Holmdel's Horn Antenna is Subject of Winning Essay in County Contest

Amanda Tran, a fifth grader in Land O'Pine Elementary School in Howell, recently won second place in The Monmouth County Historical Commission's fifth grade essay contest about preservation. Amanda won a $75 savings bond. She visited the Horn Antenna with her father, Cuong Tran, who works at Alcatel-Lucent at the Crawfords Corner location. Here is her essay:

Have you ever wondered how space works? How scientists from Earth discover different galaxies in a far away universe? How our life came to be on this little blue planet?

The Horn Antenna in Holmdel helps me appreciate our history because I think it really introduces Monmouth County to the rest of the world. Holmdel is now world-famous for inventing this high-tech device to define our galaxy.

Two astronomers, Dr. Arnold Penzias and Dr. Robert Wilson, were experimenting with a radio antenna, but instead discovered the “Big Bang” theory about how our universe came to be.

I first thought that the story was fake, because one of the greatest discoveries of the twentieth century couldn’t be found in a random place.

Then again, people invent amazing things everyday, and this got me thinking that maybe I could be an inventor, too. The Horn Antenna sparked my imagination to invent new objects, because it might just determine something as important as the future of our universe.

When I visited the antenna, I was astounded that a contraption that big could make almost no noise at all. The wheel looked smaller than I imagined, but then I remembered that this invention determined the movement of space many years ago.

Then I came closer to the antenna, and I couldn’t believe how a small object compared to space could find such great discoveries. It made me realize that the future could evolve into greater and greater discoveries, but right now, we are responsible for making that possible.

I think that the founders of the antenna certainly deserved some gratitude, because their finding is, as astronomer Robert Jastrow states, “one of the greatest discoveries in 500 years of modern astronomy.”

As space continues to expand, the Horn Antenna continues to prove to us (and the whole world) that it is possible. I’m proud to live in Monmouth County, a place where great people live and discoveries really happen.

The Horn Antenna in Holmdel, New Jersey, could teach us that you can stumble upon one of the greatest inventions in the century in everyday activities.

If Dr. Penzias and Dr. Wilson didn’t create this antenna, the reason of space, and our existence, would still be a mystery.

Editor's note: The Horn Antenna is a National Historic Landmark located on Alcatel-Lucent's private property. You can drive up and see it for yourself by following the access road behind the building at 101 Crawfords Corner Rd.