I can't promise that this aerial shot of Chariton from the Lucas County Historical Society collection is the earliest taken, but it does date from ca. 1919-20. And Chariton newspapers published during September of 1919 identify Tuesday, Sept. 16, as the date a gentleman named Ray Reed became the first to pay his fare, climb aboard a Curtis biplane like the one shown here and take an airborne tour.
A writer for The Herald-Patriot, F.W. Meyers, was in line right behind him and it's thanks to him that we have the following report, published on Sept. 18:
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Having an open date, the Morrison Aerial Taxi Co., of Des Moines, literally dropped into Chariton on Tuesday with their Curtis bi-plane. The aeroplane was in charge of Charles Morrison, with Lieutenant Speers, recently special stunt instructor in the United States army, and Wm. Logan, another experienced aviator, as pilots, and Ted LeCocq, late of the Hawkinson Auto Racing organization, as mechanic.
The bi-plane was driven from Russell and a landing place was found in a field about two miles south of Chariton. The first flight over the city was made shortly after noon on Tuesday at which time hand-bills were scattered from the sky announcing that passengers would be carried for brief flights. A curious crowd soon gathered at the flying field and Ray Reed was the first Chariton man to fly over the city. He came down so safely and so enthused over his experience that F.W. Meyers, of the Herald-Patriot, quickly took his place and can thus claim second honors.
How It Feels to Fly
In a short time aerial trips will doubtless become as common-place as automobile journeys, but at the present time it is such a novel experience that some description may be pardoned. The writer had previously determined that at the first opportunity he would take his initial trip in the air, so he was, perhaps, the first to conclude arrangements for the trip over Chariton. It must be confessed that as he went home to lunch he thought a bit as to his insurance policies, and what a good place Chariton was to live in, and how messy it would be if he failed to come down top-side. Nevertheless, he did not wish to miss the opportunity to tell Herald-Patriot readers about it, and quickly swallowed his dinner and his fears.
Ray Reed, the lucky first Charitonite to fly over the city, came down so smiling and elated that all qualms were dissipated, and the Herald-Patriot man carefully stepped into the seat in front of Pilot Speers. There was a broad band, which was fastened over the abdomen, and as soon as this was fastened there was a whirl and the bi-plane was off. At first the victim clutched the sides of the car and as the wheels trundled over the ground wondered if it would actually clear the rapidly approaching fence. But, just in the nick of time, the bi-plane rose, circled over the field and headed toward Chariton.
First, to describe the sensation. The noise was great, but not deafening; the rush of air, except at times, did not seem to be greater than in ordinary automobile travel. The air was bumpy in places, and sudden changes of altitude gave the same feeling one experiences when standing on the stern of an ocean liner when a good sea is on, or when ascending in a swift elevator. In turning, the wing dips, and as one glances along it down to mother earth, he takes a firmer trip on the sides of the car --- at least the writer did. Going down is a bit breath-taking, and as we approached earth it seemed much nearer than it was, and it looked dubious that the machine would clear the line of automobiles standing just outside the field. In reality the bi-plane must have been 100 feet or more in the air. It is the quick passing of nearby objects which gives the sense of speed and from the height at which the bi-plane crossed above the city the view changed so slowly that it did not seem possible that the speed of one hundred miles an hour was attained as those in charge state was the case. There was something of a bump when the wheels struck terra firma as the landing was made, but nothing to some of the jars received on the Rock Island when the train starts.
The Birdseye View
As soon as the first novel sensation of flight was over, the writer devoted every second of his time to the wonderful panorama of hills and valleys, woods and fields, long, glistening lines of steel and broader roadways and the streets and buildings of the city. From the height, the hills were flattened and there was spread before the eye mile after mile of the beautiful farm lands of Lucas county. The roadways fairly glistened in the sunlight, making Chariton appear like the hub of a vast wheel with the spokes running out until hidden in the distant mists. With a turn of the head one looked from the silver pool of the city reservoir to the shining surface of the waters about the Gun Club's outing place. They seemed but a step apart.
Sweeping over Chariton, the houses looked as if the roofs were set not more than an inch or so above ground, but the court house square presented sufficient perspective and open space to show the buildings in detail. There was a line of beetles in front of the court house which were easily identified as automobiles and one whisked around the corner like a frisky June bug.
We looked down upon the high school buillding, and it did not seem so high at that. Beyond the city there was a glimpse of other water bodies, of meandering water courses marked by lines of trees, and the same, seemingly unending, view of field and forest. As the machine turned there was the view of a moving freight train just entering Russell. There was a dip, just then, and it was reassuring to see the pilot looking so absolutely unconcerned.
The trip was fully worth the money and the risk, something never to be forgotten, though experienced a hundred times again. It was not nearly so nerve racking an experience as shooting the shoots or riding the Jack Rabbit of the summer resorts and, we believe, not half as dangerous.
A number of Chariton people took the trip on Tuesday without mishap, and all were satisfied that they got the worth of their money. It is to be hoped that this concern can be secured as one of the attractions for Homecoming Day. If it is, we advise you to take a ride but we will not agree to carry your insurance.
Those in charge of the bi-plane seemed thoroughly competent and to be exercising the greatest care for the safety of passengers. They have made many successful flights and have carried scores of passengers. Their coming was a real treat for Chariton people, for there is one thing about an aeroplane flight --- you cannot very well charge people for looking at it.
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