Mike talked to the son of one of the original station owners and he told us that WSTP stood for: ” Salisbury Times and Post”!  The “W” was and still is mandated by the FCC for stations east of the Mississippi.

During the 1930′s The Salisbury Post published two editions every day.  Of course one was called The Salisbury Post, as known today.  The other paper was later in the day and it was called the “Salisbury Times”.

Finally the mystery is solved.  We knew the Hurley family had ownership in both the radio station and the newspaper, but we just couldn’t make the connection.

WSTP  The Salisbury Times and Post.

1937

Salisbury Sunday Post, Vol. 100, NO.1    January 1, 1939 Front Page Headline:

WSTP Goes On Air from Here Tomorrow

Owners and Stockholders

The Piedmont Broadcasting corporation

BRYCE P. BEARD, JAMES F HURLEY, JR., WILLIAM S. OVERTON, JR.,

 JAMES P. MATTOX, J.C. BRANTLEY, GREGORY PEELER, WALTER CARTER, STAHLE LINN, L.M. WEISIGER, F.F. PATTERSON, GENE DORTON, H.R. BELLIS, AND C.F. RANEY

“THESE MEN AND WOMEN PLEDGED TO OPERATE WSTP IN THE PUBIC IN, NECESSITY AND CONVENIENCE.

Although the names have changed, the studios have moved, technology has changed, but WSTP continues to be dedicated to the community for its source of information, opinion, entertainment, community events and much more.

In 1975 a new building was finished that combined the studios and engineering.  At that time President/operator Tom Harrell took out a one half page ad in the local newspaper showing the station’s history, the new facilities, the former and then current staff spanning 36 years.

A new mission statement was declared then that binds us today:

“JUDGE US BY THE COMMITMENT WE MAKE AS TUSTEES TO CONTINUE BROADCASTING IN THE PUBLIC INTEREST, NECESSITY, AND CONVENIENCE”.

 WSTP is owned today by Rowan Media Inc.: Tim Coates and Mike Mangan, Stockholders