Wolfeboro's Little Airport & Ralph M. Horn

[tis]

I remember going on those Cancer Society rides. As kids, we paid a penny a pound.

[ApS]

Viewing the Lake Winnipesaukee woodcuts available now, I caught a glimpse of an interesting feature that extended far out from the Horn's floatplane dock, gas pump, and ramps.

The "spike" of shallows was undoubtedly the result of repeated driveway wash-outs. The driveway was about 75-feet wide, and led down steeply to the ramps.

Over the half-century of operation, many truckloads of driveway contractor-fill replaced each washout, which resulted in that "fan" of dirt out into the lake.

Those shallows have been there for ages and the area is very rich in freshwater mussels. I remember one there clamped onto my trolled orange and black Flattie plug, which took the Flattie's strongly-vibrating motions away--alerting me to "the bite".

Maybe, he thought he'd caught me?

[ApS]

A new pamphlet available at the Wolfeboro Library shows a number of B&W photographs of Wolfeboro Neck. As of this date, the Library has run out of the pamphlets; however, I believe our ever-ready membership will prove to be resourceful in locating other copies.

I just learned the following pamphlet photos were assembled by member Camp Guy and camp-friends, and that the pamphlet photos can be posted freely here.
_________________________

The first is an assemblage of airport-friendly gals--including the earliest photo I've ever seen of Eleanor Horn. (2nd from left).

The floatplane is undoubtedly the same Taylorcraft floatplane that kicked around Wolfeboro Neck for four decades. I'll have to check on the Internet history of NC 29188.



Hmmm... Didn't it end up at the top of a nearby White Pine tree with a flight-instructor at the controls? I do recall the pilot's name, but why "visit" that particular piece of information?

Second-up, an early aircraft-engine Iceboat "invention" made by Merwin and a friend. The photo includes both friends, but I'd have to guess that Merwin (Left ?) looked very different in the 1930s.

The third photo taken from the above pamphlet is of a Kitty Hawk floatplane discussed elsewhere at this forum; however, the site in the picture is not the "Lakes Region Airpark" at Wolfeboro.

[excelsior007]

Looking at the pictures posted of Merwin Horn - this was published in America's First Resort in May 2013. If you need additional copies, I can get them to you - as I am the publisher.

[Phantom]

Very Very interesting reading ... I missed this thread initially.

Am I to construe that the Marriot Family still owns the property ? and has anything been done there of recent? As we only get to see that area by water, I do not recall any significant development or construction.

[ApS]

Originally Posted by excelsior007

Looking at the pictures posted of Merwin Horn - this was published in America's First Resort in May 2013. If you need additional copies, I can get them to you - as I am the publisher.

Thanks, but I have enough copies, thanks to thoughtful family members.

By your user-name—excelsior007—I'd guess you know a lot about Wolfeboro history.

Have you access to the video of the l-o-n-g interview I made of Merwin Horn one year before he died?

Originally Posted by Phantom

Very Very interesting reading ... I missed this thread initially. Am I to construe that the Marriot Family still owns the property ? and has anything been done there of recent? As we only get to see that area by water, I do not recall any significant development or construction.

The Marriott family still owns the property—plus additional land (east) beyond Johnson's Cove. I'd guess the total land area of Wolfeboro Neck now Marriott-owned is over 110 acres.

Merwin would have sold a kidney to buy the land and take down those huge pine trees that obstructed the approach to the runway. As the airport flourished, they'd grown fast enough to eventually become a hazard for an aircraft's approach to the runway. Cool and shaded air caused aircraft on final approach to drop precipitously. As recently as ten years ago, you could find broken aircraft canopy fragments, aluminum straps, seat belts, and other scattered parts. As I recall, some painted items remaining in the area were blue and white in color.

That land east beyond Johnson's Cove includes some interesting structures, including Brad Frankum's 1950s vintage summer lakefront home—"Shadowbrook". (Now being rented-out by the Marriotts).

Old Fords figured prominently on Wolfeboro's many dirt roads. I'd purchased Brad Frankum's Model A Ford, which had been painted white and red. We'd previously borrowed Merwin Horn's 1934 Ford Model A dually truck to clear our lot of tree debris.

On the main area of the former airport runway, no additional building has been started, and I'm told that none is expected any time soon; however, they've left the former owner's many underground electrical service structures in place.

The hanger from the early 1970s is being used for maintenance of equipment and storage: it's still a busy place.

Also, to preserve the view towards The Broads, the waterfront property facing The Broads is likely to remain undeveloped indefinitely. The only additional news is that the solitary "model home" elevated high on the property, had its porch "rearranged" by lightning!

Just found among my many photographs is the one below, which pictured the lakeside floatplane activity about the time Merwin Horn died in 1997. There are three floatplanes pictured, and one wooden boat. The red object to the right is a standard airport fabric"wind sock", to show the direction of the wind in the immediate area.

Built there now is a large McMansion, complete with three docks and three huge fireplaces described earlier.



Another piece of trivia: I didn't know it at the time, but Merwin's niece was my Brewster Academy Prom-Date!

[DUSTOFF]

I came across this thread last night and it brought back some nice memories of Lakes Region (8B8)

My uncle owned a place out on Wolfeboro neck. I actually never drove there, but rented cessnas(152 and 172s) and flown in there several times.

Today I was flying in the area and ended up following down the entire eastern shore of Winnipesaukee from Moultonboro down to the Baher "resort" - and right over 8B8. Or what used to be

From what I could see there is now a house on the Southeastern side and an industrial looking building on the North side. It almost looked like it could've been a hangar - I don't remember one being there though.

The only place we saw people out on the ice was Melvin bay - fishing I assume, but no bobhouses. Waved to them.

[The Winster]

Here is a website with info and pictures of old closed NH airports including
Lakes Region:

http://www.airfields-freeman.com/NH/...s_NH.htm#lakes

[tis]

Originally Posted by The Winster

Here is a website with info and pictures of old closed NH airports including
Lakes Region:

http://www.airfields-freeman.com/NH/...s_NH.htm#lakes

Satterfield was the developers name in case you care.

[Diver1111]

That rig looks remarkably like something I found last summer. Viz was bad even at 40 feet so I didn't film it.

I have seen many things in the lake that are strange. Some I could eventually ID, many I could not. This structure/object was one I could not. It was like nothing I had ever seen before.

It was heavy wood, with odd angles to the planking, that had both as I recall a horizontal dimension and a vertical dimension up into the water column. It still baffles me. When I saw the picture APS posted it clicked that maybe this is one of these great old machines. If so it would be worth bringing up.

I will go back this summer and dive it again, this time filming it.

Thanks for the great pictures everyone. My father was a private pilot for almost 40 years-fond memories flying with him all over.

[ApS]

Diver 1111, information on that propeller-driven iceboat would be very much appreciated. Merwin still has family in Wolfeboro and nearby environs, and I'm "hoovering" all I can for this thread.

Originally Posted by tis

Satterfield was the developers name in case you care.

Yes, the same entity that closed Wolfeboro Power, mentioned here: http://winnipesaukee.com/forums/show...ht=Satterfield

Of course, being a neighbor of Merwin, I should have very few photographs of Merwin Horn. Otherwise healthy, his legs had given out, so he spent his last years close by the Airpark's hanger—"hanging out" in the sun.



In this undated photo, Merwin (R) is discussing an engine feature to a Civil Air Patrol member. (Name and rank unknown). The Civil Air Patrol was active during and after WWII. Following its heydays, this region's CAP was intermittently active at the Wolfeboro Airpark from the 1950s to the Airpark's dissolution. Until the Airpark was sold, Merwin stored a dark blue school bus close to the workshop. The bus was painted in CAP colors and logo. I saw that same bus in Moultonborough perhaps eight years ago. Where the Civil Air Patrol has gone now is anybody's guess.



.

[DUSTOFF]

Originally Posted by ApS

Where the Civil Air Patrol has gone now is anybody's guess.

They have a cessna based out of Concord

[nightrider]

Did Horn or a relative ever used to live on Keewaydin Road in what is now a yellow house just before the pavement ends?

[tis]

Originally Posted by nightrider

Did Horn or a relative ever used to live on Keewaydin Road in what is now a yellow house just before the pavement ends?

I think his name was Horn. I am thinking they were not relatives though. I could tell you some stories about him! He was scary. Now you have peaked my interest, I am going to try to wake the memory up!!!

[nightrider]

The boat in your photo looks like the one we sold to your father many moons ago.

[tis]

Originally Posted by nightrider

The boat in your photo looks like the one we sold to your father many moons ago.

No, we bought that from someone in Alton Bay. We have had it about 4 years. I wish I did have one of my Dad's old boats though. I was so little I can hardly remember it but I believe it was a laker.

Still trying to remember the name of the guy that lived in the yellow house, well, the one I think you are talking about. He also owned the camp down by the water beside Osseo.

[tis]

I am thinking Wes Horne (with an e)was the Horne that lived in that house. But he was not the guy I was thinking of. He might have owned it before this guy? You now have me very curious. I hate how we forget things!!!

[nightrider]

Yes. It was Horne with an e. Could have been Russell, Forest, Wesley or Herbert.

[ApS]

"...Where the Civil Air Patrol has gone is anybody's guess..."

Originally Posted by DUSTOFF

They have a Cessna based out of Concord

Thanks for that.

A little CAP factoid:

"A German commander later confirmed that coastal U-boat operations
were withdrawn from the United States "because of those damned
little red and yellow airplanes."

By the end of the war, 64 Civil Air Patrol members had lost their lives in the line of duty".

(!)

...suggest you check out this 'old NH airport' website ......'This site' ....... It shows among other old NH air strips.....the old seaplane & small plane air strip ... Lakes Region Airport .... way down Wolfeboro Neck, and the old White Mountain Airport in North Conway that is now a shopping mall....believe what used to be the airplane hanger and airport office has been totally reconstructed and modified ..... now home to a large Old Navy retail store .... with a very expensive looking biplane weather vane atop the retail roof.....plus Route 16 in N Conway was a very different road in the old photo ... and, this is progress .....yikes!

When I turn right onto the old White Mountain Airport property, I promptly get lost!

Last I heard, a condominium built on the former airport property has fallen into disrepair.



More information on the hanger's copper weathervane formerly located on the Orvis store [airport hanger], and the "2013-news" is, that store is (was) vacant. here. That weathervane isn't intended to be a good replica of the Waco biplanes maintained at White Mountain Airport.

If you'd bought tickets to fly The Red Baron at the White Mountain Airport, you'd have bought them from the wife of the Red Baron pilot—who was my Dad. White Mountain Airport had a Blue Waco, too, but don't know if it had a name. Two of the "tourists" flying together over Mt. Washington included John McEnroe and Ilie (Nasty) Nastase.


Every pilot loves to fly, and my Dad had it in spades. He "commuted" with his Cessna 180 from Wolfeboro Air Park to White Mountain Airport so he could fly some more!

Also below, a portion of a 1984 Granite State News article by local, Jean Batchelder. I haven't seen anything of late by Jean Batchelder, and don't know what a VASI system is, but pretty sure it's gone.

Hard to believe that a serviceable dock was replaced in 1984, then replaced again in 1995, then replaced again in 2014 (with three docks), then two docks replaced again last year. I've picked the wrong career!

.

[ApS]

My family had moved adjacent to the Wolfeboro Airpark 12 years before the below flyover took place. Judging by the below video, no military jet flyover at that altitude has occurred since.

This 1967 flyover occurred above Camp Wyanoke on the shore of Winter Harbor—adjacent to Carry Beach. While I'd heard of this flyover "over the Internet", I've just received an email with more detailing:

"That Jet was a USAF F-4 Phantom, the Pilot was a former Wyanoke camper that broke every Civil Air & USAF Rule of Flight to WOW the folks on the ground at [Camp] Wyanoke. He did just that doing well over 500 knots below 500 feet causing the waters to part with his thrust and ear piercing roar of his Twin J-79 Supersonic Powered Engines. I think it scared everyone in boats, canoes and kayaks to do their own rollovers into the waters of Wolfeboro Neck for cover. It was by Far the Most Incredible Stunt ever pulled off at Wyanoke

"With knowledge aforethought" filmed over Camp Wyanoke—perhaps on Super-8 movie film—the accompanying YouTube video appears here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sfju...ature=youtu.be
The actual flyover begins upon the accompanying song's lyrics, "...when this war is over...". Less than a mile away, the Horns' telephone was ringing off the hook at the Airpark.

However, the video shows a jet with a single exhaust, intake, and engine—and appears to be a F8U Crusader. This puts the above quote into the category of "Mists of Memory and Time". "Writer's License"? To be fair, they are both U.S. Navy jets.

A video comparing the two fighters in a "friendly dogfight":
http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x47vsla

.

[fatlazyless]

So, what's that song ....... sounds like the Kingston Trio ..... is like the last verse from 'Head'n for the Hills' sung by the Limelighters in about 1963 ... google knows everything.

[ApS]

Originally Posted by DUSTOFF

They have a cessna based out of Concord

While browsing FlightAware, I just discovered a C.A.P. photo.

Out West (NM), their Cessna Skylane has a very distinctive appearance:



.

[ApS]

A longtime commercial tenant at The Lakes Region Airpark was Eastern Topographics aircraft. In addition to covering New Hampshire's many geographical features, they sell aerial photographs of Lakes Region properties.

Their office abuts West Lake Restaurant north of Wolfeboro. In 2016, I'd contacted them for details of their relationship with Merwin Horn—owner/operator of The Lakes Region Airpark.

Eastern Topographics Office Manager:

"You will need to speak with President Wayne Kelloway, but he's on the telephone right now".

I had to get some other errands done prior to closing up the cottage, so I deferred the task to the following summer. The next summer, I learned that Wayne had passed away!

Since then, the staff has kindly provided a photograph for this thread, taken about 1995.

[webmaster]

As an almost daily user of MS Flight Simulator 2020 I was happy to find that someone had created detailed scenery of the Wolfeboro airport including the water runways. After flying in and out a few times I now know better how the field was positioned along the lake and what it looked like.

This is free scenery for MSFS 2020 users and easy to install. Thanks to "FlyingsCool" for creating it. The README file even contains a link to this thread (started in 2005!) for more information.:

https://flightsim.to/file/1808/lakes...o-nh-lake-winn

[ApS]

Originally Posted by DUSTOFF

They have a cessna based out of Concord

With the missions of SAR, disaster relief, and homeland security, the Civil Air Patrol operates over 550 Cessna aircraft over this country, with more being added every year!

https://dcnewsroom.blogspot.com/2023...ix-cessna.html

[ITD]

Great thread Aps. Concerning the CAP, there is a very active wing right at Laconia Airport. They have at least one newer looking Cessna 182 tied down on the main ramp, right next to the Skybright hangar. It flies regularly in the area, you can see it from the terminal parking lot when it is not flying. They also have programs for youth. A few months ago I met a young man there who was going with the CAP a bowling outing. Here is their website, they also have a web page.

http://hawksquadron.nhcapcadets.org/...PFnOQl5ss1rP-E

[ApS]

The Civil Air Patrol wasn't the only civilian force to join in active scouting for U-boats off US' eastern shorelines:

https://youtu.be/ygVYat8DYuU?si=AWKECPqPOQc1WKFO