Older Lorainites (like me) remember Long’s Airport on the Northeast corner of Meister and Leavitt Roads.
How long was it there? The article below from the July 30, 1945 Lorain Journal notes, “Lorain has a new private airport today, designated as “Lorain Airport.”
“The new flying field is at the northwest corner of the intersection of Meister-rd and Leavitt-rd, across Leavitt-rd from Port Mills, operated by Ray McClenaghan.
“The new field is owned by William Long. W. A. Spademan is assistant manager.”
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| 1948 Lorain Phone book ad |
It’s a little confusing when one consults phone books and city directories from the late 1940s to research Lorain’s airports. The main thing to remember is that both airports housed flying schools. The flight instruction school at Long’s Airport was called Buckeye Airways, Inc.
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| 1947 Lorain Phone book listing |
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| 1947 Lorain Phone book ad |
By the late 1950s, operations were winding down at the Lorain Skyport. In early January 1956, Lorain contractor Clem Rice purchased a strip of the Skyport property to build 20 homes along Meister Road, with an option to purchase the entire airport property. The entire development would eventually consist of 200 to 300 homes.
By 1960, Long’s Airport was the only airport in Lorain. But there was still plenty of activity there. In May 1960, preparations were being made for a Fly-in Air Show.
This article from the May 20, 1960 Lorain Journal shows the newly painted hangar.
That clearing in the trees is still there today. It goes from right around Mark Drive all the way to the Nickles Bakery building. It kind of gives you a little perspective on the location of the runways. Must be some power lines our something along that path.
ReplyDeleteOne of the ads mentions a name not heard in ages; Ortner's, in Vermilion.
ReplyDeleteThe clearing through the trees is an easement for utilities. However, that is not the path of the old runway. The runway would have gone right through the ball fields in Columbus Park, a bit south of the easement. That easement has been there a long time as it shows up in the 1952 Historic Aerial photos along with the first runway. It goes all the way to Clearview High School and is quite visible in the woods there. It is the reason that Maurer Dr is at an angle.
ReplyDeleteThe clearing in the trees is an easement for the city of Elyria to pump water from the Elyria water works that sits off of West Erie next to the retirement home. I believe there are a few 36'' water mains that run under that clearing.The easement runs right across my parents back yard on Mark Drive.Elyria has repaired it more than once over the years because of it leaking behind their garage.There would be a about a 5'x5' area of ground that would turn to mush but the grass would grow really nice!
ReplyDeleteOnce a workmen said if it ever lets loose it would wash away my fathers garage.I believe he is correct.
And thanks Dan for the vintage airport photos and information! They will go in my collection.
Don't mean to interrupt the tree talk but the comments reminded me Columbus Park was always a good makeout spot in high school.
ReplyDeleteI forgot to mention that in Dan's last photo from 1964 you can see both the runways and the easement.
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