James Clements Airport Administration Building

  • Also Known As: The James Clements Municipal Airport Adminstration Building

  • Address: 614 S River Rd
  • Travel Genus: Sight
  • Sight Category: Building

From this field in 1912, Bay County's first pilot, Lionel H DeRemer (FAI License No. 115), flew his Wright B Pusher plane, the fifteenth built by Orville and Wilbur Wright. DeRemer founded one of the first flying schools in Michigan. One of his students, Henry Dora, was the first manager of the James Clements Memorial Airport, built here in 1928-1930. Dora also taught flying. Early woman racing pilot, Jeanette Lempke Sovereign and Dr J M Jones, a physician who made house calls by plane across northern Michigan, were Dora's students. Bay City's first airmail delivery was made here on July 17, 1928. During World War II the airport was a training site for Michigan flyers.

In 1926 the Bay City Chamber of Commerce recognized the economic benefits that could be derived from a local airport. That year the chamber decided to build one and dedicate it to Bay City men killed during World War I. The Aeronautics Committee immediately sought the financial support of industrialist William L Clements, whose son Ensign James R. Clements had been an aviator during the war and died of influenza in France. Clements agreed to make a substantial donation, provided the facility was named in honor of his son. This site was chosen because it had served as an airfield for fifteen years. The Neo-Georgian Administration Building, designed by local architect Joseph C. Goddeyne, and the hangar were dedicated on July 29, 1930. - Michigan Historical Marker


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Timeline

Y/M/D Person Association Description Composition Food Event
Y/M/D Person Association Description Composition Food Event
Webber,Construction Co. Architect
1929/00/00
1930/00/00
1930/07/29 Joseph C Goddeyne Architect Dedication ceremony for the Administration Building and hanger
1930/07/29 William L Clements Benefactor Dedication ceremony for the Administration Building and hanger

Data »

Particulars for James Clements Airport Administration Building:
Architectural Style American Colonial Revival
Area of Significance Architecture
Criteria Architecture-Engineering
Area of Significance Aviation, Air-related
Sight Category Building
Area of Significance Commerce
Area of Significance Communications
Architectural Style Georgian Revival
Criteria Historic Event
Area of Significance Invention
Criteria Person
Area of Significance Social History
Area of Significance Transportation



US National Registry of Historic Places Data »

Accurate at time of registration:

PLACE DETAILS
Registry Name:
Registry Address:
Registry Number: 82000494
Resource Type:
Owner: Local
Architect: Goddeyne,Joseph C.; Webber,Construction Co.
Architectural Style: Colonial revival, Other
Attribute: Georgian Revival
CULTURAL DETAILS
Level of Significance: Local
Area of Significance: Commerce, Transportation, Architecture, Communications, Social history, Invention
Applicable Criteria: Event, Architecture-Engineering, Person
Period of Significance: 1925-1949
Significant Year: 1929, 1930
Associated People: Dora,Henry
Historic Function: Transportation
Historic Sub-Function: Air-related
Current Function: Transportation
Current Sub-Function: Air-related

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