Courtesy of John Levo

On Saturday, Oct. 2, the Highland Amateur Radio Association will operate a special event station to call attention to the “World’s Largest Horseshoe Crab,” which is just off S.R. 124 at the eastern edge of Hillsboro.

According to the American Radio Relay League a special event station is an amateur radio station that is temporarily operated to “help commemorate or promote a historic or other special event or attraction.”

Club President Pat Hagen tells that during the club’s 45 years of existence, HARA has operated several special event stations to call attention to the fun and public service amateur radio can offer while promoting local attractions nationwide.

The club has operated past special event stations from the Highland County Fair, the Lynchburg Covered Bridge, Hillsboro’s 175th and 200th anniversaries and from the Highland County Courthouse lawn.

Hagen stated the club was looking for something unusual to promote on the airwaves when a member suggested “Crabbie” – the “World’s Largest Horseshoe Crab.”

Most members have seen “Crabbie,” but did not realize it is one of America’s most unusual roadside attractions and even has a presence on the internet and YouTube. Its history and how it ended up in Hillsboro is very interesting.

Following discussions with its owner, an agreement was made to activate the site as an amateur radio special event.

On Oct. 2, HARA members will set up two stations and antennas at the site and make radio contacts with other amateur radio operators throughout North America and the world. Hams who make successful contacts can receive a special certificate, picturing and describing “Crabbie”, as a memento of the occasion.

The public is invited to visit “Crabbie” that day from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. to observe amateur radio in operation as well as to learn more about this roadside attraction.

The Highland Amateur Radio Association is an organization of over 140 Highland County people who are either FCC licensed ham radio operators and/or have an interest in electronics, computers and radio communications. More information about Amateur Radio is available at www.arrl.org or by contacting HARA Information Officer John Levo, 937-393-4951.