The WSVS Radio Station in Crewe, Virginia was listed in the National Register of Historic Places in 2022. The radio station is significant as a ongoing hub of communications for its rural community since the 1940s.
The WSVS station began broadcasting in 1947, just as radio communications were shifting in prominence and function. Americans had enjoyed the Golden Age of radio beginning in the 1920s, with radio plays, President Roosevelt's fireside chats, and news broadcasts regularly playing in 80% of American homes by 1940. However, after the conclusion of World War II, television began to supercede radio in terms of prominence and entertainment value. Many radio stations, to remain relevant, chose to pivot their programming to focus on popular music.
Whereas radio stations in metropolitian areas focused providing this new programming to diverse audiences, rural stations like WSVS could tailor their content to smaller audiences. The WSVS building included a performance studio, which allowed traveling and local bluegrass acts to broadcast their music to the surrounding area, contributing to the popularity of the genre in the region. The station also shared both local and international news, spanning from poultry auctions to updates on the Cold War.
The station continues to broadcast to the Crewe area, with a focus on country music.
Source: U.S. Department of the Interior, National Park Service