From Essex Events, Spring 1998
"When driving in Centerbrook
from
"Spencer's Corner" to the Bokum Center on Plains Road, one might not
even
notice an oddly shaped building about half way between these two areas,
on the left hand side of the road. If one did see it, a question
would probably arise -- what was this structure all about?
"The answer is easy, and does not
go into what is considered "ancient" history, by any means. In
1930,
William "Bill" Doane built an airplane hangar on his father's
farmland.
Bill was only 22 years old at the time, but the "flying bug" had
apparently
gotten to him. Thus was born Doane's Field or Airport. An
addition
was built in 1935. Rides were given and an occasional "Aerial
Circus"
or show would be presented. One of the interesting people to land
here in the mid 1960s was the famous Howard Hughes, then a Hollywood
celebrity.
This business was operated up to World War II by the Doane family, when
Bill went west to become a flight instructor for the Army Air Force.
"During the war and shortly
thereafter,
Bob Harrison from the New Haven area ran the airport, before moving to
Deep River and operating a De Soto car agency. After a short
return
to Essex immediately after the war, the Doanes removed to Arizona on a
permanent basis. Mr. Doane died shortly thereafter in a tragic
air
accident.
"In 1952, Charles Savard leased
the Airport from Everitt W. Doane (the father of Bill Doane) for $90.00
per month, for 5 years, but specified that the lease could be
discontinued
at any time, if it was not profitable. In 1956, Everitt Doane
sold
23.9 acres and the hangar to the R. W. Cramer Co. for $27,500. At
that time, this company was located directly across the street from the
Doane's Pharmacy complex on Main Street in Centerbrook. A
provision
of this deed stated that "the grantee (R. W. Cramer) shall not use the
land herein for a public or commercial airport. This restriction
shall not prevent such use for the airport by the grantee in connection
with its corporate business. This restriction shall be null and
void
upon the death of the grantor (Everitt Doane)." Everitt Doane
died
April 7, 1970.
"Whether the Cramer Company
wanted
this land to use as a corporate landing field is questionable.
They
were probably thinking in terms of physical expansion, and this
property
was literally, "in their backyard." This was more or less
confirmed
by the decision to build a new factory, but in Old Saybrook, off Mill
Rock
Road. The new parent company of R. W. Cramer Co., Giannini
Controls,
sold the Airport property in 1966.
"The very reason this land was
ideal for an airport (or for factory expansion), was a reason
Centerbrook
was the initial center of Essex -- the flat land, that was ideal for
farming.
Originally, this whole area (roughly paralleling Route 153) was known
as
Scotch Plains, and most early Essex settlers owned parcels here, for
agriculture
was the main factor of life from 1650 to 1770. Indeed, Mr. Justus
E. Doane had willed tracts of land in this area to his son Everitt in
April,
1919, including this one, with a grand total of 48 acres and
buildings.
The Everitt Doane homestead itself is still standing, on the north side
of the Westbrook Road (technically West Avenue in 1929), close to the
Bokum
Road intersection. This house was originally built by Josiah Nott
circa 1844.
"Justus himself had purchased
land
here from the heirs of Seldon Mather Pratt in 1903. One of these
heirs, James Pratt lived in Ohio, while the other, Jane Pratt, was a
resident
of New Mexico territory. One of the parcels purchased was 14
acres,
"land, being part of the farm of Seldon Mather Pratt, deceased."
The total price was $800. Seldon Mather Pratt's homestead stood
where
the Cumberland Farms Store is currently located. This house
location
dramatically indicates how large this particular farm was, encompassing
most of the land on the east side of Westbrook Road to the corner of
Bokum.
The Central Burying Ground was cut from this area. Going back
further
prior to Pratt ownership, this airport land was controlled by members
of
both the Williams and Nott families.
"Interestingly enough, the Town
of Essex used aerial photography in 1929/1930 to formulate its tax
maps.
These are an incredibly valuable resource, and fortunately have been
kept
in excellent condition by our Town Clerks and Assessors. One of
the
maps, #63, shows the E. E. Dickinson "Tank Building," which was 78' by
159' and was/is located relatively close to the airport, with a name
painted
full size on its essentially flat roof, ESSEX -- this was surely a sign
that the age of flying had come to the lower valley.
"Some of the information used
herein was garnered from a fine article in "The Gazette," in the
January
18, 1979 issue, which featured an interview with Mrs. Louise Doane, the
widow of William Doane."
Note: this county and town is up for adoption.
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