Cape Cod Airfield, in Marstons Mills,

Massachusetts Massachusetts ( ; ), officially the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, is a U.S. state, state in the New England region of the Northeastern United States. It borders the Atlantic Ocean and the Gulf of Maine to its east, Connecticut and Rhode ...

, is a public airport owned by the Town of Barnstable.

History

Cape Cod Airfield is located on the former site of Camp Perkins, a

Massachusetts National Guard The Massachusetts National Guard is the United States National Guard, National Guard component for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Founded as the Massachusetts militia, Massachusetts Bay Colonial Militia on December 13, 1636, it contains the ...

camp which was active on the site in 1921 and 1922. The airport was founded by Zenas Crocker, a

World War I World War I or the First World War (28 July 1914 – 11 November 1918), also known as the Great War, was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War I, Allies (or Entente) and the Central Powers. Fighting to ...

biplane pilot. It opened with a flying circus on July 4, 1929. During

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, the biggest attraction at the airport was the nearby Aviation Country Club, which ran an open bar and night-club. The club was closed down by Zenas Crocker's brother - Laughlin Crocker who was the Sheriff of Barnstable County. From 1929 to 1934, the Massachusetts National Guard's aviation group held its summer encampment at the airport. In 1930, the Skyways Flying School, run by Crocker's friend Crocker Snow, opened at the airport. In 1935, the property was acquired by Hilma and William H. Danforth, summer residents of

Oyster Harbors Oyster Harbors is a gated community within the village of Osterville, Massachusetts. It is located on Grand Island.Oyster Harborsis surrounded by water with North Bay located to the north, West Bay located to the east, the Seapuit River to the so ...

. The Danforths used the property as a riding stable, polo field, and automobile race track as well as for their private aircraft and added a windmill to serve as an office building. The airport was opened for commercial service on May 8, 1946, when Mrs. Danforth leased the property to John C. Van Arsdale. Van Arsdale opened a flying school to take advantage of the

G.I. Bill The G.I. Bill, formally the Servicemen's Readjustment Act of 1944, was a law that provided a range of benefits for some of the returning World War II veterans (commonly referred to as G.I. (military), G.I.s). The original G.I. Bill expired in ...

's flight training for

World War II World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...

veterans. During this time, the stables were torn down and the Aviation Country Club moved to

Hyannis, Massachusetts Hyannis is the largest of the seven villages in the town of Barnstable, Massachusetts, United States. It is the commercial and transportation hub of Cape Cod and was designated an urban area at the 1990 census. Because of this, many refer to Hya ...

, where it became an

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. In 1949, Van Arsdale opened the

Provincetown-Boston Airlines Provincetown-Boston Airlines was a regional airline in the United States that operated from 1949 until it merged with Britt Airways in 1989. It operated a route network in New England, New York, Pennsylvania, and Florida, and at one time was the ...

and eventually turned over control of the Cape Cod Airport to the Danforth's pilot Harry Kornhiser. Kornhiser expanded the operation to include airplane maintenance and reconditioning used aircraft for resale in addition to flight instruction. Kornhiser died in 1991 and his son Rick took over as airport manager. Under the younger Kornhiser, the airport saw gliders, blimps, and an occasional hot air balloon added to its flight operations. Kornhiser also towed advertising banners over nearby beaches. On April 17, 2000, Kornhiser died in a banner-towing accident near the

Norfolk Airport Norfolk International Airport is northeast of downtown Norfolk, within the boundaries of the independent city in Virginia, United States. It is owned and operated by the Norfolk Airport Authority: a bureau under the municipal government. The ...

. Laurel Kornhiser took over operations following her husband's death. In March 2003, a representative of the Danforth family informed Kornhiser that her lease would not be renewed and the airport would close. In 2003, the Town of Barnstable purchased the 217-acre Danforth Property, which included the airport, for $11.2 million. The airport reopened in July 2004.

References

External links

* {{MA Airport Airports in Barnstable County, Massachusetts 1929 establishments in Massachusetts

History

See also

References

External links