Abandoned & Little-Known Airfields:
Eastern Tennessee
© 2002, © 2008 by Paul Freeman. Revised 8/28/08.
Putnam County Airport (revised 8/28/08) - Tusculum Field (added 11/5/04)
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36.17 North / 82.75 West (East of Nashville, TN)
Tusculum Field, as depicted on the July 1954 Winston-Salem Sectional Chart (courtesy of Chris Kennedy).
Photo of the airport while open has not been located.
This small general aviation airport was evidently established at some point between 1948-54,
as it was not yet depicted on the October 1948 Winston-Salem Sectional Chart (according to Chris Kennedy).
The earliest depiction of Tusculum Field which has been located
was on the July 1954 Winston-Salem Sectional Chart (courtesy of Chris Kennedy).
It depicted Tusculum Field as having a 2,600' unpaved runway.
Tusculum Field evidently gained a paved runway at some point between 1954-61,
as the July 1961 Winston-Salem Sectional Chart (courtesy of Chris Kennedy)
depicted the field as having a 2,700' hard-surface runway.
The 1961 USGS topo map depicted Tusculum Field
as having a single paved northeast/southwest runway,
with a taxiway leading to a few small buildings on the northeast side of the field.
Tusculum Field's runway was somewhat lengthened at some point between 1961-67,
as the 1967 AOPA Airport Directory (courtesy of Chris Kennedy)
described Tusculum Field as having a single 5,000' asphalt Runway 5/23.
The field was said to offer fuel, repairs, hangars, and tiedowns.
Tusculum Field evident closed (for reasons unknown) at some point between 1967-71,
as it was no longer listed among active airfields in the 1971 Flight Guide (according to Chris Kennedy).
As seen in the 1997 USGS aerial photo,
the eastern half of the former runway of Tusculum Field had been reused as a street, Pleasant View Drive.
A baseball diamond had been constructed over the center of the former runway,
with the western half of the former runway having been removed, but its outline was still recognizable.
The site of Tusculum Airport is located southwest of the intersection of Pleasant View Drive & Briar Patch Lane.
Thanks to Chris Kennedy for pointing out this airfield.
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Putnam County Airport (CJE), Cookeville, TN
36.2 North / 85.49 West (East of Nashville, TN)
The Putnam County Airport, as depicted on the 1960 Jeppesen Airway Manual (courtesy of Chris Kennedy).
According to Angelo, the Cookeville Airport was opened in 1932,
originally with 2 runways: a 2,600' East/West strip & a 1,200' North/South strip.
The April 1944 US Army/Navy Directory of Airfields (courtesy of Ken Mercer)
described Cookeville Airport as having a 2,700' unpaved runway.
The Putnam County Airport had gained a paved runway at some point between 1944-60,
as the 1960 Jeppesen Airway Manual (courtesy of Chris Kennedy)
depicted the field as having a single 3,800' paved Runway 17/35,
as well as 2 unpaved runways: 2,700 Runway 2/20 & 2,200' Runway 9/27.
A taxiway led to a ramp on the west side of the field, with a single hangar.
The 1962 AOPA Airport Directory described the field as having
a 3,800' asphalt Runway 17/35 & a 1,500' turf Runway 9/27,
and listed the operator as Hunter's Flying Service.
A 1964 photo by John O'Hara of a 108 hp Piper Colt in front of the Hunter's Flying Service hangar at Putnam County Airport.
John recalled, “I learned to fly in this plane. Mr. Hunter Mir owned & used this aircraft for his training & rental aircraft.
At that time, he also owned & operated a C-Model Bonanza. The airport was active in those days.
There were 11 aircraft based there & approximately a couple of dozen visiting aircraft per day.
Mr. Mir operated a flight school & charter service located in the lean-to portion of the hangar building.
At that time, the more modern building atop the hill was used as a restaurant.
There was an operating airport beacon light tower next to this building.”
A circa 1979 photo by Tom Fleming “of Grady Allison restoring a Stearman, Boeing A75N1 in the hangar.
Grady worked for the National Guard & was the primary mechanic at the airport on his off-time for a long, long time.
I used to (1973–83) keep my plane in the large hangar at Putnam County Airport.”
In the 1982 AOPA Airport Directory (courtesy of Ed Drury) the runway configuration remained the same,
but the operator was listed as Skyways Inc.
By the time of the 1986 USGS topo map,
apparently the crosswind grass runway had been closed.
Two paved taxiways led away from the paved runway
toward a paved ramp in front of the hangar,
and another paved ramp in front of the terminal building.
The Putnam County airfield was closed in 1997,
when it was replaced by the newly constructed Upper Cumberland Regional Airport,
several miles to the south.
The new Cookeville High School was built over the southern portion of the airfield property,
as can be seen in the 1997 USGS aerial photo.
An 8/02 photo by Paul Freeman, looking south along the remaining 1,800' portion of the northern end of the former Runway 17,
toward the new Cookeville High School.
The remaining runway portion is used for operating model aircraft & go-carts.
An 8/02 photo by Paul Freeman looking west at the former hangar of the Putnam County Airport.
An 8/02 photo by Paul Freeman looking south at the former terminal building of the Putnam County Airport.
The airport site is located southeast of the intersection of Route 136 & Whiteaker Springs Road.
Thanks to Marvin Maes for information about Putnam County Airport.
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