BOUGHT FARM FOR AIRPORT
Negotiations were completed Tuesday by Dr. Marion Ulrich of Millersburg for the purchase of the farm of Frank Keefer south of the Free Grace Church of the Brethren in Upper Paxton Township. The farm comprises 131 acres and work has already started to develop it as an airport.
The concern will be known as the Millersburg Airport and will be privately operated with Dr. Ulrich’s grandson Marion “Hops” Gilbert in charge. Gilbert expects to receive his limited transport license in the very near future. A committee is presently at work in Millersburg to have the name of the town and an arrow pointing to the airport, painted on the roof of some buildings in that town under specifications of the Guggenheim Aviation Fund.
For the present 44 acres of the recently purchased tract will be developed as a landing field. A strip of woodland on the farm will be cut down to provide timber for a hangar which is to be erected later. A gasoline, oil, and service station for planes is also planned for the new airport which is three miles east of Millersburg in an air line. Crushed stone will be placed on the dirt road from its junction with the concrete state highway, to the airport, to insure its use under all weather conditions. Dedicatory ceremonies will be planned for either the Spring or Summer of next year.
Gilbert is the second Millersburg boy to turn birdman. The first aviator being “Busty” Hunter now located at Phillipsburg. Gilbert recently purchased a Fairchilds plane powered by a five cylinder Wright whirlwind motor, capable of a speed of 135 miles per hour. The body of the plane is red with wings of regulation airplane buff color. He has bee assigned the number 204-M for his new plane.
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From the Elizabethville Echo, 19 September 1929, via Newspapers.com.
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