Thursday, November 21, 2024

Bill Long Article – Nov. 21, 1964

Bill Long, Lorain's pioneer aviator, has been the subject of many blog posts, covering his incredible aviation career, his operation of several local airports and his passing in 1971. 

I had heard his name mentioned several times by my parents when I was a kid, since he ran the airport on Leavitt Road that was only a few minutes away from our house (where PC Campana is located today).

The Journal recognized Long's unique position in aviation history and dispatched reporters out to interview him on several occasions, including this one from 1959 and another in 1967 (part of a 3-part series on his airports).

But between those two interviews, the Journal profiled him in a well-written article (above) by William E. Scrivo that ran in the paper on November 21, 1964. It's probably the most comprehensive article about his life that I've seen.

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The article mentions that before Long began his flying career, he was in business for himself with an auto dealership and garage for Hudson cars. Here are a few clipping from that era, including a creative advertisement that served as a testimonial to the Hudson's quality and durability. 

Feb. 13, 1924
March 5, 1924
By 1926, Long had switched brands – from Hudson to Auburn.
Bill Long had already made a name for himself as an aviator by the early 1930s. Here's an short article about him that ran in the Lorain Journal on March 16, 1931.

In William Scrivo's article, Long mentioned a crash that happened during his days of providing ferry service to Cedar Point in his Curtiss MF Flying boat. Here's the story of the plane crash as it ran on the front page of the August 13, 1932 Lorain Journal.
(Elsewhere on that front page: the sad passing of Victor Marks, founder of Marks Cleaning Works and a stop at the Hotel Antlers by humorist Don Marquis.
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5 comments:

  1. KenNovember 21, 2024 at 7:09 AM

    Great post, Dan.

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  2. RaeNovember 21, 2024 at 7:11 AM

    As I reading the news I was shocked there were tournaments for mumbly peg. I always thought it was something frowned upon even at the time. A game of mumbly peg blinded my mother as she was a by stander in Lorain in 1938. A hmmmm moment.

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  3. WendyNovember 21, 2024 at 9:31 AM

    Thank you for posting these articles! I just came across some sweet photos of my little brother and grandfather visiting Bill Long at his airport, about 1962. Mr. Long was a good friend of my grandpa and a frequent lunchtime visitor at our family tavern on 15th St. Due to my father’s stories of Long’s exploits, my brother and I were in awe of the old man, with his long beard and aroma of garlic.

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  4. Harrison BaumbaughNovember 21, 2024 at 3:26 PM

    Great stuff Dan. Around 1952 or so me and my LHS buddy cut classes and went for a plane ride at Longs airport.Dont recall details but was my first time in the air.Didnt tell my folks for a long time about money spent.Took some great color slides with my new Argus c3 camera of the then construction of Sheffield center and the Ohio Turnpike Still have them in perfect condition.
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  5. Harrison BaumbaughNovember 22, 2024 at 2:48 PM

    got a Marks Cleaning Works yardstick beside my desk here. Kinda dark patina, must be 120 years old. guess came from my grandparents. Still usable and heavy compared to modern ones. Good for another 100 years I guess.

    ReplyDelete