By the late 1800's, the new pioneers of Northeast Colorado, were getting established with their prairie environment, migrating and traveling only on foot, or horse and buggy, and the occasional automobile. "Wings" to them were only on birds, not winged aircraft! By 1920, many were interested in taking flight as the innovative Haxtun Aero club took to the air. It was the first of its kind, and the Haxtun Community was proud of this new aviation phenomenon! It became such a tradition through the years that by1964 Haxtun had an airport and runaway. It continued its high flying success into the 70's and 80's. The club and airport are not in operation today, but the memories are up lifting.
The following is taken from the book, Homesteading Haxtun and the High Plains by Jean Gray.
"Automobiles were not the only mode of transportation making life easier for the pioneers. In 1920, Harvest reported, Haxtun Aero Club is First One in State: Enterprising Haxtun Men Scoop Colorado on Flying Machine Company," “The progressive” officials of the Haxtun Aero Club- general manager L.C. Hartman, president Leonard Sharpe and secretary-treasurer W.J. Miles. constructed a hanger on a plot of land east of town. "The name is not based on fancy," wrote the Harvest. "Haxtun has an established firm with airplanes in stock, doing commercial work and teaching the business to others."
"Descendants of the Haxtun Aero Club pilots continued the flying tradition, and in 1964, brothers Marlow and Keith Sharpe negotiated the purchase of twelve acres of ground one mile east and one mile south of Haxtun at a cost of $200 per acre from Gade Harms for the construction of an airport. The first runway operated without lights, requiring the pilot to improvise by flying over to notify other pilots who then parked their vehicles along the runway and used their cars' flashing lights to guide the pilot's landing." From the book, Homesteading Haxtun and the High Plains by Jean Gray.
According to Haxtun on the High Plains, by Jean Gray, "Veylerd Baker became a certified flight instructor in 1975 and taught fifteen students who earned pilot certification, including two women, Fay McGuire and Naida Bamford. The runway provide emergency services as well. Baker and Lloyd Ensminger flew in emergency blood for patients at Haxtun Hospital, while other pilots, including Greg Bamford and Damon Koch, flew residents to visit ill relatives confined to hospitals around the state."
Over one-hundred years have passed from the early days of aviation (Haxtun Aero Club), and almost 60 years of the establishment of the Haxtun Airport. Change is good they say, and from the current sky trends in new aviation technologies things are definitely........ LOOKING UP.
Credit: Wilbur Kipp photo collection, Homesteading Haxtun and the High Plains by Jean Gray.
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