Remembering Bedford’s barnstorming days

Historical marker erected in February at Bedford Village Memorial Park. JOHN STOCKBRIDGE PHOTO

Marker commemorates long-gone Village Airport

By JEFF MORRIS

Did you know Bedford Village was once home to an airport?

A historical marker commemorating that long-forgotten chapter of Bedford history has been erected by the Bedford town historian’s office at what is now Bedford Village Memorial Park.

The marker notes that the Bedford Village Airport, “also known as the La Roe Airport,” was for local flying and airshows. It opened in 1928 and closed in 1936, a span of only eight years.

The history of the airport was the subject of a “Bedford Stories” newsletter, published by the Bedford Historical Society in 2015. It noted that part of what is now the park was once an airfield dating back to the 1920s. The airport, it said, was started by Dr. K. La Roe and encompassed 125 acres, including the park and the neighborhood now known as The Farms.

According to an account written by Robert G. Kelley that was reprinted by the Historical Society, the growing popularity of aviation and “barnstorming” resulted in Clifford Payton flying out of the Schmaling property on Route 22 in Armonk in 1925, which eventually led to the operations at Bedford Village.

Kelley said he first saw an aircraft operating at the corner of Route 22 and Greenwich Road, at what would later be the site of St. Patrick’s School; the airport itself was located at what is now the park. Both properties had been owned by Henry O’Brien and his son, James “Pete” O’Brien, an early pilot and aircraft owner who later owned Stormville Airport in Dutchess County. The younger O’Brien then sold the property to a Mr. Mortimer, who raised animals, but it was later owned by a Dr. La Roe.

In Kelley’s account, the airport began operations when Webster Schmaling of Armonk began flying from the field in 1928 or ‘29.

“Web Schmaling was the nephew of Frederick Schmaling who owned the Armonk Airport property and the well known Log Cabin nightclub and restaurant in Armonk,” said Kelley. “Web Schmaling was in World War I and had a deep interest in aviation. He managed the Log Cabin operations and continued his flying career. After his uncle sold the Armonk Airport property, he moved his flying operations to the Bedford Mortimer property.”

Kelley said they sold rides, gave instruction, sold aircraft, and on weekends put on air shows and exhibition parachute jumps. Pete O’Brien, he said, took his original flying instruction from Clifford Payton in Armonk.

“Payton, while flying a borrowed ‘Waco’ aircraft, had a wing come off killing himself and his passenger,” relates Kelley. O’Brien continued his flying career, purchasing an aircraft and going barnstorming. “He grew up on his father’s farm on the Greenwich Road and has spent his entire life in aviation,” said Kelley.

Some problems described by Kelley are still familiar today.

“Airport operations continued through the early 1930s. It was usually quiet during the weekdays with instruction being given. On weekends the activities attracted large crowds and the accompanying parking problems as a result of Parachute Jumping, Stunting and Customers taking their first airplane rides.”

There were also more mishaps.

“Early aviation was not without its hazards and Bedford had its share,” wrote Kelley. “A German parachutist, ‘Paul Wintermyer,’ died when his static line attached to the aircraft came loose and failed to open his chute.”

Another incident was described in more detail by Kelley, who recalled meeting and getting to know parachute jumper Roy Stillman and his fiancée, who would picnic in the pine grove near Mortimer’s Pond each weekend, and Stillman would pack his parachutes there.

“One Sunday afternoon I left home late and Roy Stillman was getting into position to jump from an aircraft S/E of the airport. As I watched I realized he was in trouble. His main chute trailed and did not open. He opened his emergency chute too late and fell just south of the overflow stream from Mortimer’s Pond. I ran all the way to the scene and was followed by Jack Mooney. Roy was put on a fire truck and taken to Mount Kisco Hospital, where he died.”

During this time, said Kelley, many complaints arose from nearby property owners, and attempts were made to have the town close down airport operations. “Complaints ran the gauntlet of noise to leaking oil from engines falling on local gardens.”

The airport continued operation, wrote Kelley, “faced with growing problems, due to the economy and the surrounding landowners, until it closed down in 1935 or 1936.” He said the large expanse of property was still used for haying and was completely mowed, which made it ideal for flying model aircraft, something that was extremely popular in the area. “Many young men including the Portchester Flying Club used the field for this activity up through World War II.”

Kelley himself died in 1995. A tribute to him written by William F. Banks, quoted by the Historical Society, said, “He was fascinated with airplanes from the time I met him in the fourth grade at Bedford Elementary School in 1933. He spent his time watching planes at the Bedford airport until it closed.” Banks added, “Bob served his country flying fighter planes and later became a member of the New York National Guard.”