Fostoria Airport Opening 1929 - the Sky Was the Limit
November 9, 1997, article one

"A GALA DAY! Airplanes of All Sizes and Makes to be Seen! Entertainment for All! Parachute Drop! Airplane Stunts! Drum Corps! Speakers!" - full page ad, Fostoria Daily Review, Aug. 8, 1929.

A gala day, without a doubt, but what was so splendid to be gala about? August 11, 1929, a Sunday, was the opening and dedication of Fostoria's first full-fledged airport. And it was a day full of anticipation and excitement for a very young Harold Pelton

Harold, about 5 at the time, rode out to the "Fostoria Airport"at the end of E. McDougal St. near the present location of Whitta Construction in his uncle's new 1929 Dodge.

"My uncle came and picked us up in his 1929 Dodge," Harold recalled. "I stood up on my tiptoes so I could see what was going on."

There was an awful lot going on that day and Harold's uncle, Earl Ward Emerson was a prime reason for all the big doings. Mr. Emerson was owner and operator of Emerson Motor and Aeroplane Service, 130 E. Center Street, the spot that today is home to Fostoria Appliance Outlet.

Mr. Emerson was a major proponent of aviation in Fostoria. He began work on the airport in the fall of 1928 and made the circuit of American Legion, Rotary Club and Exchange Club meetings as well as any other group willing to listen to him beat the drums for an active role for aviation in Fostoria's future.

Among the highlights of Mr. Emerson's efforts were two appearances by Harry Smith, a famous pilot who touched down in Fostoria in the Curtiss Challenge Robin, a duplicate of the St. Louis Robin which set several air speed records in the 20s

Smith's passengers were Paul Holmes and Gene Raymond, representatives of Standard Oil and the Toledo Curtiss Flying Club, who spoke to luncheons of the Exchange and Rotary Clubs about aviation. After listening to the speechifying, several members of the clubs were Smith's guests for brief flights over the city.

Mr. Emerson had a fervid ally in car dealer Willis Hakes. Mr. Hakes told the Rotarians, "We need air service here. It will only be a short time before airplanes are as thick as autos are today. Time is money and it is a speed age...Let's tell the city authorities NOW that we MUST have a municipal airport."

Five years later Hakes would lend Fostoria police officer Louis Stagger a car in order to pursue John Dillinger after he relieved the First National Bank of 17 grand.

An ad placed by Mr. Emerson in the Daily Review trumpeted the Robin's visit, "The airport of Fostoria offers you the opportunity of examining and riding in a Curtiss Robin next Sunday July 20, 1929. A luxurious Cabin Monoplane, as comfortable as our Durant Sedan, places you in the skylines among the hanging clouds."

How can anyone resist? Well, the McDougal St. facility soon took shape. The runway wasn't paved, but there were hangars and Standard Oil installed a fuel station. Curtiss, "The Oldest Flying Organization in the World," contracted with Earl Emerson's company to operate a flying school. Matters were rapidly taking wing.

When the big day arrived, Harold and his uncle were joined by scores of people anxious to usher Fostoria into the modern aviation age. Harold recalled that parachutists leapt into the sky and floated to earth.

Daring fliers with nerves of steel performed aerobatic stunts such as flying upside down. Daring Fostorians with nerves of steel could themselves go up for a plane ride. Harold was one of those.

Another family member with a harty spirit was Harold's grandmother Vic Emerson. She went up for a plane ride herself. Now the pilot thought to rattle the woman with some loops and swoops.

Harold remembered her flight. "They thought they'd scare her. They took her up and flew upside down and in circles. But when they landed, she came out smiling. They didn't scare her one bit. I can still see her."

And while Harold enjoyed his airplane ride, he was disappointed that he didn't get to go aloft in one of the two dirigibles that were present that day. One of them was the Goodyear Baby Blimp "Vigilante."

Though the airport opening was a great success, there was tragedy in the offing for Fostoria aviation. While Mr. Emerson and others were preparing to open the airport, Stoner Road resident Harold Hickerson was constructing Fostoria's first homemade monoplane (an aircraft with a single pair of wings). Mr. Hickerson's plane was powered by a nine cylinder rotating, 80 hp engine.

On Saturday Aug. 17, 1929, only one week after the airport opening, Mr. Hickerson allowed 21 year old Michael Kimes and 16 year old Melvic Hawkins to taxi the completed plane in a field near Stoner Rd. He strictly warned the youths not to take off even though both were licensed pilots. He was only interested in making ground tests on the engine.

The temptation to fly the plane proved too great. Kimes and Hawkins took off, waving to people on the ground. They flew south over the new airport, maintaining a low altitude.

The Hawkins, who was at the controls, attempted too steep a bank and the engine failed. Hawkins kept his head and shut off the ignition and released the throttle which may well have prevented an explosion.

Electric line workers reported they heard screams as the plane plummeted down and crashed amidst some trees on Fall St. not far south of the new airport. Kimes and Hawkins were rushed to the Fostoria Hospital, but both died the following day.

On a happier note, it was newsworthy a bit later when the Daily Review reported that 83 year old Civil War veteran John Watson (Co. G, 6th Rgt, West Virginia Cavalry) "sprung a fast one" on his wartime comrades by traveling from Fostoria to a Grand Army of the Republic (a Civil War veterans organization) convention in Lorain in an airplane.

His first plane ride, it was reported, left Mr. Watson a "rampant aviation enthusiast." Having flown, old John earned the distinction of having traveled by horseback, horse and buggy, trolley (interurban), railroad, car, boat and, finally, airplane.

The Fostoria Airport did a brisk business in its first year - 132 flights carried 254 passengers. Incidentally, the new airport replaced what was sometimes known as "Emerson Field," near Perry Center in the vicinity of Five Points south of Pelton Rd.

Speaking of brisk business, Harold Pelton has been doing a brisk business over the years himself. He's best known for his doings at Pelton's Market on Town St. But he's also taken the time to save many furnishings, books, letters, newspaper clippings and other family mementos.

Remember that 1929 Dodge Harold rode to the Airport opening in 68 years ago? Well, he's kept that, too. He rebuilt the engine and it still runs.