Look Back: Up, up and away in the Mid-Ohio Valley
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Airport Company Leases New Field
The Ohio Valley Airport company has leased 40 acres of land from Clark Middleswartz and Henry Porter on the Marietta-Belpre highway, five miles north of Belpre and will establish an airport. This arrangement was completed Friday and work was started Saturday toward the erection of a hanger to house two planes. A steamroller was on the grounds Saturday rolling about a half-mile run-way north and south for take-offs and landings. The airport a mile south of Belpre, which has been used for the past few weeks, will be discontinued.
This newly secured field will be the best in this section of the country. Paul Allen, one of the owners, plans to make the port a commercial one and will invite flyers to land. He will have equipment to repair and fuel planes making flights. Experienced aviators have been secured to conduct an aviation school and any person passing certain tests and wishing to, will be taught to fly. Daily trips with passengers will also be made.
The Parkersburg News
March 25, 1928
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Aero Club Has Plane; Pilot Is Secured Also
One of the first definite steps toward the development of aviation in Parkersburg and toward creation of an interest in aviation activities, was contained in the announcement on Thursday by Glenn Seevers, secretary of the Parkersburg Aero Club that the club had secured a training ship and employed a pilot. Mr. Seevers stated a temporary field had been secured but he did not make known its location. "Work on leveling a few rough spots in the field and of construction of a hanger will be started immediately," he said, "and training a class of members of the club started."
Todd Matthews, engaged in aviation in Marietta for some time, has been employed as training pilot for the club, Mr. Seevers stated, and a plane with dual controls has been purchased from Mr. Matthews for training purposes. The plane is being assembled and reconditioned at Marietta. Christy Matthews, also of Marietta, has been secured as mechanic at the field. A class of about ten students in aviation has been organized and Pilot Matthews, who holds an aviation transport pilot's license, will give instructions.
Orders for a new Waco plane have been placed.
The Parkersburg Aero Club will meet Friday evening at 7 o'clock in council chambers, City Hall.
The Parkersburg News
April 6, 1928
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Parkersburg Aero Club Plans Opening of Field; Take Air Trip Saturday
Opening of the airport of the Parkersburg Aero Club in Elizabeth Pike, near Pettyville, on State Route No. 21 is planned soon, it was announced Saturday by the club officials. The ground has been ploughed and arrangements have been made with the state road commission for loan of a steam roller which will be used to iron out rough spots in the 60 x 70 feet hanger large enough to house four planes, two of which will be owned by the Aero club.
Training Planes.
The Knutck (Canadian Jenny) plane purchased as a training ship, has been assembled in Marietta by pilot Todd Matthews and mechanic Christy Matthews and will be delivered in Parkersburg as soon as the field has been put in shape, within the next week or ten days. The club has purchased a new Waco plane which will be delivered in as short a time as possible. Gordon Price and Glenn Seevers, two of the club members, have obtained the exclusive agency in West Virginia for the Waco plane.
To Fly to Races
Plans have been made for flying the Knutck training ship to Indianapolis for the speedway races May 30. Pilot Matthews will be at the controls and likely will have as his passengers Mr. Seevers and Mr. Price.
Excerpt from
The Parkersburg News
April 20, 1928
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Bob Enoch is president of the Wood County Historical and Preservation Society. If you have comments or questions about Look Back items, please contact him at: roberteenoch@gmail.com, or by mail at WCHPS, PO Box 565, Parkersburg, WV 26102.