Ashland County Airport
From Ashland Times Gazette September 9, 1930
Ashland's long sought airport today became an actuality with the announcement by Dr. Geo. Riebel, representing a group of local men, that contracts have been signed for the purchase of an airport a half mile outside of Ashland on the Savannah road. Forty and a quarter acres of land will be included in the purchase.
The airport will be easily accessible from Ashland. It will be established on lands now owned by H. E. Hartman. The airport site is a half-mile beyond the city limits on the Savannah road, a mile from the Erie railroad and a mile and a half from the courthouse.
Two public highways run along the airport. U.S. Rout 250, a brick paved thoroughfare, forms the western edge of the airport site and a township road runs along the southern edge, joining the Troy road at Snook school.
Work on grading the landing field, will be started within a short time, according to Dr. Riebel. One section of the airport site is comparatively level, while some grading will be necessary on the western section of the landing field.
The airport is an "L" shaped tract. Along the Savannah road is a triangular tract of 25 acres while along the township road, east and west, is a 15 1-4 acre tract shaped like a parallelogram. By means of the "L" shape of the airport, there will be quarter mile straightaway for landing or taking off in an east or west direction and a similar straightaway for landing or taking off either north or south. The shape of the field permits maximum results with less acreage than would ordinarily be the case.
Howard Pry, Shelby aviator, is one of the group interested in the purchase of the airport. He will give it an official trial Saturday and Sunday when he brings his plane here. He will use the east-west field over the week-end, as the other section of the airport is covered with a crop of corn.
TO BUILD A HANGAR
Pry plans to construct a hangar at the airport and move his plane here, where he will have permanent headquarters. He is planning to sell his property in Shelby.
The field will be known as "Ashland Airport." Dr. Riebel declared.
It will be for the use of citizens of Ashland County. He stated.
The glider club will have permission to use the airport without charge, as will other citizens of the county.
The deal whereby Ashland is to acquire an airport was consummated last night. A payment was made to Hartman to guarantee purchase of the property and no bitches are expected to develop in bringing the airport to fulfillment.
Hindrances to flying are relatively few at the airport. There are no trees in the immediate vicinity of the field and a clean sweep without obstructions offered to the east, north and south.
Electric are along the western side of the field, but these should offer only minor difficulties.
CLEARE WIRES
Pry has flown the southern section of the field and has taken off in a westerly direction. On those occasions, he has cleared the wires without difficulty whatsoever and they are not expected to provide any handicap.
Although no complete list of the group of purchases of the airport was obtainable today, it is known that E.P. Helbert is one of the men who has joined with Dr. Riebel and Pry is providing an airport for Ashland.
contributed by
 Russ Shopbell
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