1911 postcard depiction of Harry Atwood flying his biplane over La Porte, Indiana. The lettering on the side of the factory building identified it as the HOBART M. CABLE CO., maker of PIANOS. The postcard title identified the occasion as part Harry N. Atwood’s record-setting flight from St. Louis to New York City in 1911. The New York World and the St. Louis Post-Dispatch newspapers (both owned by Joseph Pulitzer) had offered a $30,000 prize for the first flight between New York City and St. Louis in either direction. Harry N. Atwood won the prize. He left St Louis in a Burgess-Wright aircraft on August 14, and arrived in New York City on August 25th. He made 15 stops and traveled 1265 miles via Chicago, Elkhart, Toledo and several other cities. His manager, Leo Stevens had indicated prior to the flight that Atwood would avoid Chicago and probably fly over Springfield, Illinois and make his first stop near Indianapolis (New York Times newspaper article, August 14, 1911). Obviously, plans changed prior to Atwood’s departure. Atwood apparently overflew La Porte on August 15, the second day of his journey. The Hobart M. Cable Co. was located northwest of the intersection of Factory and Darrow Streets. In this scene, the lower building with the stairs was the location of the offices according to the 1912 Sanborn™ fire insurance map set for La Porte. The photographer was probably standing near Factory Street when the photograph was taken. This view was looking north-northeast. flickr/photos/hoosier_recollections/6754722121/
Posted on: Tue, 13 Jan 2015 03:34:31 +0000