When Carolina comes into conversation, most people begin to talk about either sports or academics. However, airplane enthusiasts always seem to talk about Horace Williams Airport.
Horace Williams Airport was pivotal in the shaping of both Chapel Hill and the U.S., but is now facing a shutdown. The airport is hoping to have all planes off the grounds by May 2018.
The Birth of Horace Williams Airport
When coming back from France after World War I, Charlie Lee Martindale moved to Chapel Hill to work. He began to construct buildings all across Chapel Hill, including everything from residential homes to campus buildings.
In 1928, Martindale purchased a 50-acre plot of land from then-UNC-Chapel Hill Professor Horace Williams. He called the plot Martindale Field, and the creation of an airfield soon took form. A landing area, administrative building and a wooden hangar were the first buildings to appear.
Martindale Field soon became known as Chapel Hill Airport and offered new excitement to the town. Citizens came from all over to watch weekend air shows and participate in flying lessons. In 1931, the U.S. Department of Commerce labeled Chapel Hill Airport as the second official airport in North Carolina.
Outbreak of War
World War II began in 1939. At this time, UNC-CH was training roughly 30 civilian pilots at the airport. UNC-CH’s program was backed by the Civil Aeronautics Authority. Through a partnership with Duke University, the two schools were approved by the Department of War for a larger CAA program. They also received funding from the Works Progress Administration to upgrade the airport.
Under the expansion project the majority of the land, 870 acres, was donated to the University by Williams after his death. Chapel Hill Airport, with some reluctance by Martindale, was sold to UNC-CH in 1940. These two plots of land were combined to create what is known as Horace Williams Airport today.
