WHFS (historic)
| Broadcast area | Washington, D.C./Baltimore, Maryland |
|---|---|
| Frequency | 102.3 FM MHz (1961–1983) 99.1 FM MHz (1983–2005) 105.7 FM MHz (2005–2008) |
| First air date | November 11, 1961 |
| Format | Progressive rock, Modern rock |
WHFS was the call sign for three different FM stations in the Washington, D.C./Baltimore, Maryland markets on various frequencies for nearly 50 years. The first and longest run was a progressive rock station and was usually, and affectionately, referred to as 'HFS. For many local residents, it was the first place to hear such bands as R.E.M., The Specials, Pixies, The Smiths, The Monochrome Set, The Cure, Echo & the Bunnymen, Stereolab, and New Order.
"HFS" returned to the airwaves on August 1, 2011 on WWMX-HD2 (106.5 FM) and is translated on 104.9 (W285EJ) as of April 1, 2014.
WHFS began broadcasting on November 11, 1961, on 102.3 FM in Bethesda, Maryland. It was the first station in the Washington, DC, area to broadcast in FM stereo, thus its call sign stood for Washington High Fidelity Stereo. It was originally located in a 20 × 20-foot space in the basement of the Bethesda Medical Building on Wisconsin Avenue with antenna on the roof. Its original format was a combination of MOR and classical, with jazz after 10 p.m. The original owners were considerably underfunded, and the station was sold in 1963. The station was initially moved to Norfolk Ave. in Bethesda and later to Woodmont Ave. All these locations are within a three-block area. When Jacob Einstein became general manager and part-owner in 1967, the station had a broadcast signal of 2,300 watts.
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