey, area is rich in the history and pioneering work of radio communications. Early radio was developed, refined, and manufactured in this area. Pioneers such as Marconi, Bell, Edison, Tesla, Fessenden, De Forest, Armstrong, Sarnoff and a host of others lived and worked in the area. Many were directly involved with radio projects in the Ft Monmouth area which includes the Marconi buildings in the Camp Evans and site facilities for testing at Twin Lights. Twin Lights was used to demonstrate communications and radar performance, as did Marconi. |
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