Abandoned & Little-Known Airfields:

Central Ohio

© 2002, © 2011 by Paul Freeman. Revised 12/10/11.

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Please consider a financial contribution to support the continued growth & operation of this site.


Biglow Airfield (revised 8/26/11) - Strongsville Airpark (revised 12/10/11) - Wooster Airport (revised 8/26/11)

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Wooster Airport, Wooster, OH

40.84 North / 81.91 West (Southwest of Cleveland, OH)

The Wooster Airport, as depicted on the 1929 Airway Map (courtesy of Chris Kennedy).


This former general aviation airport dated back to before 1929.

The earliest depiction of the Wooster Airport which has been located

was on the 1929 Airway Map (courtesy of Chris Kennedy).


The Airport Directory Company's 1933 Airports Directory (courtesy of Chris Kennedy)

described Wooster as a municipal airport consisting of a 1,968' x 1,291' rectangular sod field.


An aerial view looking northeast at the Wooster Airport

from The Airport Directory Company's 1937 Airports Directory (courtesy of Bob Rambo).

The directory described Wooster as having 4 sod runways, with the longest being a 4,700' north/south strip.

The aerial photo in the directory depicted a single hangar at the southern edge of the field.

 

Wooster Airport, as depicted on the April 1943 Cleveland Sectional Chart (courtesy of Chris Kennedy).


A 10/6/43 aerial view looking north from the 1945 AAF Airfield Directory (courtesy of Scott Murdock)

depicted Wooster Municipal Airport as having several unpaved runways.


The 1945 AAF Airfield Directory (courtesy of Scott Murdock) described Wooster Municipal Airport

as a 115 acre irregularly-shaped property having 4 sod runways, the longest being the 3,200' north/south strip.

The field was said to have 3 hangars, the largest being a 135' x 50' metal structure.

Wooster Municipal was described as being owned by the City of Wooster, and operated by private interests.


The last photo which has been located showing Wooster Airport still in operation was a 1952 aerial photo,

showing Wooster Airport with 2 perpendicular grass runways,

and 9 light aircraft clustered around 2 small hangars on the southwest corner of the field.


Wooster Municipal Airport apparently gained a paved runway at some point between 1952-61,

as the 1961 USGS topo map depicted the field as having a single paved northwest/southeast runway, along with 3 unpaved runways.

Two buildings were depicted on the south end of the field, along the road.


The 1966 OH Airport Directory (courtesy of Chris Kennedy) depicted Wooster Airport as having a single 3,100' paved northwest/southeast runway,

along with a 3,200' north/south sod runway & a 1,500' east/west sod runway.

A total of 5 buildings were depicted on the south end of the field, along the road.

The operator was listed as the Wooster Aviation Center, and the manager was listed as Marshall McDowell.

 

Wooster Airport was still depicted as an active airport

on the May 1968 Cleveland Sectional Chart (courtesy of Chris Kennedy).

 

The Wooster Airport was apparently closed at some point between 1968-72,

as it was no longer listed in the 1972 Flight Guide (according to Chris Kennedy).

It had apparently been replaced by the new Wayne County Airport (3 miles to the northeast).


The 1985 USGS topo map still depicted the runway, but unlabeled, and with several new buildings around it.

 

Unlike many other abandoned former airports,

Wooster Airport has not been plowed over or otherwise removed completely from view.

The largest part of the airport - the paved runway - remains intact,

as it has been reused as a street (named Old Airport Road) for an industrial park which now occupies the site,

as seen in the 1982 USGS aerial photo.

Portions of the former north/south & east/west grass runways also remain recognizable.

Industrial buildings have been constructed along both sides of the former runway.

The former airfield hangars at the southwest corner of the property have apparently been removed.

 

The site of Wooster Airport is located north of the intersection of Route 585 & Old Airport Road (tricky, huh?).

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Strongsville Airpark (1G6), Strongsville, OH

41.33 North / 81.86 West (Southwest of Cleveland, OH)

The earliest depiction which has been located of the Strongsville Airpark was on the 1953 USGS topo map.


Yet another former general aviation airport, now lost to further housing construction.


Strongsville Airpark was evidently established at some point between 1945-52,

as it was not yet listed among active airfields in the 1945 AAF Airfield Directory (courtesy of Scott Murdock).

The earliest depiction which has been located of the Strongsville Airpark was a 1952 aerial photo.

It depicted 6 light single-engine aircraft clustered around small shed on the east side of the field,

and 2 modest grass runways, oriented northeast/southwest & east/west.


However, according to Strongsville Airpark founder Melvin Peters,

construction of the airport started in 1953.


The 1953 USGS topo map depicted Strongsville Airpark as having 2 unpaved runways, and a single hangar on the east side of the field.

The airport may not yet have been operational,

as it was labeled simply as “Landing Field”.


The 1955 OH Airport Directory (courtesy of Stephen Mahaley)

depicted Strongsville Air Park as having 3 runways, with the longest being an 1,875' east/west strip.

It also indicated plans for all 3 runways to be extended.

Several hangars were located along the southeast side of the field.

The operator was listed as Melvin Peters.


Libby Thompson recalled of Strongsville Airport, “I grew up on the airport property until I was 9.

The owner, Melvin Peters, was my step-grandfather

and his son, Ron Peters, pretty much ran the airport until we moved out of state.

We lived in a house that was located on the property,

and my brother & I used to race our mini-bikes on the runways at night after the airport closed for the evening.”


The July 1956 Cleveland Sectional Chart (courtesy of Chris Kennedy)

depicted Strongsville as having a 1,900' unpaved runway.

 

Strongsville apparently gained paved runways at some point between 1956-62,

as the 1962 AOPA Airport Directory described the field as having 2 asphaltic-concrete runways:

3,000' Runway 9/27 & 2,750' Runway 18/36.

The operator was listed as Melvin Peters.


A 1962 aerial view depicted Strongsville as having 2 paved perpendicular runways,

and over 2-dozen light aircraft parked around the field.


A circa 1965-66 aerial view looking west at Strongsville Airpark (courtesy of Wayne Peters).

It depicted the field as having 2 perpendicular paved runways,

with an office & main hangar on the southeast side,

and what may have been some smaller individual hangars along the east side of Runway 9/27.

Note the VOR beacon just beyond the runway intersection.


Wayne Peters recalled, “I am the grandson of Mel Peters & the son of Ron [Peters].

It was quite a busy operation from the mid 1960's to the early 1970's.

We had a flight school & were a Cessna Dealer too.”


A 1965 brochure for Strongsville Airpark (courtesy of Wayne Peters).


A January 1965 photo of a Grumman F8F Bearcat fighter & 2 Cessnas Strongsville Airpark (courtesy of Wayne Peters).

Wayne recalled, “A passing surplus Bearcat landed at our airport on its way west.”


Andy Dulay recalled, “I learned to fly at Strongsville & remember Mel Peters & his son running the operation.

A little-known fact is that Jim Bede's (BD-5, Bede Aircraft, etc) son was my original flight instructor at Strongsville!”


The layout of Strongsville Airport, as depicted on the 1966 OH Airport Directory (courtesy of Chris Kennedy).


The February 5, 1968 State of Ohio Airport Certificate for Strongsville Airport (courtesy of Wayne Peters)

approved the field as a “Class II Airport”.


A 1970 aerial view depicted Strongsville as having 2 paved perpendicular runways,

and over 2-dozen light aircraft parked around the field.


An early 1970s picture of 2 Cessnas in front of the Strongsville Airpark office (courtesy of Wayne Peters).


Wayne Peters recalled, “I used to work at the airport as a lineboy starting at age 14 [1972].

I also soloed at the airport in 1973 at the age of 16

and took my checkride for my Private Pilots license one year later at 17 at the field in a Cessna 150.

After my Grandad sold Strongsville Airport & property (190 acres) in 1974

to the developer who eventually built all the houses that now occupy the site,

Dad & Grandad split the profits of the sale & moved west.”


The 1982 AOPA Airport Directory (courtesy of Ed Drury)

indicated that both runways had unfortunately been shortened to 2,200' in length.

The operator was listed as Strongsville Airport Corp.

 

The condition of both runways at Strongsville was described

in the 1985 Flight Guide (courtesy of Chris Kennedy) as "Ruf" [sic].


According to an EPA report, Strongsville Airpark was closed in 1987.


Ground was broken in 1994 for the Westwood Farms subdivision on the site of the airport.


USGS topo map 1996.

 

The former airport was no longer depicted at all (even as an abandoned airfield)

on the 1998 World Aeronautical Chart.


By the time of the 10/20/00 USGS aerial photo,

the airport site had been completely obliterated with a new housing development,

with not a trace remaining of the former runways.


A circa 2001-2005 aerial photo showed the airport site had been completely obliterated with a new housing development,

with not a trace remaining of the former runways.


Bob Martel reported in 2003 that "At least one hangar is still standing

and being used as a garage by a house on Prospect -

not part of the subdivision created on the former airport."


A circa 2006 aerial view looking north at what appears to be a former hangar

which remains on the east side of the former Strongsville Airpark property.


Ironically, even though Strongsville Airpark has been closed for 13 years, it is still depicted on the 2010-2011 Cleveland Regional Transit Authority map (courtesy of Jimmy McGuire).


The site of Strongsville Airpark is located northwest of the intersection of Prospect Road & Westwood Drive.

 

Thanks to Jonathan Westerling for pointing out this airfield.

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Biglow Airfield, New London, OH

41.09 North / 82.39 West (Southwest of Cleveland, OH)

Biglow Airport was depicted simply as “Landing Field” on the 1960 USGS topo map.

Photo of the airfield while open has not been located.


According to property owner Ralph Danison, a tile plant on this property “was built in 1882 by Anthony Ruse.

The Biglow Company... sold out in the late 1920's or early 1930's.”


At some point an airfield was constructed on the property.

According to Ralph Danison, “The man who flew out of this airports name is Earl Deer.

He was superintendent of the company's plants. They built that airport just for him.”


Ed Ganz recalled of the airfield, “I think it had 2 sod strips. Hangars were at the southwest corner of the property.

I hauled tile out of there in 1955 & it was still there. The buildings to the west are the tile company's.

They had a plane; I don't remember what kind. I think they had 2 more plants west of there & would fly between them."

 

However, no airfield was depicted at the location

on the the 1960 Cleveland Local Aeronautical Chart (courtesy of Mike Keefe).


The earliest depiction of which has been located of Biglow Airfield was on the 1960 USGS topo map.

It depicted the airfield as having 2 runways, labeled simply as "Landing Field".


Don Murray recalled, “I grew up in New London & frequented the Biglow property to fish in the ponds north of the hangars, roughly 1963-68.

There were 2 aircraft based there in this time period.

One was a Piper Apache twin. It was green and was kept in the 'still intact' hangar with the sliding doors.

We only saw this plane when it was coming or going, the hangar being locked otherwise.

The other was an all metal taildragger maybe a Cessna 170 & was kept in the open-front cement block hangar.

I think it was yellow. I remember that it had 2 venturis for vacuum instruments on the right side of the aircraft.”


The airfield also was not depicted at all on the May 1968 Cleveland Sectional Chart (according to Chris Kennedy).

 

Ralph Danison recalled of the property, “It was used by Hancock Brick until the late 1960s & early 1970s.

I would say that the early 1970s was the last [the airfield] was used, unless some one 'sneaked' a landing.

The gentleman who flew out of there used his single engine aircraft to go on sales calls & business related trips.

Hancock Brick also had more than one factory.”


The earliest aeronautical chart depiction of the airfield which has been located

was on the May 1971 Detroit Sectional Chart (courtesy of Chris Kennedy).

It depicted "Biglow" as a public-use airfield having a 3,800' unpaved runway.


The 1972 USGS topo map depicted the airfield as having 2 runways (with the longest being the 2,800' northeast/southwest strip),

labeled simply as "Landing Field".


The Biglow Airfield was not listed in the January 1972 Flight Guide (according to Chris Kennedy).

 

Ralph Danison recalled, “My father purchased the property in 1974.”

The London Tile Company is their family business.

Ralph added, “The airstrip was maintained during our time down there, but was not used to my knowledge.”


The Biglow Airfield was not listed in the 1976 AOPA Airports USA Directory (according to Chris Kennedy),

or depicted on the 1977 or 1986 USGS topo maps.

 

Ralph Danison recalled, “We manufactured tile there until 1985 [when they moved a few blocks away].

We ran limited operations from the late 1980's until 2001 at the Ledgitt Street location.”


A 1991 aerial photo (courtesy of Ralph Danison) looking east at the Biglow Company factory, kins, garage, and a hangar (at the top-right).


In the 1994 USGS aerial photo,

the cleared grass area of the 2 former runways was still barely recognizable.


A December 2005 photo by Ralph Danison of the exterior of the Biglow hangar.


A December 2005 photo by Ralph Danison of the interior of the Biglow hangar.


Ralph Danison reported in 2005 that 2 former airfield buildings were still standing.

“They're made of brick & are intact in the weeds, and still in good shape!

One was made of cinder block, it looks like it was disassembled for spare blocks.

I'm not sure if it was a hangar or a storage building.

The other building is certainly a hangar.

It is custom built around an aircraft, that is the hangar is shaped somewhat like an airplane.

It is made E. Biglow Company's famous 'hollow' brick (they basically made their own hangar).

The red brick hangar is in fantastic shape, not one hole in the roof, the airplane door in still on the rack,

the entrance door is still on its hinges, and the hangar is free of vandalism & has not one loose brick.”


A circa 2006 aerial view looking north at the site of the Biglow Airfield,

with the outline of the 2 runways still barely recognizable,

and the 2 former hangars visible just below the ponds.


The site of the Biglow Airfield is located east of the intersection of East Fir Street & Ledgett Street.



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