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In the Days After the Fire ...Radio technicians from McCurdy Ltd. from Toronto came and worked all Thursday night to install a new control room for the radio station in the McKibbon store building on Wingham's main street. The all-new equipment was rushed to Wingham following the Thursday morning fire and was in action on Friday. (WAT-6, 1962)
The Wingham District High School offered its auditorium and stage for use by the TV station as a temporary studio, as well as a classroom for an office. The Wingham United Church offered the use of its gymnasium. Several town residents promised the loan of vacant offices. Mr. Cruickshank predicted the television studios may be partially put in use within three days. (LFP - 7, 1962)
A business office was established in what had been a jewelery store. (The Story of CKNX and its People, 2008)
A photo lab was set up in the home of photographer Bill Connell. (The Story of CKNX and its People, 2008)
The nearby future home of Pat Bennett was used for the commercial department to re-construct daily operating logs and commercial contracts for both radio and television (The Story of CKNX and its People, 2008)
Since the burned out TV studio was still structurally sound ... in a matter of days, it had been cleaned ... re-equipped with two RCA black and white cameras ... a newsroom ... program department and everything necessary to produce LIVE TV SHOWS. (The Story of CKNX and its People, 2008)
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CKNX staff, broadcasting from F.E. Madill 's auditorium, helped raise rebuilding funds.1962
Auditorium at F.E. Madill Secondary School, Wingham, Ontario
Credits:North Huron Museum, Wingham, Ontario
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The Building ...In the March 8, 1962 entry of the Building Diary kept by Scott Reid and Roy Bennett during the reconstruction of the station, it read, "The main building which housed CKNX, being the old Wingham High School burned to the ground on March 8, 1962. The new studio section which was built onto the old High School in 1955 was the only part of the building that remained standing." (CKNX Building Diary, 1961)
By March 9, the firm of Kyles & Kyles Architects from Hamilton, Ontario were invited to draw preliminary plans for a new building. (CKNX Building Diary, 1962) It took until June 29, 1962 for CKNX to give final approval of the finished plans. On July 9, the plans were mailed to nine general contractors for bids. The closing date for tenders was July 26, 1962. An extension was granted, so the final closing date for tenders became July 31, 1962. In a meeting eight tenders were opened. The successful bidder was Andeen Construction Co. Ltd. from Brampton. They were instructed to go ahead with the building, after some plan modifications, on August 16, 1962. Their tool shack was moved on-site on August 20, 1962. The next day, excavation began on the site. Mr. Mel Jermyn was hired to start excavating. Excavation was completed September 26 for the new footings of the new building.
The new building incorporated the surviving studios, built in 1955 with a new two storey building. Construction continued through the fall of 1962 and into 1963. June 21, 1963, radio control was moved from the McKibbon building into the new building. They went on air by 12:30 am. On June 22, both the radio and TV offices moved back into the building from downtown Wingham. It was also the day, that the new front lawn, received its first cut. On July 2, 1962, TV control and audio were moved into their new place in the building and were back on air by 4:00 pm. (CKNX Building Diary, 1963)
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Opening of new CKNX building - Ross Hamilton, W.T. Cruickshank, John Cruickshank, G.W. Cruickshank8 October 1963
CKNX Radio and Television building, Carling Terrace, Wingham, Ontario
Credits:North Huron Museum, Wingham, Ontario
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Back Under One Roof ...Three high-ranking officials of the Canadian broadcasting industry helped officially open the new CKNX Radio and CKNX-TV centre resurrected on the site of the station destroyed by fire on March 8, 1962. Dr. Andrew Stewart, chairman of the Board of Broadcast Governors, George Young, CBC station relations director and James Ellard, executive vice-president of the Canadian Association of Broadcasters cut the ribbon to open the new building.
W.T. Cruickshank paid tribute to CFPL Radio and CFPL-TV in London, CFRB radio in Toronto, and the Radio Corporation of America for "the fine co-operation shown this station after the fire."
Among those speaking at the opening were; Wingham Mayor R.S. Hetherington, Hamilton architect, Lloyd Kyles and Douglas Brown of the Andeen Construction Company in Brampton.
"The two-storey centre is electrically heated and air-conditioned and contains business offices, news and photography facilities, studios, cafeteria, reception room and employees' lounge" (London Free Press, 1963)
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W.T. Cruickshank and his granddaughter, Kathy Cruickshank at the opening of the new CKNX building.Fall of 1963
CKNX Radio and Television building, Carling Terrace, Wingham, Ontario
Credits:North Huron Museum, Wingham, Ontario
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10,000 Toured the New Building ...On the day of the fire, Doc promised his listeners that CKNX would come back bigger and better. It took a year to rebuild and equip the station but when it opened in the fall of 1963, over 10,000 people responded to an invitation to come tour the new building. It was the most up-to-date radio and television facilities in Ontario. By this time, CKNX was serving the people of Huron, Bruce, Grey, Perth and Wellington counties. (100yrs, 24)
10,000 people came attended a week-long opening celebration. (The Story of CKNX & Its People, 2008)
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Over 10,000 people responded to CKNX's invitation to their listeners to tour the new building.Fall 1963
CKNX Radio and Television building, Carling Terrace, Wingham, Ontario
Credits:North Huron Museum, Wingham, Ontario
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Guenther Heim worked at CKNX in the commercial design department from 1964 to 1971.1964-1971
CKNX Radio and Television, Wingham, Ontario
Credits:North Huron Museum, Wingham, Ontario
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The new CKNX station in celebration of Canada's 100th anniversary in 1967.1967
CKNX Radio and Television building, Carling Terrace, Wingham, Ontario
Credits:North Huron Museum, Wingham, Ontario
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