See the opening next to the left of the solo window? I sat on a bench there, in the lobby, on a May afternoon in 1984 waiting for my interview. I had no idea the impact that this one place, and the many people I would meet over the years - would change and shape my life. And I certainly never thought I'd be working for the same station 40+ years later.

The double windows all the way to the right? That was the main production studio where all the commercials and morning show bits and songs were recorded through the years. That was my department for several years as the Production Director. And the narrow space behind that singular window was the first office I ever had.

I stood there and watched as the heavy equipment tore down walls, exposing wires and beams, as the memories came fast and furious.

This old building, at 815 Lafayette Rd in Portsmouth NH was the place -

-where i encountered the stations resident ghost. His name was Jack, and yeah- I totally saw him. A lot or really weird stuff happened in that building. For instance- in the early days the stations shut down at midnight on Sunday. I was working one night, shut er down, turned out all the lights, and left. When I got into my car- I started it up - and just then EVERY SINGLE LIGHT in the building went on at once (which is impossible to do). I said "screw THAT" and split.

-where I almost knocked the station owner on his *** when I bolted from the production studio to get a commercial to the air studio just in time for it to air. I threw open the door and immediately rammed into owner Normal Knight. I wrapped my arms around him to keep him from falling and apologized profusely thinking - "Shit. Im done." He was a bit ruffled and said "Whats the rush?" And when I told him - "this spots gonna air in 30 seconds!" - He just smiled and said "Well you better get it in there!!". I think that's the day he learned my name!! haha

-where I once took a leaf blower to my bosses office because it was such a pig sty. Yeah, he wasn't happy.

-where I slept on the conference room floor so I could do the early morning shift the next day. For our AM station. Whatever it took, man - I did it.

-where I once offered tickets to a woman (who was a nudist) and had her sit at a different bosses desk so that when he came in in the morning, a naked woman would be sitting there when he opened the door. Haha- CLASSIC!

-where we dug a hole in the front yard, and had Roadkill climb out of in on Groundhogs Day to see if he saw his shadow

-where I was once tied to a bed frame by two dominatrixes. Yeah.... don't ask.

-where two base jumpers illegally climbed our tower and parachuted down to the ground, landed, and just kept running away into the night, folding their chutes as they ran.

-where I once came in to do my 2a-6am overnight shift, and when I got there I found the dj on before me -passed out on the console, with a record playing on one turntable, and on the other was some "unidentified white powder" on a picture from playboy - rotating on at 33rpm. True story.

-where Boston's lead singer Brad Delp and I became friends, and he showed up unannounced to help celebrate my 20th work anniversary.

-where I had to do the hardest show of my career- our first day back after Andy Blacksmith passed away. It was an emotional day for all of us.

-where I met so many people who have become lifelong friends

-where we celebrated with champagne when we got our 1st number one ratings book after becoming a rock station

-where I was bit in the ankle by a pig. No, a real PIG! A guy brought his pet pig in and the little wench BIT ME!

-where we launched pumpkins across the marsh using a giant trebuchet, trying to hit our stunt guy Mark the Narc.

-where I once recorded a bit called "The Sopranos in 60 seconds", which recapped the weeks episode. I did it in a mobster type voice and it was filled with F bombs, which would be bleeped out for air. I rehearsed it 3 times before getting the right take, never knowing that the studio I was in was going out LIVE over our AM STATION! That's 51 bombs, friends! AND I DIDN'T GET FIRED! (thats a story for another time)

There's a million more. Thirty six years worth, and all of this stuff was running through my mind as I watched the place that has played a HUGE role in my life get dismantled and dropped in a dumpster.

And the truth is, it totally caught me off guard. I wasn't expecting to feel anyting! I just wanted one last look at the place before it got erased from the planet!

I can tell you this- the thousands of good memories weight a lot more than any feeling of sadness, that's for sure. And that's what I'll take from 815 Lafayette Rd.

But it was one hell of a hell of a ride.....

Maybe I'll write a book some day. Maybe not. I doubt anyone would read it, hahah - but who knows?

So here endeth the chapter of the 815. And on Monday I'll be back in the chair, a few towns away, in front of the console, doing what I've loved since 1984.

And I got no complaints about that.

g

Greg Kretschmar