Oakland Educational Society

May 1927 ⁵

The Oakland Educational Society was a religious education group, noted for launching the KFWM Radio Station ("The Golden West Station") in 1925. ¹ It was at 1520 - 8th Avenue. The station call letters were changed to KROW in June, 1930, and the station moved downtown in 1936. ⁴ It was also home to the Oakland branch of International Bible Students, part of which became the Jehovah's Witnesses. ⁶

Apparently having a radio broadcast antenna next door wasn't great for receiving other radio stations, as the neighbors complained to the city about the interference. ²

In 1929, George and Ella Richardson filed a $50,000 lawsuit after their son was accidentally electrocuted in the generator room. C. J. Madole was the operator of the station. ³

The buildings are still there, and now home to the Bible Fellowship Missionary Baptist Church.

Links and References

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1. Seven New Radio Stations Given Broadcast Waves Oakland Tribune July 10, 1925
2. Protests of KFWM Neighbors Go to U.S. Oakland Tribune May 23, 1929
3. Judge Ponders Briefs In $50,000 Death Suit Oakland Tribune August 30, 1929
4. KROW Radio on Bay Area Radio Museum
5. International Bible School History San Jose
6. Bible Student movement on Wikipedia

• Students of Bible Gather Oakland Tribune January 6, 1928
• KFWM Jumps Its Wavelength to 300 Meter Class Oakland Tribune July 21, 1926

• The Internet's Best Financial Biography of Joseph Franklin Rutherford

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