One of Chicagos oldest and best Amateur Radio Clubs. The club was started in 1933 by a group of three Hams, Herb Hamilton W9MRQ, George Fenton W9SXZ and John Huskava W9IMN. Their first meetings were held in each others homes, but this didn't go over so well with the XYL's and a new meeting place was found at one of the local parks. The club must have been a success from the start because in 1934 they were able to put up a station at the Century of Progress. The call used was W9HJO and in our photo albums you can see a picture of the station, six foot relay rack and all the things that it took to make a station in those days.

Our present call of W9AA didn't come until 1958. Upon the death of our past President Cy Read Hamfesters took advantage of an FCC rule that we could be issued his call, thus we became "First in the Ninth call area." Some very famous people have been visitors and members over the years. Dr. Lee De Forest, Lew Mc Coy W1ICP, Father Moran 9N1MM, Marvin Kamras (Inventor of the Wire Recorder), Ed Andrew KB9KV (The Andrew Antenna Corp.), Wes Schum W9DYV (Mr. SSB, and at one time the Chief FCC Inspector for the Ninth Call Area was a Hamfester.