The Chatham Marconi Maritime Education Center - the recently refurbished Hotel Nautilus - will be transformed Saturday, October 11, into the North Chatham United States Post Office as the Postmaster will be canceling mail with a unique cancellation stamp commemorating the 100th anniversary of the site's construction here on Ryder's Cove.

Postmistress Shari Plaice will be at Hotel Nautilus during the program, which runs from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m., hand canceling post cards, letters and other mail brought by patrons with the unique 1914 Marconi emblem below.

100th MARCONI STATION ANNIVERSARY

North Chatham, MA 02650

Six historic postcard-reproductions from the 1914 era are being offered for the first time by the Marconi Center. Special USPS 34-cent and 49-cent "photo stamps" respectively will be sold that day ready for Plaice's cancellation.

Roz Coleman

Post Office Event Chair

MARCONI HISTORY IN POST CARDS

You would not think   

you were in Chathamport.   

Ed Moxon 

In 1914, a part of Chatham was transformed in a way seen at few places on earth. Guglielmo Marconi included rustic  

Chathamport in his plans to build massive high-power radio stations around the world. The big news unfolded here and around the world 100 years ago.

Photographers were fascinated by the six huge Marconi Antenna Masts and metal towers that anchored them and the fact that an international firm like the J. G. White Engineering Company would be providing jobs for local people. Because of the complications produced by World War I, Marconi's ownership of the Wireless Receiving Station lasted from May 1914 until September 20, 1920 when RCA purchased the station. During those years, the large building intended to be a dormitory for unmarried employees was used as a hotel and named the Hotel Nautilus.

A video researched and produced by Ed Moxon of the 1914 building of the Marconi Wireless Receiving will be presented throughout the day in the classroom of the Education Center.

The six postcards, left to right, show 1) 1914 Chathamport with the six antenna masts in the distance, 2) the corner of Route 28 and Old Comers Road with a J.G. White construction sign, 3) newly built employee cottages on Old Comers Road, 4) the antenna masts at Stillwater Pond and Lovers Lake, 5) the power house and J.G. White construction sign, and 6) the Hotel Nautilus. The six historic postcards with a CMMC photo stamp will be for sale for $2.50 each or all six for $15.00 tax included. A one page 1914 history contained in a special pictorial envelope with photo stamp will also be for sale for $5.00.

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IF YOU CANNOT ATTEND