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Voice Of America Bethany Relay StationThe Voice of America's Bethany Relay Station was located in Butler County, Ohio's Union Township about twenty-five miles north of Cincinnati. Starting in 1944 during World War II it transmitted American propoganda abroad on shortwave frequencies until its closure in 1994 because the VOA abandoned ground transmitters for those on satellites. The facility took its name from the Liberty Township community of Bethany, which was about two miles north of the facility. In 1943, the United States government bought nearly all of Section 12 of Township 3, Range 2 of the Symmes Purchase, the northwesternmost section of Union Township. From Hazel Beckley, 170 acres were purchased; from Philip Condon, 143 acres; from Lola Gray Coy, 100 acres; from John Miller, 69 acres; and from Suzie Steinman, 142 acres; 625 acres in all. The site was chosen for its elevation and its shallow bedrock and is today bounded by Tylersville Road on the south, Cox Road to the west, Hamilton-Mason Road to the north, and Butler-Warren County Line Road. The transmitters were built by Powell Crosley, Jr.'s Crosley Broadcasting Corporation about one mile east of the company's tower for WLW-AM in Mason. The Office of War Information began broadcasting in July 1944 and Adolf Hitler is said to have denounced the "Cincinnati liars". Following the war with the OWI abolished, the facility was taken over by the State Department in 1945. It became part of the newly created United States Information Agency in 1953. Until November 1963, the Crosley Broadcasting Corporation operated the facility for the government when the Voice of America assumed direct control. At its peak the facility had three transmitters broadcasting with 250,000 watts, three broadcasting with 175,000 watts, and two transmitting with 50,000 watts. The facility was closed on November 14, 1994, because of changing technologies, the transmissions shifted to satellites. The towers were brought down from December 1997 to February 1998. Most of the land was turned over to the county and township for use as a park. Part in the southwest corner was sold to developers who have erected a shopping center called the Voice of America Center. References
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