[K6BW] Christmas Star at Hamilton

[Bill Smith]

At the request of the Coast Guard, here is a history of the Christmas Star
(as best as my foggy brain can recall).  The star needs minor work which can
probably be done by climbing up the tower and performing work in place.  We
can also lower the star and work on it on the ground.

It is largely intact, but some of the tie-wraps which hold the wiring are
gone and need replacing.  Also some of the bulbs are broken and need
replacing.

I can't work on it this Saturday, but wonder if you are interested in
joining a work party 10:00am on Sunday?  If not, can you suggest a better
time and date?

Happy Thanksgiving and best wishes this Holiday Season!  Again, we have much
to be thankful.

Sincerely,

Bill, AB6MT

ab6mt at sonic.net



Hamilton Field Christmas Star

1. Description: The Christmas Star is a home-made frame of aluminum strips
bolted together by metal plates. It was apparently made by the United States
Air Force and used by them as a seasonal decoration when Hamilton Field was
a commissioned airbase. Recollection of the star's existence dates from the
nineteen-fifties, possibly before, but one would speculate the present star
was made sometime in the seventies or eighties.

2. The assembly was found in poor condition in 1998, abandoned on the ground
in the proximity of the radio tower near Building 549. It had been wired
with 110VAC lamp sockets and cloth-covered #14 wire. Many sockets were
missing, others broken. At least two of the aluminum struts had snapped and
separated. It was propped up against the radio tower for a while, later was
"stored" on the ground on a hillside near the access road to Building 548.
It was moved around the hillside several times but generally ignored.

3. Mr. Bill Smith of the Hamilton Wireless Association had noted the
presence of the assembly, and recalled seeing a star on the radio tower as a
young child. He brought the issue up with the Club, and with donations,
obtained five new strings of lights to apply to the structure.  HWA
volunteers removed the old wiring and sheets of aluminum publishing plates,
surplus from the Independent Journal newspaper presses, were used to splice
the broken aluminum strips. With permission of the Coast Guard, the newly
outfitted star was hauled up on the radio tower and lit again Sunday,
December 16, 2001. From all reports, it was well received.

4. After the season, the star was removed from the tower and continued its
previous existence on the ground. Unfortunately, it quickly became the
target of parties who proceeded to break all the lights and destroy many of
the light sockets. The star was left abandoned though out the year of 2002.
Because of a very rainy season in November-December the star was not lit
that year.

5. The year 2003 brought renewed interest in the star; it had been missed.
By this time the Boy Scouts had developed an active interest at Building
549. Commander Jeff Brager, had been instrumental in configuring the meeting
room in Building 549, discussed the star with Mr. Smith. Little prompting
was required to prompt Mr. Smith to obtain a new set of lights and again set
up the star. The star was laid out in the parking lot at Building 549, and
HWA members and local youngsters assisted in fixing new lights on the star.
Commander Brager was able to assist, both in supporting the cost of the
lighting and by assembling a crew of Coast Guard volunteers to raise the
star on the tower. Pulleys were installed at the base of the tower and at
the top, and a rope attached to the back of a car was used to raise the
assembly. Coast Guard volunteers then climbed the tower to tie the star
firmly to the tower.

6. The star has remained on the tower from that time and was re-lit by the
Boy Scouts without incident in 2004. An electrical timer has been available
to light the star from about 4:30 to 1:00pm.

7. Recent examination of the star indicates minor work needs to be done this
winter, 2005. Some of the tie-wraps used to hold the lighting have fallen
away and bulbs need replacing. The Hamilton Wireless Association has
scheduled a session after Thanksgiving to address these issues and intends
to light the star again this Holiday Season.