Tucked away in the basement of Roberts Hall and hidden around a maze of hallways, the Colby radio station WMHB reveals itself by its sounds. The music grows louder with every step, pulling in visitors who are met by walls of CDs, polaroids of student memories, and a cozy couch for watching the rotating DJs in the studio.

With an eclectic mix of music, student talk shows, and broadcasts of live events, WMHB at 89.7 FM marks its 75th year of broadcasting this year.

In 1949, Colby students embarked on an ambitious experiment in communications by launching a weekly radio show called Radio Colby on the Waterville AM station WTVL. The program featured news, trivia, and new music. In an effort to broadcast from Mayflower Hill, the Radio Colby club and physics professor Sherwood Brown tested a single-tone oscillator for a closed circuit station on campus. Set up in the veteran’s apartments on campus, the station went live in 1956 as 600 K.C. AM (K Colby AM). When the apartments were demolished in 1957, the station went silent for several years.

To prepare for a transition to a new location, Peter Vlachos ’58 built a new system to carry the sound through a newly laid pipeline to extend the station’s signal, and Bond Wheelwright ’58 acted as station manager. The revived station broadcasted from Roberts Union, and students resorted to attaching a cable from their radios to water and radiator pipes to tune in from 130 feet from Roberts, Miller Library, and the Women’s Union. According to College Historian Earl Smith’s book Mayflower Hill, a growing number of students reported experiencing interference from appliances in the residence halls, causing them to hear rock music over their telephone dial tones.

In 1973, Radio Colby officially transitioned to the FM airwaves, significantly expanding its reach beyond Mayflower Hill. This transition required obtaining an FM license and changing the name to WMHB, which resulted in the incorporation of the station as Mayflower Hill Broadcasting Corporation to be governed by students and separate from the College. Initially broadcasting at 91.5 FM, the station moved to its current frequency of 89.7 FM in 1999.

One of the most significant milestones was in the early 2000s when the station started broadcasting online. This attracted listeners from all over the world and became a substantial portion of the listener base. These changes structured the station more like a public radio station rather than a campus club.

The pandemic in 2020 tested the student-run station, forcing the team to rethink everything from broadcasting schedules to safety protocols. For several months, the station fell silent, the airwaves empty, and the once-bustling studio was still.

Determined to bring the station back to life, students, faculty advisors, and community members worked together to reopen the station with strict protocols that limited the number of people in the studio.

Reopening after the shutdown proved challenging, as limited studio access, high turnover, and the loss of hands-on training left new staff scrambling. The latest wave of student DJs has reinvigorated the station, transforming it into a vibrant space again.

Students, alumni, and community members come together in the basement of Roberts to build connections and strengthen nostalgia among listeners. The station recently expanded to feature an audience area and an updated studio setup. The heart of the operation is to preserve the bonds between DJs, listeners, and the greater community with this newly renovated space.

For several, the station is a second home. “You get to see the spirit you create through the radio staff to the audience,” says Christian Gobo ’26. “It’s where students can hone valuable skills like public speaking, time management, and collaboration. Skills that last far beyond their time at Colby.”

WMHB’s significance goes far beyond their airwaves. College radio stations like WMHB are incubators of creativity and innovation. The station is more than a club; it’s a place to connect with peers, explore passions, and contribute to a legacy of independent media.

“At WMHB, you have to get up and perform like no one’s listening or everyone’s listening,” said Scott R. Schoenfeld ’02. “I was involved with different activities at Colby, but the radio was the fun part. It was just a blast to DJ with your friends and everyone involved was all about the music and the passion of it.”

For decades, WMHB has been a hub for student creativity and experimentation. DJs spent hours curating playlists and refining their on-air skills during the vinyl and CD era. Over time, WMHB adapted to the digital age while preserving the raw, human quality that makes live radio so special.

While most students graduate and pursue careers in other fields, a few find their passion in radio and TV, with the station serving as the launchpad for their future. Paul Redo ’78 had a 40-year career in radio working for stations like WGBH, WNYC, Viacom Radio, and is now self-employed, providing media consulting.

“When I came down to the radio station, I never looked at the clock. I didn’t care how long I was here,” said Phil Redo ’78, during an interview during the marathon. “That made me realize what I wanted to do and led to my career in radio and TV.”