As part of a "hunter-gather" task I was hired short-term to collect
all the CRM information available in the NYSHPO at Peebles Island in
Waterford, NY (glad they're re-routing around that site in Ireland)
for the Upper Hudson River for the design of the PCB cleanup there by
the EPA for the company formerly known as T.A.M.S. Some of the sites I
worked on back in the 1980's and it still Ash not begun, that task to
look at the corridor for historic and prehistoric significance only
done recently because I am given to understand by objections of GE! As
a part of that task I informed them about the evaluation of
aeronautical sites as for example one of the first flights in NY was
from Governors Island by Wilbur Wright up and back on the Hudson River
which may or may not have had a canoe attached to the bottom. The US's
first flight school was from catapulted planes on Governors Island in
NYC harbor, now thanks to the Clinton Administration back without undo
cost to the City. (Congress wanted $.5 billion for it).

I enquired into the the aeronautical history and a couple of museums
of that ilk in the vicinity of the Hudson River, and they said sadly,
that much of the history would have to be gleaned from local
newspapers, reading through as very little is known although a few
major collections of aircraft (and ongoing industry) exist not to far
from river, which was probably by VFR used quite a bit in navigation,
and perhaps earlier routes. I forwarded the info to them now
Earthtech, down around "Ground Zero" an unfortunate term from the
nuclear age, which ran without source throughout the media..


On Mon, 14 Mar 2005 08:38:08 -0500, Daniel B. Davis <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
> On the off chance that you haven't seen it yet, there is a National Register
> Bulletin that deals specifically with assessment of aeronautical sites -
> it's called, of course, "Guidelines for Evaluating and Documenting Historic
> Aviation Properties". Published in 1998, the cover photo is of an air mail
> pilot at Bowman Field, Jefferson County, Kentucky.
>
> Daniel B. Davis
> Archaeologist Coordinator
> Kentucky Transportation Cabinet
> Division of Environmental Analysis
> 200 Mero Street
> Frankfort, KY 40622
> (502) 564-7250
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: william mcAlexander [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
> Sent: Sunday, March 13, 2005 11:19 PM
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: 2007 SHA symposium
>
> Greetings fellow HISTARCHers,
>
> After two years of intense research and several more years of toying around
> in the subject, I have to say that I've come to enjoy aeronautical
> archaeology.  However, I've found that locating sources or individuals that
> can point me to other areas to continue my research, has at times been
> difficult.  No doubt others have experianced this same delima.
>
> Therefore, I was wondering how receptive the archaeological community would
> be to a symposium on aeronautical archaeology at the 2007 SHA Conference.  I
> would be more than happy to stress myself out by putting it togather if
> thier is enough of a response in favor of it.  If you know other researchers
> in different fields that might be interested, please pass this info on.
>
> Aeronautics in practical useage has been around since the late 18th century,
> and Da Vinci drew designs for a helicopter before that.  Dreams of mastery
> of the air has had an effect on humanity that is felt today.
>
> Right off hand, there are the views of military, civilian, recreational,
> industrial, commercial, scientific, and social aspects as well as lighter
> than air, heavier than air, and rocketry that, in my opinion, should be
> investigated.  Then there is the change in our concept of travel, time, and
> spatial relationships.  For instance, in developing response plans for the
> use of airborne cavalry units that were used in Vietnam, military planners
> had to change thier traditional view of miles distance to a reaction time of
> minutes.  All of these have resulted in physical remains that may not be
> apparent to the investigator.  For instance, how will an encampment from a
> balloon section of Napoleon's army differ from encampments of other units?
> I don't know, but would like to.
>
> Anyway, I've rambled enough.  Let me know what you think.  Responses or
> theme ideas can either be made on list or off.
>
> Here are other ways to contact me.
> Thank you,
> William E. McAlexander Jr.
>
> WK.
> William E. McAlexander Jr.
> Arkansas State Highway and Trans. Department
> Environmental Division
> 10324 I-30
> Little Rock, Ar 72203
> (501) 569-2078
> [log in to unmask]
>
> Hm.
> [log in to unmask]
>