When WLSH-1410 AM broke through the airwaves in December of 1952, it was the only radio station in Carbon County.

“This is the radio station WLSH, the Voice of the Panther Valley from Lansford, Pennsylvania,” engineers said on a test broadcast at 12:20 a.m. Dec. 18.

Seventy years later, the station is still going strong.

So, too, are its sister stations, WMGH (Magic 105.5 FM) in Lansford, which turns 35 this year, and WGPA (Sunny 1100 AM) in Bethlehem, which celebrates its 75th year.

“If you haven’t tuned in for a while, now is the time to do it,” said Chris Crumbless, who owns the stations with his father, Ronald “Rock” Crumbless.

Over the years, the stations have retained many of the popular programs and services they’ve become known for like “Stuck in the ’80s” and “The Magic Polka Machine” on Magic 105.5, and “The Dutch Trader” on WLSH.

But they’re also undergoing changes, said Chris, who formed CC Broadcasting in 2015 with his father and bought WPGA soon after.

“It was our first time owning and operating our first radio station,” Chris said. “It was just for love of radio - and I had years of broadcasting experience.”

They transformed the mostly polka station to Ameripolitan, where listeners can hear honky tonk, western swing, rockabilly and outlaw music.

“We stood on our own,” Chris said of the new format, which also streams online.

The purchase didn’t end there.

In 2019, CC Broadcasting set its eyes on WMGH and WLSH. The sale went through on March 12, 2020.

“We had some major things we had to address from our FM signal, our AM signal, our format and the quality of the audio signal,” Chris explained.

CC Broadcasting also upgraded the remote equipment.

“Right away, there was a lot of initial investment besides the purchase,” Chris said.

All three stations soon began streaming online around the clock.

“That was a first for WMGH and WLSH,” said Ann Marie Calabrese, the stations’ sales manager and host of “Stuck in the ’80s” on WMGH.

COVID did take a toll on the radio stations - just as it had on many other businesses. Still, the stations stayed on the air.

“We were your source to let you know what was open or what was closed,” Calabrese said.

“We were also an escape for the community to hear good music - a good relief,” Chris added. “We had a place you could go on the dial on all three stations for a relief. If we can stay on the air through COVID, we can survive anything.”

The local radio stations changed their formats to meet growing audiences.

“We want to still be your listen-at-work station but we wanted to be more upbeat, a little more rock ’n’ roll,” Calabrese explained of WMGH.

WLSH (1410 AM) plays music from the 1950s to the 1970s and features splices of rockabilly. It also airs programs like “Dutch Trader,” a free service that allows people to buy and sell items; “Coal Region Connections,” which offers tidbits about the community and its history; a new jazz music program and “Roc’s Roundup.”

“If you haven’t listened, give us a try again,” Chris said.

“The biggest thing we get is our lack of repetition. Other stations play the same songs,” Calabrese said. “We try to play the best variety and slip in some deep cuts or some B-sides that make our stations unique.”

The stations also offer talks with local chambers of commerce, air church services and run public service announcements.

“If you have important information for the public, don’t be afraid to let us know to get the word out,” Chris said. “We’re more about making that local connection.”

To celebrate, the stations will hold special events including salutes to other businesses and organizations that are celebrating anniversaries.

For more information about the stations or their services, or to leave a comment or suggestion, contact businessoffice@wmgh.com.