The Guelph Amateur Radio Club was formed in 1949. It was an offshoot of the old pre-war Progressive Radio Club that ceased to exist after World War II when Amateur Radio clubs were formed in Kitchener-Waterloo, Cambridge (Galt) and Guelph.
There was a great increase in Amateur Radio activity after the war. There were only fifteen active hams in the Guelph area at the outbreak of hostilities when the Amateur Radio Service in Canada was suspended. The founder of the club was W. McCormick Gammon VE3BFK (later VE3ZM). He was known as Mac Gammon until his tragic death some years ago.
Meetings were held for several years in the Physics department of the Ontario Agricultural College followed by sessions in the Col. John McCrae Branch 234 Royal Canadian Legion, the Civil Defence headquarters in the old Federal Wire and Cable building on Norwich Street, Hammond Manufacturing, Co-operators building, St. Joseph’s Hospital Annex and then to Hammond Manufacturing’s new electronic plant.
In commemoration of Mac, Guelph ARC was granted his callsign and from then onwards VE3ZM has been used for all club activities.
Some of the past presidents of the club are worthy of mention because it was greatly due to their efforts that the club now finds itself one of the most active, friendly and richest Amateur Radio clubs in the province of Ontario.
Starting of with Mac Gammon VE3ZM there were:
| Crawford Robinson | VE3YH |
| Earl Bains | VE3NS |
| Ralph Mills | (unknown) |
| Ralph Bartlett | VE3BJX |
| Pacifico (Puss) Valeriote | VE3DSC |
| Jack MacCarron | (unknown) |
| Gordon MacPhail | VE3IH |
| Fred Holm | VE3SM |
| Roy Margetts | VE3EBM |
| Stanley Schofield | VE3CFX |
| Stroyan Leith | (unknown) |
| Ray Jennings | VE3CZE |
| Gord Clegg | VE3DFB |
| Frank Rozee | (unknown) |
| Dennis Gore | VE3DGA |
| Rocco Furfaro | VE3HGZ (now VE3YJ) |
| Bill Miller | VE3GSN |
| Fred Hammond | VE3HC |
For many years, the man behind the club had been Fred Hammond VE3HC. Administratively and financially, Fred’s contribution to the welfare of the Guelph Amateur Radio Club cannot be expressed in mere words. His assistance and advice to new Radio Amateurs, plus all the equipment he has donated to get them started makes him the Uncle Elmer of the club.
The Hammond Museum of Radio, now under government control, has its own radio station, VE3HC, and is considered to be one of the very best if not the best radio museum in all of Canada and the US. Just having this museum in Guelph has added much to the fame of the club.