November 7, 2007
Harri-Emery Airport
One of the most fascinating aspects about Bradford that most people aren't even familiar with is our rich aviation history. The following is an excerpt from Paul Freeman's Abandoned & Little Know Airfields: Northwestern Pennsylvania website at http://www.airfields-freeman.com/PA/Airfields_PA_NW.htm#harriemery
We encourage you to take a look at his site to see the interesting photographs
Abandoned & Little-Known Airfields:
Northwestern Pennsylvania
© 2002, © 2006 by Paul Freeman. Revised 2/1/06.
Harri-Emery Field, Bradford, PA
41.94 North / 78.67 West (Northeast of Pittsburgh, PA)
A circa 1936 aerial view of a Taylor J-2 flying over the Taylor Aircraft Company facilities in Bradford (courtesy of Ray Lewis).
Harri Emery, an avid pilot, was one of the first to fly an airplane into the city of Bradford in 1919 at the age of 21. He held the distinction of being the first flying instructor in this section of the country,
and was considered as one of the most competent aviators of his day. In 1927, Harri & his father William Emery donated a large portion of their family farm for use as an airport.
Following Emery's participation in the national air derby of 1927 (when he finished 5th in the nation),
the future of Bradford in aviation circles seemed certain.
At first, the Harri-Emery Airport was just a landing strip for one airplane, but
by 1929 it boasted a $25,000 hangar (built with money donated by Emery), and
nearly 20 aircraft, with a staff of mechanics, aviators, and repairmen.
The official dedication of the airport was planned for the first week in July 1929. In anticipation of the event, a new runway was added, trees & railroad tracks were removed, building were painted, and fences constructed.
Many prominent flyers of the day were contacted, including Elinor Smith (holder of the woman's endurance record), Freddie Lund (ace of the air stuntmen), George Haldeman, Doc Kinkaid,
Earl Rowland, Martin Jensen, Clarence Chamberlain, and all agreed to come.
Three crack Army fliers & three Navy flyers were present, and it was expected that approximately 115 planes would be at the airport over the three day event. Three air races were planned - one for 0X5 motored planes, the second for light air cooled motors under 200 horsepower, and the third for motors over 200 horsepower. The last race of the day would be a free for all, with the course mapped out so that all planes could be seen from the ground at all times. Sky writing, parachute jumping, aerial acrobatics - all would have a place at the dedication.
The day of the dedication dawned and the excitement began. The Bradford Era wrote "the aeronautical world today bows to Bradford. For what is said to be one of the largest gatherings of aviation enthusiasts in the East begins here today and thousands from all part of the country are here to help this community celebrate." An estimated 30,000 people attended.
[MBPS NOTE: 30,000 people in Bradford?! That is mind-numbing.]
Following the official dedication program of speeches and awards scheduled for July 6, the show began, with air races, an aerial parade, and stunt flying. The next two days saw more of the same, each day drawing in huge crowds. Commander Richard E. Byrd (who was at the south pole at the time) sent a radiogram with greetings to his fellow aviators, and expressed his congratulations to Bradford on the dedication of its airport.
A banquet for more than 250 pilots at the Emery Hotel formally closed the festivities. Harri Emery and his company, Travel Air, went back to the business of air freight, passengers, lessons, and aerial exhibitions.
Ironically, just three months later, on September 29, 1929 Harri Emery was killed while returning from an aerial show & airport dedication in St. Mary's. His Travelaire plane, lost in fog, came in for an emergency landing too low above the trees, and crashed. The 9/30/29 issue of the Bradford Era wrote "the first aerial fatality in this county, and one of the worst aviation accidents in this country,
occurred last evening when Lieut. Harri Emery, Bradford's pioneer flyer, and a leading spirit in aviation in this city, crashed one mile from Kane while piloting his cabin plane, containing three passengers, from St. Mary's to Bradford, all of whom were killed." Within two weeks, the new airport, of which Emery was so proud, was renamed in his memory.
The 1929 Rand McNally "Standard Indexed Map With Air Trails" (courtesy of Chris Kennedy)
described "Bradford Airport" as being operated by the Airport Club of Bradford,
and consisting of a 2,100' x 200' field.
Perhaps Emery Field's most lasting claim to fame comes from its brief tenure as the home of the Taylorcraft company. According to Aerofiles, the Taylor Brothers Aircraft Company (makers of the Taylorcraft) was formed in 1928 at Emery Field in Bradford.
By 1931, a sales slump had forced the bankruptcy of Taylor Brothers,
and the Taylor Aircraft Company (William T. Piper & C. G. Taylor) was formed in Bradford the same year.
The 1934 Department of Commerce Airfield Directory (courtesy of Chris Kennedy)
described Harri-Emery as having two cinder & sod runways, with the longest being
the 2,040' northeast/southwest strip. A hangar was said to have "Bradford
Airport" on the roof,
and buildings were said to surround the field.
The Airport Directory Company's 1937 Airports Directory (courtesy of Bob Rambo)
described the Harri-Emery Field as having a 2,040' "cindered" northeast/southwest runway
and a 1,585' "hard soil" east/west runway. A hangar was said to have "Bradford Airport" on the roof, and buildings were said to surround the field.
William Piper bought out C.G. Taylor's interest in the Taylor Aircraft Company during the Great Depression. In March 1937 the Taylor factory in Bradford burned to the ground, according to Ray Lewis. Piper went on to establish its factory in Lock Haven, PA, and Taylor built a new factory in Alliance, OH by 1941.
The 1944 US Army/Navy Directory of Airfields (courtesy of Ken Mercer) described Harri-Emery as having a 2,000' unpaved runway.
Ray Lewis recalled, “I learned to fly at Harri-Emery Airport in 1948. Joe Field was my instructor & he ran the airfield.”
The 1957 PA Aeronautical Chart (courtesy of Mike Keefe) described Harri-Emery Field as having a single 2,040' turf northeast/southwest runway. The operator was listed as the Airport Club of Bradford, Inc., and the manger was listed as Joseph Field.
The 1962 AOPA Airport Directory described Harri-Emery as having a single 2,200' turf Runway 4/22. The operator was listed as J. A. Field.
The 1971 Flight Guide (courtesy of Chris Kennedy)
depicted Harri-Emery Field as having a single 2,180' Runway 4/22,
with three small buildings (hangars?) arrayed along both sides of the northeast end of the runway.
Harri- Emery Field closed in 1971, according to Ray Lewis. The 1977 USGS topo map showed that the site of Harri-Emery Field had become the campus of the new University of Pittsburgh at Bradford. However, there is a strange contradiction concerning the date of the airfield's closure
on the University of Pittsburgh at Bradford's web site. It states that "On April 18, 1967, J.B. Fisher announced that Witco-Kendall Corporation would donate approximately 78 acres of land
on the site of the former Harri Emery Airport for the construction of a campus."
Both the 1971 Sectional Chart & 1971 Flight Guide depicted Harri-Emery as still an operational airport in 1971, so is the date of 1967 on the school's web site an error?
Two 2003 photos by Dan Rhinehart of the circa 1928 former Harri-Emery hangar,
the only former airport structure which remains at the site. It is
currently reused as "The Hangar", a student activity center.
The site of Harri-Emery Field is located southeast of the intersection of Route 346 & Taylor Drive (appropriately enough).
© 2006, 2007 by Paul Freeman.
[ED. NOTE: Thank you SL for letting us know about this website!]
Updated November 19, 2007
These are quarter-page ads for the Taylor "Cub" that appeared in magazines during 1935 & 1936
©2007 MBPS
