31 S Main Street

31 South Main Street - WWJB Radio  

As we pause at 31 South Main Street, imagine the crackle of radio waves and the voices of local broadcasters filling the air. This unassuming building once housed WWJB Radio, a station that became the voice of the community in the 1960s. From its fiery origins to its lasting legacy, let’s tune in to the story of this remarkable site.

Our tale begins with a spark—literally. In 1957, Brooksville’s first radio station, WKTS, took to the airwaves at 1450 kHz, broadcasting from a site near U.S. 41 and Mondon Hill Road. But disaster struck on March 3, 1958: a fire gutted the station, leaving nothing but ashes and silence. From that loss rose WWJB, a new station determined to carry the torch. By October 11, 1958, WWJB went on air, initially operating from the corner of Liberty Street and Brooksville Avenue. Owned by William Johnson and later Brooksville Broadcasting Service Inc., WWJB was born from resilience, ready to serve Hernando County.

By 1961, WWJB was firmly established at 30 East Liberty Street, where it remained through at least 1969, as listed in the Broadcasting Yearbook. Picture the scene: disc jockeys spinning records, news anchors sharing local updates, and weather reports guiding farmers through Florida’s unpredictable seasons. This building, nestled in Brooksville’s historic district, was a hub of connection, delivering talk shows, music, and community announcements to listeners across the region. Its modest façade belied its outsized role in shaping the town’s identity.

WWJB wasn’t just a station; it was a launching pad for talent. WWJB was then owned by Brooksville Broadcasting Service Inc. during this period and played a crucial role in local broadcasting. In the early 1970s, a young George Lowe worked here, honing his skills before becoming the iconic voice of Space Ghost on Adult Swim. The station’s full-service format, blending news, talk, and entertainment, made it a daily companion for Brooksville residents, from shopkeepers to citrus growers. Its presence at 30 East Liberty Street during the 1960s placed it in the heart of a vibrant downtown, near landmarks like the Hernando State Bank and the Dixie Theater.

The station’s journey didn’t end here. By 1986, it had moved to 55 West Fort Dade Avenue, next to Brooksville City Hall, where it continues to broadcast today on 1450 AM and FM translators like 103.9 “The Boot.” Since 2017, WWJB has embraced a country music format, but its roots at 30 East Liberty Street remain a vital chapter in its story.

Additional research reveals that WWJB’s early years were shaped by the broader context of 1950s radio, a time when AM stations like WWJB were lifelines for small towns, offering everything from local high school sports updates to national news. The station’s survival through ownership changes and technological shifts, including its later addition of FM translators and sister station WXJB at 99.9 MHz, reflects Brooksville’s adaptability.

As you stand here, imagine the hum of vintage microphones and the glow of radio dials inside this building. The fire that birthed WWJB from WKTS’s ashes is a reminder of the challenges early broadcasters faced, yet their determination echoes in the station’s enduring presence. This site at 31 South Main Street is more than a footnote; it’s a testament to the power of local voices to unite a community. As we continue our tour, let’s carry the spirit of WWJB with us, heading to the next stop where more of Brooksville’s history awaits.

Citations

“History of WWJB, Brooksville, Florida,” https://jeff560.tripod.com/wwjb.html.
“WWJB,” Wikipedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/WWJB.
“WWJB,” Hernando History Wiki, https://hernandocountyhistory.fandom.com/wiki/WWJB.
“Brooksville Historic District,” Hernando County Historical Society, https://www.hernandocountyhistory.org.
“Mid-Century Commercial Architecture,” National Register of Historic Places, https://www.nps.gov/nr.
“George Lowe,” IMDb, accessed April 15, 2025, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0523192/.
“Tour of Historic Brooksville, Florida,” provided by user.

“Liberty Street Properties,” Hernando County Property Appraiser, https://www.hernandopa-fl.us.
“History of AM Radio,” Federal Communications Commissionhttps://www.fcc.gov/media/radio/history.

31 South Main Street – Old Water Tower Posts

Today, we’re standing at 31 South Main Street, where we’re going to dig into the story of Brooksville’s first water tower—a structure that helped this little town grow into the charming county seat we know today. While the tower itself isn’t standing here anymore, its legacy looms large, so let’s turn back the clock and uncover its roots. 

Brooksville, settled in 1845 as Melendez, had a tough time with water in its early days. Back then, folks at Fort DeSoto, just northeast of town, gave up on digging wells through the stubborn lime rock, abandoning the fort by the 1840s. As the town grew, so did the need for a reliable water supply. The first water tower at 31 South Main Street went up in the early 20th century—exact records are scarce, but we can piece together that it was built around 1911 to 1914 to serve the burgeoning community. This was a time when Brooksville was booming with citrus groves, tangerines, and eggplants, and a proper water system was key to keeping homes, businesses, and farms quenched.

This tower wasn’t just a practical fix—it was a symbol of progress. A simple, steel structure, it stood tall near the heart of downtown, pumping water from the city’s early wells to folks along Main Street and beyond. It supported the Varnada Hotel, just a stone’s throw away, which boasted indoor running water—a real novelty back then! The tower played a big role in Brooksville’s growth.

By the mid-20th century, as Brooksville’s needs outgrew this modest tower, a larger one was built at 101 South Brooksville Avenue, which still stands today as a local landmark. The original tower at 31 South Main Street was taken down, leaving the site to blend into the downtown bustle. Today, this spot is in the courtyard of the Lowman Law Firm. But its story reminds us of Brooksville’s early push to modernize, paving the way for the city’s water plant and the infrastructure that keeps things flowing smooth.

As we stand here on South Main Street, imagine that old tower rising above the oaks, delivering water to a growing town. It’s a quiet hero in Brooksville’s history, helping turn a pioneer settlement into a thriving community. So, let’s tip our hats to that first water tower and the folks who built it. 

Citations

Anahita’s Visit to the City Water Plant and Varnada Hotel, Florida Mermaid Trail, https://floridamermaidtrail.com.

Brooksville Water Tower, NatureCoaster.com, September 24, 2024, https://naturecoaster.com.

City of Brooksville, Nextdoor, https://nextdoor.com.