Lasting Legacy: 'Flying field' built for about $500,000
EDITOR'S NOTE: This is the second of a five-part series examining major Works Progress Administration projects in Connellsville as covered by The Daily Courier more than 75 years ago. Today, an in-depth look at building the Connellsville Airport, which cost approximately $500,000 in 1936.
Connellsville's largest Works Progress Administration project took place outside the city on land in Dunbar and North Union townships purchased by Connellsville with help from Fayette County.
Work on the Connellsville Airport began in January 1936, when project plans were submitted to the WPA; the state-of-the-art facility was dedicated Sept. 30, 1938.
The airport initially cost $495,000, with an additional $350,000 allocated for infrastructure and to establish an army base once the airfield had been completed.
Connellsville and Uniontown sponsored the airport. The Jan. 13, 1938 edition of The Daily Courier described the airport location:
"A project for construction of the Fayette County Airport which is to be located in the acreage of the Connellsville-Uniontown highway, across the road from Mac's barbecue, was submitted today to the Works Progress Administration at Harrisburg by Lyell L. Buttermore, district director.
"Mr. Buttermore was in a telephone conversation with Major Jack Morris, head of the aeronautical division of the state WPA, and explained the Fayette county flying field situation, adding that everything was in readiness. Major Morris asked that Mr. Buttermore submit a telegraphic project covering the field, which he readily did. A detailed proposal of estimates will follow in the media.
"This action was taken in order to insure the WPA appropriation for the airport as Wednesday, Jan. 15, has been fixed as the deadline.
"According to the telegraphic proposal, the flying field, to be known as the Fayette County Airport, will be sponsored jointly by Connellsville and Uniontown.
"Fayette county commissioners, heartily in favor of the program, have expressed their determination to contribute $15,000 toward procurement of the site. Inasmuch as an Act of the Legislature has been unearthed whereby the county is unable to take over such acreage, the two cities will acquire the property.
"Nearly half a million dollars will be expended in construction of the airport which will be one of the most modern in the country when completed. Employment for upwards of 600 men for six months or more will be provided by the project."
The WPA approved.
By June 9, 1936, The Daily Courier reported:
"Condemnation proceedings have been entered by the City of Connellsville; materials have been ordered and plans are rapidly going forward until it is but a matter of a few days until actual work will begin on the new Connellsville Airport, which is being constructed by labor enlisted from relief rolls and hired by the Federal Works Program Administration.
"The airport, to be constructed five miles southwest of Connellsville, on the western side of U.S. Highway 119, will cost, in all, $495,000.
"The City of Connellsville, sponsoring the project, is providing $5,000 for materials and supplies, including the purchase price of the site. The Fayette County commissioners have made a grant of $15,000 to be applied on the cost of purchasing the site."
The federal government paid the balance.
"Plans call for three hard-surfaced runways, each 3,000 feet long; a hangar which will measure 80 feet by 100 feet; boundary and flood lights as required by the Department of Commerce; aprons, taxi strips and fences. These specifications for runways, hangars, lights, etc. will make the port a modern landing field in accordance with the most up-to-date plans as designed by U.S. Army engineers."
A ground-breaking ceremony featuring a flyover by nine Army air ships took place on June 22, 1936.
The Daily Courier recorded:
"Five hundred or more citizens gathered at the airport site for the formal ground-breaking, with Fayette County Commissioner John W. Rankin and Mayor Ira D. Younkin of Connellsville.
"Construction of the project was hailed as 'the beginning of the biggest and best project ever approved for Fayette County.'
"That it is Connellsville's was made plain by County Commissioner Rankin who said that while it is for the benefit of all people, 'we have to give Connellsville the credit for going along with us to get this airport.'"
"The actual construction brought unlimited happiness to two men — Commissioner Rankin and Mayor Younkin. For each it was the 'happiest day of my life,' and the crowd cheered and applauded when told of how they had stuck to their guns through all adversity to change what might only have been a dream into a reality.
"Mayor Younkin got the gold-plated shovel with which the earth was spaded but Commissioner Rankin was not to be outdone. He lifted the first shovelful and before it was entirely spilled he grabbed off a handful of dirt. He didn't bother to wrap it up, either. He just put it all in his coat pocket."
The first phase of the Connellsville Airport was complete in the summer of 1938.
The dedication took place on Sept. 30, 1938.
The Army and National Guard sent planes to the airport for the ceremony.
Congressman J. Buell Snyder, chairman of the Army and National Defense and Civil Functions Appropriations Sub-Committee and member of the Sub-Committee on Deficiency Appropriations; Major Jack Morris of Harrisburg, WPA representative in charge of Pennsylvania WPA airports; Connellsville Mayor Ira D. Younkin; County Commissioner Michael Karolcik; members of city council; and Fayette County commissioners were among officials present.
Thousands attended the dedication.
In honor of the event, Connellsville Mayor Ira D. Younkin proclaimed the first week of October 1938 National Air Travel Week.
He called "upon the people of Connellsville to commemorate the first 10 years of successful passenger transportation by air."
The Daily Courier headline of Oct. 3, 1938 proclaimed proudly:
THOUSANDS AT FORMAL OPENING OF CITY AIRPORT
Flying Field Will Be Enlarged and Become Base for Army Planes
Sponsors Lauded for Part They Played in Bringing About Realization of Million Dollar Plant.
The article predicted major economic benefits to the region both from the army base and from civilian air traffic.
"The flying field which has been in use for months is to become an intermediate Army air base and work was started today on an expansion of facilities which will make it possible to land and take off at night.
"Members of City Council and county commissioners and Congressman J. Buell Snyder were lauded for the part each played in realization of the flying field and its facilities which representatives of flying concerns said would be considered a 'haven of refuge for ships in distress' as well as a port of call for ships flying regularly the air lanes of the area.
"There were two speedy pursuit planes of the Army and two from the National Guard but major attention was focused on the two luxury liners of the PCA and the TWA. The latter firm had a 14-passenger liner in which persons having a part in the program were guests of the TWA on a sightseeing flight over Connellsville and other points in the county.
"Judge Ross S. Matthews, who served in the role of master of ceremonies, depicted the march of civilization, recounting how mankind has conquered the land and water as a means of transportation and now 'has conquered the air.' He said that aviation has proved itself as a carrier.
Congressman Snyder envisioned the magnitude of the project and went on to say that 20 years hence there would be a great number of ships using the city airport. The congressman predicted the growth of the airport to 'a busy bee circle like the railroad station of 20 years ago. He said the Connellsville field would be used by shuttle planes flying between here and the transcontinental lines.
"Mr. Snyder predicted that air travel will be very popular in the next 10 to 20 years because the cost will be much lower.
"Mayor Younkin said, 'Because of the resourcefulness, courage and vision of the men engaged in the aviation industry, our city will benefit in the years to come. Air transportation has accelerated business, contributed to prosperity and given increased transportation convenience.
"'With the development of the Connellsville Airport, we of this region will come to know more intimately aviation and its facilities. It is therefore fitting and proper that we pause to give thought to those men of courage and vision who have made aviation what it is today,'" Mayor Younkin concluded.
Thursday: The WPA-built Campbell Stadium, now known as Falcon Stadium.
