SEPT. 29, 1929: It was 80 years ago today, that famed aviator
Harri Emery of Bradford crashed his airplane near Kane. Emery and
several local people were killed in the crash. Interestingly, he
was killed on Sept. 29, 1929, and the serial number on his plane
was 92929. The early days of aviation were particularly deadly for
pioneers in the field.

For younger Bradfordians, an airport on the west end of town
used to be Harri Emery field. That’s where the University of
Pittsburgh at Bradford now sits, and where a marker points to the
birthplace of the Piper Cub airplane. A hangar building is still
evident on the campus grounds.

LATER CRASH: We heard from Ruth Zimmerman who was aboard a later
plane crash, one of the two at the local airport occurring around
the Christmas holidays.

She writes, “I was on that Christmas Eve flight and was one of
the last survivors outside of the plane taken to a hospital. I was
taken to Kane County Hospital with one other survivor. We were
taken by pick-up truck to the road where we could be transferred to
an ambulance.”

“The driver took us to Kane County Hospital (I think that’s the
name) because he felt the hospital in Bradford would be overwhelmed
with other survivors. I was one of the least injured (I believe)
with broken ribs and fractured vertebrae, but was released the day
after Christmas. I would love to know if there will be another
gathering of survivors next year.”

The first reunion was this year and we’ve been told more will be
forthcoming.

Incidentally, our readers no doubt know it is Kane Community
Hospital of which she speaks.

THAT ADDRESS: The address we passed along of Leah Costik was
“lost in translation,” we’re told.

Leah’s mother Sally said the translation from the Turkish
keyboard and through the Internet made certain words incorrect.

So let’s try again for that correct address:

Leah Costik c/o Sezgin Ata

Huzur Mahallesi

Istihkam Lojmanlari

Barlas G¸ltepe Apartment

Daire: 8

Narlidere / 0zmir / TURKEY