Shed a Tear With Me...

[Jay Honeck]

http://www.alexisparkinn.com/death_of_the_united_hangar.htm

I know -- it's only an old hangar. But what a hangar! Until the very end, my daughter could still open those 3-story-tall sliding doors with *one* hand. They built 'em right, back in the day.

I don't know why people don't value old buildings. The history this hangar represented...now gone forever.

 

[nddons]

Very sad, Jay. Perhaps a few of those bricks could make a nice little display in your hotel.

Have you forwarded this story to the AOPA? It's too late for this hangar, but perhaps the story may save some other hanger eyed for destruction.

 

[flyingcheesehead]

Have you forwarded this story to the AOPA? It's too late for this hangar, but perhaps the story may save some other hanger eyed for destruction.

Well, this didn't save the United hangar at IOW. Good read anyway.

 

[Trapper John]

http://www.alexisparkinn.com/death_of_the_united_hangar.htm

I know -- it's only an old hangar. But what a hangar! Until the very end, my daughter could still open those 3-story-tall sliding doors with *one* hand. They built 'em right, back in the day.

I don't know why people don't value old buildings. The history this hangar represented...now gone forever.

That is a shame. Did anyone work with the State Historical Society to get the building on the national register of historic buildings?

If there are any other historic structures on the airport, people interested in preservation really should do this. And, although it's a big hoop-jumping exercise, there are state and federal historic tax credits available that can help offset the costs of preservation and restoration.


Trapper John

 

[Jay Honeck]

That is a shame. Did anyone work with the State Historical Society to get the building on the national register of historic buildings?

If there are any other historic structures on the airport, people interested in preservation really should do this. And, although it's a big hoop-jumping exercise, there are state and federal historic tax credits available that can help offset the costs of preservation and restoration.


Trapper John

It was a Catch-22 situation, John. If we got the hangar put on the Historic Register, that would have made moving it nearly impossible. And if we didn't move it, the new, bazillion-dollar runway couldn't be opened, per FAA decree.

(Well, not entirely true. It could be opened, but with much higher instrument minimums, negating a huge advantage of the new, longer runway.)

As for the "people who are interested in preservation", that's REALLY a joke. The blue-haired old ladies that make up the "historic preservation" movement (at least around these parts) couldn't care less about an old hangar at an airport. All they care about are Victorian mansions in their neighborhoods. And, I guess I can understand that.

What I CAN'T understand is why our gummint would pay to tear it down, will pay to replace it, but would NOT pay to move it. That's criminally stupid.

 

[mikea]

...
What I CAN'T understand is why our gummint would pay to tear it down, will pay to replace it, but would NOT pay to move it. That's criminally stupid.

Being from Chicago, it's obvious to me: They have friends in the construction business, not the building moving business.

 

[CJones]

That's sad, Jay.

Newton was able to successfully save the old Maytag hangar, but I have no clue what hoops they had to jump through or whose pockets they had to pad to get it done.

 

[Tim]

How about a picture of it in its hay day

 

[ScottM]

That is a double edged sword.

KSMD in Fort Wayne, a favorite destination of mine, still has one of these old hangars. It is so cool to see and they still use it. It was one part of the reason the airport was not closed a few years ago.

 

[Trapper John]

It was a Catch-22 situation, John. If we got the hangar put on the Historic Register, that would have made moving it nearly impossible. And if we didn't move it, the new, bazillion-dollar runway couldn't be opened, per FAA decree.

(Well, not entirely true. It could be opened, but with much higher instrument minimums, negating a huge advantage of the new, longer runway.)

As for the "people who are interested in preservation", that's REALLY a joke. The blue-haired old ladies that make up the "historic preservation" movement (at least around these parts) couldn't care less about an old hangar at an airport. All they care about are Victorian mansions in their neighborhoods. And, I guess I can understand that.

What I CAN'T understand is why our gummint would pay to tear it down, will pay to replace it, but would NOT pay to move it. That's criminally stupid.

Sorry it turned out that way. If you run into another situation like this, let me know, I have done some preservation work and can get you contacts for good historians which are absolutely essential to make the process work.


Trapper John