[K6BW] Christmas Star at Hamilton

[Joy Best]

You still planning on working Sunday morning?   I can be there by 10:30 
or so.  Anything I can bring?  Alan Best K6AJB

Bill Smith wrote:

>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.
>
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