By Darlene Brace
During the last week of 2024, WJTN radio station in Jamestown celebrated its 100th anniversary of broadcasting. This momentous occasion marked its beginnings, which occurred on December 31, 1924. An Ashville, New York resident named Archibald E. Newton, who was an amateur radio enthusiast, applied for a license from the Federal Communications Commission (FCC). The FCC issued him a permanent license, and the first broadcast was made from the Hotel Jamestown in downtown Jamestown. The initial broadcasts were very successful, and with significant community support, Newton decided to broadcast regularly on Wednesday evenings, Saturday evenings, and Sundays. The station was originally called WOCL (We’re On Chautauqua Lake). This led to the creation of what is now known as WJTN, with the call letters being changed to WJTN in 1936.
The radio station’s broadcasting offices and studios moved several times to other local locations during the next decade. In 1938, the radio station returned to the Hotel Jamestown, where it remained for decades. In 1971, WJTN moved to Orchard Road in West Ellicott, where it has been ever since.
Over the years, not only did the location change, but the ownership of the radio station changed hands many times as well. In October 1947, WJTN expanded to include the first FM station in Southwestern New York, operating as WWSE 93.3, which was later renamed SE93. SE93 eventually shifted to feature all-music programming. With these expansions, the stations became increasingly popular in Jamestown but continued to change ownership multiple times. In 2002, it was sold to the Media One Group, which still owns it today. In May 2018, WJTN gained an FM sister station located at 101.3 FM.
Throughout the years, WJTN has served the community well, and some of its most popular programming has been attributed to Jim Roselle. Jim Roselle began working for WJTN in 1953 and continued his service to the station for over 60 years. For decades, he was the voice of the station, known for his contributions to programming which included local broadcasts of community news and events as well as interviews with locals and celebrities. He won several awards, and his broadcasts are considered an integral part of the history and success of the station. Jim Roselle passed away in 2016, but he will always be a significant part of WJTN’s legacy.
Dennis Webster is another key figure in this legacy as he worked for the station for 54 years. He provided valuable news and entertainment. He had a close connection to the local school programs and sports, as he was always dedicating his service to the local community. He retired in August 2024, but continues to contribute his service. In fact, on January 8, 2025, the Bemus Point Historical Society welcomed him as a guest speaker at the Bemus Point Town Hall to discuss the 100th anniversary of WJTN, including his 54-year career with the station.
Since 2002, WJTN has been a prominent member of the Media One group. It currently has a talented local on-air team that includes Andrew Hill, Terry Frank, Dan Warren, Lee John, and others who have made their mark in WJTN’s broadcasting. The station currently provides a blend of contemporary music alongside national and local news, entertainment information, weather forecasts, and sports reports.
As part of the 100th year anniversary, WJTN’s year-long celebration will include a broadcast of one hundred of the greatest moments in the radio station’s history, with some of them being narrated by former WJTN announcer Dennis Webster. They are also planning to run some past high school sports championship broadcasts and feature some of the favorite interviews Jim Roselle conducted at Chautauqua Institution over the years. There will be a special broadcast of the 75th Anniversary, which will include past employees telling stories about the history of the station. Other celebratory events may yet be planned, so stay tuned for more information.
For over a hundred years, WJTN has demonstrated a strong commitment to serving the Chautauqua County community, establishing itself as a leader in local broadcasting. From its beginnings a century ago, WJTN has dedicated its service to broadcasting music and reporting local news as well as national information, keeping the community informed and connected. Tune in to WJTN for great music and news broadcasting that will entertain and inform you, just as it has for the past 100 years. Happy 100th Anniversary to WJTN!