Spike at the Mike O’Dell, Photo: The North Scott Press, Eldridge, IA
By Patricia Violette-Adams
In an era dominated by corporate streaming giants, the airwaves above Sanford tell a warm, deeply human and decidedly local story. For nearly 70 years, radio here has survived shifting frequencies and formatting trends. Its lively, quirky hosts have remained the true heart of the community.
The adventure began on Nov. 9, 1957, when the city’s pioneer station, WSME (AM 1220), officially went live from a modest lower School Street studio. Built by a dedicated local crew, WSME introduced listeners to neighborhood legends like Jay Gregory and Mike Kenneally, who spun Top 40 hits with infectious enthusiasm. Folks still fondly recall the sheer energy of “Spike at the Mike” O’Dell bantering with listeners, and Johnny Miller, the “Chairman of the Board,” who brought his love for beach music and Elvis to the airwaves. In October 1975, the station expanded by launching WSME-FM on 92.1, offering residents a clearer stereo option on the dial.
By the late 1980s, the FM station transformed into WCDQ, capturing a younger generation with a rock lineup. Broadcasting from a fictional “Summit of Mt. Rialto,” WCDQ became a local favorite thanks to colorful characters like Pete Casper (“The Friendly DJ”) and Kenneth Ridley, beloved as the “Old Man of the Mountain.” The station famously kept up the elaborate ruse of its mountain studio, airing fake ski and weather reports that occasionally tricked out-of-towners into visiting Sanford looking for a non-existent hiking trail. Meanwhile, religious station WSEW (88.5) hit the airwaves in the early 1990s, offering a softer choice for local families.
In 1999, the familiar station took on the WPHX call letters and a new alternative-rock sound. Around Sanford, people discovered new bands on the drive to work, in backyards and garages, and through radios glowing beside the bed after dark. The Boston connection brought memorable voices, including Julie Kramer, whose dry wit and devotion to underground rock won over listeners, and late-night host Neal Robert, whose thoughtful musical wanderings kept many a local night owl company. Even when the AM station went quiet in 2010, longtime listeners did not forget it; its return in June 2011 felt like an old neighbor coming home.
Sanford’s radio heritage had its modern renaissance in 2012, when New England-based Port Broadcasting, LLC bought the AM station. Rebranding the station as WWSF, the new owners launched an adult standards format known as “The Legends.” To ensure the classic sounds reached modern listeners, Port Broadcasting added an FM translator, expanding the station’s presence to 104.3 FM. Over the next decade, the station pivoted smoothly to “Seacoast Oldies,” delivering beloved hits from the 1960s and 70s to a dedicated regional audience.
Andy Austin, Photo: Seacoast Online
The history came full circle through Andy Austin, the grandson of one of the original disc jockeys on WSME AM, Ed Austin. After learning the trade at the Sanford Regional Technical Center, Andy returned to become a co-owner and host of “York County’s Morning Show,” keeping listeners smiling with stories of his childhood bedroom broadcasts.
In July 2026, WWSF completed its latest transformation, rebranding as The GOAT (Greatest of All Time). Its mix of 1990s and 2000s rock with oldies and modern hits is carried by local voices such as Cari Quater from the Chamber of Commerce and wrestling fan Jake Russo. The station even partnered with SRTC student Destiny Phengdara to design its new logo.
Call letters, frequencies, and formats may keep changing, but Sanford’s devotion to music does not. From “Spike at the Mike” to The GOAT, every era adds another verse to a song our city has never stopped singing.
The post From The Old Man to The GOAT: A History of Sanford Radio appeared first on Sanford Springvale News.
