AIRPORT: We enjoy looking back through Era archives, and sharing some of the gems we find.

In October of 1941, officials with the City of Bradford were working on acquiring land that would become the Bradford Regional Airport.

“Title to more than 600 acres of land near Mount Alton to be transformed into a McKean county airport will be taken by solicitors for the city of Bradford and McKean county, as a result of action taken by Bradford City council at city hall yesterday afternoon,” read a story in The Era at that time.

“The council, at a regular session presided over by Mayor James W. Colt, passed a resolution approving a report of the special airport committee. The committee’s report calls for purchase of the land from five separate owners at a total purchase price of $24,277.

“The airport site, located near the center of the county, on the Big Level, has been approved by the Civil Aeronautics authority, the report of the special committee said. In the resolution passed by council, City Engineer J. Henry Quirk and City Solicitor Francis M. Nash are directed to notify the CAA of the city’s action and to grant the federal body permission to proceed wtih surveys, plans and construction.

“The Civil Aeronautics authority last summer allocated $560,000 for construction of the airport.

“The airport proposition has taken definite form during the past several months of Mayor Colt’s regime, although council formed its airport committee over a year ago. Prominent citizens have been active in promoting a county airport for more than a year.

“Fred Gallup, of this city, solicitor for the county, appeared at the beginning of yesterday’s session and told council, ‘Whatever action you care to take will be satisfactory with the county.’”

According to the airport’s website, “Passenger service was inaugurated as early as September of 1948, but the terminal was not completed and officially opened until July 1, 1949. The first commercial service was provided by United Air Lines.”

Neat.