Cape Cod Airfield

Cape Cod Airfield
Cape Cod Airfield
	IATA: none; ICAO: none; FAA LID: 2B1;
Summary
Airport type	Public
Owner	Town of Barnstable
Location	Marstons Mills, Massachusetts
Elevation AMSL	103 ft / 31 m
Coordinates	41°41′07.0″N 70°24′08.1″W / 41.685278°N 70.402250°W
Website	Official website
Map

Cape Cod Airfield, (FAA LID: 2B1) in Marstons Mills, Massachusetts, is a public airport owned by the Town of Barnstable.

History

Cape Cod Airfield is located on the former site of Camp Perkins, a Massachusetts National Guard camp which was active on the site in 1921 and 1922.^[1] The airport was founded by Zenas Crocker, a World War I biplane pilot.^[2] It opened with a flying circus on July 4, 1929.^[3] During Prohibition, the biggest attraction at the airport was the nearby Aviation Country Club, which ran an open bar and night club. The club was closed down by Zenas Crocker's brother - Laughlin Crocker who was the Sheriff of Barnstable County.^[2] From 1929 to 1934, the Massachusetts National Guard's aviation group held its summer encampment at the airport.^[4] In 1930, the Skyways Flying School, run by Crocker's friend Crocker Snow, opened at the airport. In 1935, the property was acquired by Hilma and William H. Danforth, summer residents of Oyster Harbors. The Danforths used the property as a riding stable, polo field, and automobile race track as well as for their private aircraft and added a windmill to serve as an office building. The airport was opened for commercial service on May 8, 1946, when Mrs. Danforth leased the property to John C. Van Arsdale.^[3] Van Arsdale opened a flying school to take advantage of the G.I. Bill's flight training for World War II veterans. During this time, the stables were torn down and the Aviation Country Club moved to Hyannis, Massachusetts, where it became an Elks Club. In 1949, Van Arsdale opened the Provincetown-Boston Airlines and eventually turned over control of the Cape Cod Airport to the Danforth's personal pilot Harry Kornhiser. Kornhiser expanded the operation to include airplane maintenance and reconditioning used aircraft for resale in addition to flight instruction. Kornhiser died in 1991 and his son Rick took over as airport manager. Under the younger Kornhiser, the airport saw gliders, blimps, and an occasional hot air balloon added to its flight operations. Kornhiser also towed advertising banners over nearby beaches.^[2] On April 17, 2000, Kornhiser died in an banner-towing accident near the Norfolk Airport.^[5] Laurel Kornhiser took over operations following her husband's death. In March 2003, a representative of the Danforth family informed Kornhiser that her lease would not be renewed and the airport would close.^[6] In 2003, the Town of Barnstable purchased the 217-acre Danforth Property, which included the airport, for $11.2 million. The airport reopened in July 2004.^[2]

References

^ "Danforth property waits its turn". The Barnstable Patriot. 10 February 2012. Retrieved 2014-02-22.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d Gould, Jim; Kelly, Sean (September 8, 2005). "Cape Cod Airport: Past, present and (maybe) future". The Barnstable Patriot. Retrieved 14 July 2021.
^ ^a ^b Three Centuries of the Cape Cod County, Barnstable, Massachusetts 1685 to 1985. Barnstable County. 1985. p. 215.
^ "26th Aviation Unit At West Barnstable". The Boston Daily Globe. July 7, 1929.
^ Rakowsky, Judy (April 18, 2000). "Small Plane Crashes, Killing Pilot". The Boston Globe.
^ Grauerholtz, Mary (March 9, 2003). "Cape Cod Airport to Close Next Month, Owner Confirms". The Boston Globe.