Eunice became the first female radio engineer for the AMRAD station 1XE, which later went on the air as Boston's first radio station in 1919. Eunice was also the first woman announcer on the air in Boston. 1XE became WGI in 1922.
Eunice was raised on a farm in Mattapoissett, Mass. But ham radio fascinated her and she began learning all she could about it. Her first station call was "ER". In 1918, she joined AMRAD, which manufactured radio receivers and other equipment for the military as well as for amateurs. She was the first woman the company ever hired. She operated her amateur station 1CDP from her home on weekends, but during the week she commuted to Boston to work for AMRAD, which had an experimental station 1XE, located on Medford Hillside. When 1XE became WGI, she remained on the air in the evenings as the "Story Lady". Eunice later worked for several engineering companies, and also maintained her ham radio status; later was known by W1MPP. During WW2 she volunteered for WERS. Over the years she taught code to numerous aspiring amateurs. Her work was also writted up in QST, and she was active in the Eastern Mass. Amateur Radio Association and the South Shore Amateur Radio clubs for a number of years. Eunice and her husband [Ken Thompson] moved to Maine in their later years. She passed away in 1982.
Information supplied by Donna Halper, [Contributing Editor,] Boston Radio Archives, Boston, Ma.
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