Abandoned & Little-Known Airfields:
Northwestern Pennsylvania
© 2002, © 2008 by Paul Freeman. Revised 3/3/08.
Harri-Emery Field (revised 3/3/08) - Warren Airport (revised 3/3/08)
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41.83 North / 79.17 West (Northeast of Pittsburgh, PA)
Warren Airport, as depicted on the February 1941 Cleveland Sectional Chart (courtesy of Chris Kennedy).
This little airport was located on the north side of a bend in the Allegheny River.
Warren Airport may have been established at some point between 1929-33,
as it was not yet depicted on the 1929 Rand McNally Air Trails Map (according to Chris Kennedy).
The earliest reference to Warren Airport which has been located
was in the Airport Directory Company's 1933 Airport Directory (courtesy of Chris Kennedy).
It described Warren as a commercial airport having 3 sod runways,
with the longest being the 2,250' east/west & northwest/southeast strips.
A hangar was said to have "Airport" painted on the roof.
Mel Barron recalled, “Warren Airport... I lived across the Allegheny River from the airport before it was an airport, just a big grass field.
The Jameson brothers started Warren Airport.
They were oil people, were the Hyvis Oil Company.
They started out with one of those corrugated steel hangars of the day with a small office attached.
Back in the first years of the airport there were no runways at all, you just took off & landed into the wind.
They had 2 Waco RNF biplanes & a Stinson JR monoplane & 2 pilots.
I don't know how long they were in business, but it wasn't very long.
These were the depression years & people didn't have money for flying.
The airport was shut down & deserted for several years;
the hangar was empty except for a Waco model 9 biplane with a liquid-cooled 90 HP Curtiss OX-5 engine.”
Mel continued, “Whoever owned that airplane never did anything with it.
The airport was closed for several years
and then Slip King leased it in 1935 & started operating a flying service with a Taylor Cub E-2
and a Travel Air 2000 biplane with a OX-5 engine.
At age 15 in 1935 I took my first flying lesson there.
Virgil Slip King wasn't in business very long & he had a disaster.
We had a blizzard & the weight of the snow collapsed the hangar & smashed the airplanes in it.
I'm not sure of the exact number, but it was at least 4 airplanes which included that old Waco 9 biplane.
All that was left still standing was the small office.
I'm not sure how long the airport operated without a hangar.
Eventually the WPA came in & built a new hangar out of brick & cement blocks
with an office & apartment built onto the side of it & put in a blacktop runway & tax strip.
They also built a dyke around the airport as the river would flood sometimes covering the airport with water.
There were 2 grass runways until the one was blacktopped.
That taxi strip was a part of the other grass runway.
I was never aware of any 3rd runway.
Both runways ran from river bank to river bank.
I think the original intention when the hard-surfaced runway & taxi strip were put in
that the airport would have just the one runway, but the grass runway with the taxi strip in it continued to be used.
It saved doing a lot of taxiing.”
A July 2, 1939 aerial photo depicted Warren Airport as having a single paved runway,
along with a crosswind grass runway.
A a hangar was located on the north side of the field.
The earliest aeronautical chart depiction which has been located of Warren Airport
was on the February 1941 Cleveland Sectional Chart (courtesy of Chris Kennedy).
It depicted Warren as a commercial/municipal airport.
An aerial view looking east at Warren Airport from the Airport Directory Company's 1941 Airport Directory (courtesy of Chris Kennedy).
The field was described as having a single 2,350' "surfaced" runway.
John Barrett recalled, “I lived my early life in Warren & recall taking a ride from the airport
in a twin-engine craft out over the Kinzua Reservoir & back. Probably 1964 or so.”
The 1967 AOPA Airport Directory (courtesy of Chris Kennedy) described "Warren Municipal"
as having a single 2,200' blacktop Runway 11/29 & a 2,300' sod Runway 6/24.
The field was said to offer fuel & tiedowns,
and the operator was listed as the Borough of Warren.
The last aeronautical chart depiction which has been located of Warren Airport
was on the May 1968 Cleveland Sectional Chart (courtesy of Chris Kennedy).
It depicted Warren as having a single 2,200' paved runway.
A September 16, 1968 aerial photo depicted Warren Airport as having a single paved runway,
and a hangar on the north side of the field.
A single light aircraft was visible parked just south of the hangar,
and what appears to be one more aircraft was on the east side of the field, just coming off the runway,
According to Mel Barron, “At one time I leased Warren Airport for a couple of years.
The airport was donated to Warren with the understanding it would always be an airport.
Of course years later the city didn't want the airport & shut it down.”
Warren Airport was evidently closed at some point between 1968-71,
as it was no longer depicted at all on the May 1971 Detroit Sectional Chart (according to Chris Kennedy).
John Barrett reported, “I recall teaching my girlfriend to drive on the old runway in 1971.”
In the 1993 USGS aerial photo,
the paved runway at Warren appeared to still remain almost completely intact,
with 2 closed-runway "X" symbols still visible.
A cloverleaf for the adjacent Route 6 had been built over a portion of the west end of the runway,
and several baseball diamonds had been built adjacent to the east side of the runway.
According to John Barrett, “The hangar & office were located where Ludlow street exits from the 'clover'
and spills onto the runway on the north side of the runway.”
The 1995 USGS topo map still depicted the single runway at the former Warren Airport,
but it was labeled simply as "Landing Strip".
The single small building depicted on the south side of the runway was apparently not airport-related,
but was apparently a later park-related building.
Nearby resident Mel Barron reported in 2007 that the site of Warren Airport “is now a city park.”
The site of Warren Airport is located south of the intersection of Route 6 & Ludlow Street.
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Harri-Emery Field, Bradford, PA
41.94 North / 78.67 West (Northeast of Pittsburgh, PA)
A 1928 aerial view looking north at Harri-Emery Field (courtesy of Ray Lewis).
Harri Emery, an avid pilot, was one of the first to fly an airplane into the city of Bradford in 1919 at the age of 21.
He held the distinction of being the first flying instructor in this section of the country,
and was considered as one of the most competent aviators of his day.
In 1927, Harri & his father William Emery donated a large portion of their family farm for use as an airport.
Following Emery's participation in the national air derby of 1927 (when he finished 5th in the nation),
the future of Bradford in aviation circles seemed certain.
The earliest depiction which has been located of Harri-Emery Field
was a 1928 aerial view (courtesy of Ray Lewis).
It depicted the field as a grass strip with a hangar at the northwest end.
A 1928 photo of the hangar at Harri-Emery Field, with an unidentified biplane visible inside (courtesy of Ray Lewis).
At first, the Harri-Emery Airport was just a landing strip for one airplane,
but by 1929 it boasted a $25,000 hangar (built with money donated by Emery),
and nearly 20 aircraft, with a staff of mechanics, aviators, and repairmen.
The official dedication of the airport was planned for the first week in July 1929,
In anticipation of the event, a new runway was added,
trees & railroad tracks were removed, building were painted, and fences constructed.
Many prominent flyers of the day were contacted,
including Elinor Smith (holder of the woman's endurance record),
Freddie Lund (ace of the air stuntmen), George Haldeman, Doc Kinkaid,
Earl Rowland, Martin Jensen, Clarence Chamberlain, and all agreed to come.
Three crack Army fliers & three Navy flyers were present,
and it was expected that approximately 115 planes would be at the airport over the 3 day event.
Three air races were planned - one for 0X5 motored planes,
the second for light air cooled motors under 200 horsepower,
and the third for motors over 200 horsepower.
The last race of the day would be a free for all,
with the course mapped out so that all planes could be seen from the ground at all times.
Sky writing, parachute jumping, aerial acrobatics - all would have a place at the dedication.
The day of the dedication dawned & the excitement began.
The Bradford Era wrote "the aeronautical world today bows to Bradford.
For what is said to be one of the largest gatherings of aviation enthusiasts in the East begins here today
and thousands from all part of the country are here to help this community celebrate."
An estimated 30,000 people attended.
Following the official dedication program of speeches & awards scheduled for July 6,
the show began, with air races, an aerial parade, and stunt flying.
The next 2 days saw more of the same, each day drawing in huge crowds.
Commander Richard E. Byrd (who was at the south pole at the time)
sent a radiogram with greetings to his fellow aviators,
and expressed his congratulations to Bradford on the dedication of its airport.
A banquet for more than 250 pilots at the Emery Hotel formally closed the festivities.
Harri Emery & his company, Travel Air,
went back to the business of air freight, passengers, lessons, and aerial exhibitions.
Ironically, just 3 months later, on September 29, 1929
Harri Emery was killed while returning from an aerial show & airport dedication in St. Mary's.
His Travelaire plane, lost in fog, came in for an emergency landing too low above the trees, and crashed.
The 9/30/29 issue of the Bradford Era wrote "the first aerial fatality in this county,
and one of the worst aviation accidents in this country,
occurred last evening when Lieut. Harri Emery, Bradford's pioneer flyer, and a leading spirit in aviation in this city,
crashed one mile from Kane while piloting his cabin plane, containing 3 passengers,
from St. Mary's to Bradford, all of whom were killed."
Within 2 weeks, the new airport, of which Emery was so proud, was renamed in his memory.
The 1929 Rand McNally "Standard Indexed Map With Air Trails" (courtesy of Chris Kennedy)
described "Bradford Airport" as being operated by the Airport Club of Bradford,
and consisting of a 2,100' x 200' field.
Perhaps Emery Field's most lasting claim to fame comes from its brief tenure as the home of the Taylorcraft company.
According to Aerofiles, the Taylor Brothers Aircraft Company (makers of the Taylorcraft)
was formed in 1928 at Emery Field in Bradford.
By 1931, a sales slump had forced the bankruptcy of Taylor Brothers,
and the Taylor Aircraft Company (William T. Piper & C. G. Taylor) was formed in Bradford the same year.
An undated postcard depicting Emery Field (courtesy of Jeff Ferguson).
The 1934 Department of Commerce Airfield Directory (courtesy of Chris Kennedy)
described Harri-Emery as having 2 cinder & sod runways,
with the longest being the 2,040' northeast/southwest strip.
A hangar was said to have "Bradford Airport" on the roof,
and buildings were said to surround the field.
A circa 1936 aerial view of a Taylor J-2 flying over the Taylor Aircraft Company facilities
on the northeast side of Harri-Emery Field in Bradford (courtesy of Ray Lewis).
The Airport Directory Company's 1937 Airports Directory (courtesy of Bob Rambo)
described the Harri-Emery Field as having a 2,040' "cindered" northeast/southwest runway
and a 1,585' "hard soil" east/west runway.
A hangar was said to have "Bradford Airport" on the roof,
and buildings were said to surround the field.
Harri-Emery Field, as depicted on the 1941 Regional Aeronautical Chart (courtesy of Chris Kennedy).
William Piper bought out C.G. Taylor's interest in the Taylor Aircraft Company during the Great Depression.
In March 1937 the Taylor factory in Bradford burned to the ground, according to Ray Lewis.
A September 27, 1940 aerial photo depicted Harri-Emery Field
as having a single northeast/southwest grass runway,
with the 1920s-era hangar on the northwest side of the runway,
and the remains of the Taylor Aircraft factory on the northeast side of the runway.
Piper went on to establish its factory in Lock Haven, PA,
and Taylor built a new factory in Alliance, OH by 1941.
The 1944 US Army/Navy Directory of Airfields (courtesy of Ken Mercer)
described Harri-Emery as having a 2,000' unpaved runway.
Ray Lewis recalled, “I learned to fly at Harri-Emery Airport in 1948.
Joe Field was my instructor & he ran the airfield.”
The 1957 PA Aeronautical Chart (courtesy of Mike Keefe)
described Harri-Emery Field as having a single 2,040' turf northeast/southwest runway.
The operator was listed as the Airport Club of Bradford, Inc.,
and the manger was listed as Joseph Field.
The 1962 AOPA Airport Directory described Harri-Emery as having a single 2,200' turf Runway 4/22.
The operator was listed as J. A. Field.
According to the University of Pittsburgh at Bradford's web site,
"On April 18, 1967, J.B. Fisher announced that Witco-Kendall Corporation
would donate approximately 78 acres of land
on the site of the former Harri Emery Airport for the construction of a campus."
But the airport evidently continued to operate for another 4 years.
The last photo which has been located of Harri-Emery Field while it was still operational was a May 25, 1968 aerial photo.
It depicted the field as having a single northeast/southwest grass runway,
which appeared to be somewhat longer than was depicted in the 1940 aerial photo.
The 1920s-era hangar remained standing on the northwest side of the runway,
and a checkerboard-roofed building had been constructed over the northern portion of the site
of the former Taylor Aircraft factory on the northeast side of the runway.
Harri-Emery Field, as depicted on the May 1971 Detroit Sectional Chart (courtesy of Chris Kennedy).
The 1971 Flight Guide (courtesy of Chris Kennedy)
depicted Harri-Emery Field as having a single 2,180' Runway 4/22,
with 3 small buildings (hangars?) arrayed along both sides of the northeast end of the runway.
Harri- Emery Field closed in 1971, according to Ray Lewis.
The 1977 USGS topo map showed that the site of Harri-Emery Field
had become the campus of the new University of Pittsburgh at Bradford.
In the 1993 USGS aerial photo, the school occupied the site of the former airport.
Two 2003 photos by Dan Rhinehart of the circa 1928 former Harri-Emery hangar,
the only former airport structure which remains at the site.
It is currently reused as "The Hangar", a student activity center.
The site of Harri-Emery Field is located southeast of the intersection of Route 346 & Taylor Drive (appropriately enough).
See also: http://www.bradfordlandmark.org/capsules/dedication_of_the_bradford_airport.html
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