WMCW

WMCW (1600 AM) was a radio station licensed to Harvard, Illinois, United States. The station began broadcasting in 1955 and was originally owned by Esther Blodgett. WMCW was the first station in Illinois owned and operated by a woman. The station's call sign stood for "Milk Capital of the World".
History.
Esther Blodgett ownership.
WMCW began broadcasting with midnight tests on January 30, 1955, and was officially dedicated February 22, 1955. The station originally ran 500 watts during daytime hours only. The station's motto was "Top of the State, Top of the Dial". The station aired a high amount of local programming, with owner Esther Blodgett serving as an announcer. In 1965, Blodgett was named "AP Correspondent of the Month" for her coverage of a tornado that struck the area. Blodgett's final broadcast was March 14, 1979.
Obed Borgen ownership.
In 1979, Blodgett sold the station to Obed Borgen for $175,000. Under Borgen's ownership, the station aired a country music format.
Mitchell Broadcasting ownership.
In 1982, the station was sold to Mitchell Broadcasting for $245,000. The station would air a full service-MOR format. Throughout the 1980s along with WXET (now WZSR), WMCW broadcasts sports games from high schools across McHenry and Boone Counties and the city of Marengo’s Federal Savings show “Making your finances fit” every Monday through Friday at 7:10 AM. In 1996, ownership of the station was transferred Stateline Radio, which was owned by the daughter of the owner of Mitchell Broadcasting. The station continued airing a full service-soft AC format throughout the 1990s.
WPW Broadcasting ownership.
In 1999, the station was sold to WPW Broadcasting for $790,000. The station aired a news-talk format in 2002, featuring syndicated personalities such as Laura Ingraham. The station switched to an adult standards format by early 2003, with the slogan "Your Music, Your Lifestyle, Your Station". The station continued to air a large amount of local programming.
Kovas Communications ownership.
In 2004, the station was sold to Kovas Communications for $650,000. In 2005, the station switched to Health Radio Network programming, simulcasting 1580 WKKD. On May 3, 2008, the station was taken silent, and the following year Kovas Communications surrendered WMCW's license, and the licenses of 1580 WKKD and 1600 WCGO to allow sister station 1590 WONX (now WCGO) to increase power to 7 kW.