Page 76 - Bill MacRitchie and Early Flight

ISSUE : Issue 55

Published by Ronald Caplan on 1990/8/1

was quite flat, and it was quite rocky. I don't know--he said he never could grow anything on it. But we got together. And between 1928, the fall, right through until early summer 1929, we sort of made runways. Between bulldozers and stuff, on loan by the town of Glace Bay --they loaned us bulldozers. And we had a lot of volunteer work. Sydney wasn't a very big help towards it. New Waterford mayor was--Mayor Hinchey--he was helpful. And eventually we got our flying field together. DON'S FLOWERS Serving Port Hood, Judique, Inverness and Surrounding Areas p. O. Box 179, Port Hawkesbury, N. S. BOE 2V0 Telephone 625-2215 or 625-2717 (Who did the actual work on the flying field?) It was a com? bination of manual, volunteer help, and-- a man by the name of Jimmy Calder from Glace Bay--fellow that ran the fire en? gine department. He looked after the mo? tors and--caretaker and whatnot. He and his son, they volun? teered- -everything was volunteer. Today, you couldn't get it at all, we got the thing flyable. Charlie Roy flew first air mail to St. Pierre from Canada; in Aviation Hall of Fame, Ottawa. all. Between them shaped up so it was MacLeod Lorway and You. Partners Prosperity Together we can keep your future bright. PERSONAL INS. COMMERCIAL FIRE CONSTRUCTION LIABILITY BONDING PLEASURE CRAFT LIFE TRAVEL • '.''' %' H mm Your Insurance Broker Understands MacLeod Lorway Insurance 539-6666 (Toll free in Cape Breton) 215 Charlotte St., Sydney - Fax 539-4067 (What does "shaped up to be flyable" mean?) Well, you have to have a mini? mal amount of into-the- wind clearance. In other words, you have to get down--you don't (want) to have obstacles too much on either end. And unfortunately we did have one obstacle at one end of the southeast- northwest runway. It was a hydro--high-tension wires--and a tramline. A tramline then ran from Glace Bay to Sydney, and the tracks and wires, they blocked off the southern end of the field. So many a time we skimmed over them with our wheels pretty nearly touching the high- CO-OP CO-OP Building Supplies KING'S ROAD, SYDNEY Manufacturers of Quality HARBOUR HOMES MM) Pointing the Way to Better Living We've been building quality into our homes for more tlian 32 years. Over 40 Home Plans to Choose from You've Got Experience... Fax:562-7481 • Toll Free: 539-6410 Advantage INSULATED i GARAGE DOORS "' Tired of scraping, painting, and adjusting your old garage door? Install a > Advantage II Advantage E offers: ' • beautiful designs • sizes to fit most garages • a warmer house in winter & a cooler one in summer • a 5-Year Warranty backed by a name you know and trust - Stanley. CERAMIC TILE, NONE OF THE HEADACHES • 1 panel replaces 100 tiles • 100% waterproof • Embossed space-age finish • Designer patterns • Easy to Install • Easy to clean Ceramalite panels • the smart do-it-yourself solution for bathrooms, kitchens, laundryrooms. ... on Your Side

Cape Breton's Magazine