A SHORT HISTORY OF THE FRANKLIN LAKES AIRPORT

             A SHORT HISTORY OF THE FRANKLIN LAKES AIRPORT

                                                      BY

                                           JACK GOUDSWARD

      Franklin lakes has always been on the leading edge of what was current. From homes, rocket development to national defense. In the 1920’s names like Lindbergh and Earhart made America and the world look to the heavens, Frankin Lakes was not far behind.

      In the late 1920’s a man named Don Nelson came to Franklin Lakes and purchased a large tract of land. He cleared the land and set up his air port. It was smaller than the ones in the area but soon grew in fame. Soon local flyers were storing and flying their planes from there. This started the success of the enterprise.

     As the profits increased Don Nelson expanded his operation.  He purchased two new aircraft. One was a Challenger and the other was a Waco Biplane. Both were inspected by the Government and were used to give rides to the local population on Sundays. The flights were over the local area to view the sights. The Air Field also offered courses in Flying, Mechanics and General Ground School. The Ground School course consisted of Meteorology, navigation and engines of aircraft. A number of local men and boys took advantage of the classes.

      During its operation many notables visited the Air Field.  One notable was Capt. Smyles O’Timmings. He was a one armed, one legged Aeronautical expert. He flew into Franklin Lakes to visit his friend H.E. Merchant. Mr. Merchant was the chief pilot and head instructor at the Air Port. During his visit Capt. O’Timmings made a parachute jump over the field. He landed in the center of the field.  

   One of the big events held at the air field was the Air Circus. Several well know stunt pilots would arrive and put on a thrill show. This along with motor cycle races and stunt show filled the day. Despite all of this many local residents were not happy with the operation. Late in 1938 a petition was brought before the Town Council. It was signed by forty residents and called for the closing of the Airport. They stated that it was a lowing the land values because of the noise and traffic. A motion was made that the petition be placed in file and the Amusement License of the New Jersey Air service, now the operators of the field, be revoked as a nuisance.  As the matter was looked into the Town Fathers found out that they could do nothing about the airport because the town obtained no revenue from the operation. The only thing they could do was to force the operators to renew the license each year.

     But it was not all events and happy landings at the air port. Death did come. Such is the case of Johnny Hubschmidt.   He was 30 years old from Teaneck and a Pilot. He was visiting friends at the airport when he decided to go flying. He borrowed a plane from Miss. Anna Syrek and took off. He was in the air only a few minutes when the tip of the right wing came off and the plane crashed. He died of his injuries.

    The airport close because of World War II. But this did not stop the airport from serving the national defense. The residents of Franklin Lakes Road woke one morning to find that the trees along the road were cut back without their permission.  An investigation was started. It turned out that the trees were cut to allow the movement of the airport buildings to Haledon. This was done so they could be used as barracks for the Anti-Aircraft Soldiers stationed here to defend Paterson. This ends the life of the Frankin Lakes airport.