Phil O. Parmalee, a.k.a. the “sky-man,” assisted by Cliff Turpin, prepares their flying machine for flight at Shattuck Park, as part of the weeklong Parkersburg Centennial celebration in September 1910. (Photo Provided)

AVIATORS ARE HERE And Their New Craft Will Be Viewed By Thousands Of Curious Folk

The Whole World Has Its Gaze Turned On Parkersburg.

P.O. Parmalee and Clifford B. Turley, the aviators in the employ of the Wright Brothers, arrived here yesterday afternoon, to make flights this week at Shattuck Park for the [Parkersburg] Centennial celebration. The aeroplanes have arrived at the Baltimore & Ohio station, and this morning will be taken to Stephenson’s field. The parts will be assembled and will be open to the public view. Tomorrow morning the aircraft will be taken to Shattuck Park, where daily flights will be made.

Parmalee will make the ascensions, and Turpin comes as an extra man in case accident comes to the young Wright student. It is hardly fair to term the young man a student as he has been engaged for a long time as an expert in trying out his employers inventions. At Montgomery, Ala., and Dayton, Ohio, the man-bird has made many trial tests of new machines.

In speaking of his flights here he stated he felt fully assured he would cause the aviation world to take notice. He also stated he had made more flights than the famous Walker Brookens and is by no means a novice at the game.

His machine is the latest and best type the Wright Brothers have turned out, according to the young man, and is the only one in existence. He has extra planes and is prepared for all emergencies, and Parkersburg may have the distinction of possessing a new world’s mark in the most interesting creation of man of the present day.

The Parkersburg Daily State Journal,

Sept. 5, 1910

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Excerpts from the Parkersburg Sentinel, Sept. 10, 1910

Aviator Parmalee Has Narrow Escape

His Machine Soars Hazardously Near a Great Tree Toward the East

But the Aviator Steers It Clear and Makes Brilliant Flight

It Is Rather Cold 1500 Feet Up Says the Birdman.

“Gee! But it was cold up there!” was the exclamation of Aviator Parmalee when he landed on terra firma from his trip through the clouds at Shattuck Park a short while after seven o’clock last evening.

The trip of the aviator last evening was probably the most hazardous of the several which he had made in this vicinity during the present week. The hazardousness of the flight was due to the strong adverse wind which was blowing last evening. …

One of the specifications of the contract with the Wright Bros. is that the flights for each day must not be later than 6:50 o’clock in the evening. The aviator last evening waited until this time and there were many in the crowd assembled who feared that they would not get to see any flight at all. But what they saw fully repaid them for their waiting for the aviators exhibition was surely an excellent demonstration of powers and capabilities of an aeroplane in the face of a strong and adverse current of air.

It was shortly after the beginning of the flight when he was making an extended circle toward the east that the big machine soared perilously near a great tree and it was only with the utmost skill that the aviator was able to steer his wonderful machine clear of the outspreading branches. … But this is all in the game and such hair breadth escapes no doubt make it all the more captivating to the man whose occupation is flying through the air for the entertainment and education of the public.

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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.