User:Visit Bath County/sandbox

In the late 1920s, plans for a local airport to serve The Homestead Resort were conceived and developed by Fay Ingalls, president of Virginia Hot Springs Company. Mr. David Ingalls Sr., World War I Navy flying ace and aviation pioneer, assisted him. The State Corporation Commission issued an airport-operating license to Virginia Hot Springs, Inc. on June 16, 1931. Ingalls Field was the first airport commissioned in the state of Virginia.

They selected a site on property The Homestead Resort Company owned 3,794 feet atop Warm Springs Mountain; it overlooked the beautiful Healing Springs Valley. In the spring of 1929, barracks were built to house the workforce and construction began soon thereafter and continued, even during the Great Depression, except for severe winter weather.

They built two turf runways- one 250 ft. x 3,400 ft., and another 150 ft. x 2,400 ft. - as well as a small wooden terminal/office building, hangars, storage buildings, and a modest wood-frame house for the manager.

Other improvements followed, including the May 1933 installation of an airway radio beacon. Juan Trippe, president and founder of Pan American World Airways, donated the beacon. Later that year, in September 1933, Ingalls Field Airport and Virginia Hot Springs were awarded a prestigious certificate from the David Guggenheim Fund for the Promotion of Aeronautics, saluting their contributions to the infant aviation industry. The certificate, which hangs on the wall today at Ingalls Field, bears the signatures of Harry F. Guggenheim and Charles A Lindbergh.

The physical appearance of the airport changed little until September 7, 1961, when a new paved runway was opened to the public. The industrial areas of Alleghany County experienced economic depression in 1957-58. Several hundred employees lost jobs due to the closings of the Industrial Rayon Corporation in Covington, and the lay-off of workers at the C&O rail yards in Clifton Forge. So, dedicated community and government leaders got together and formed a group called "The Bootstrap Committee." This committee was determined to rebuild the economy and secure new industry to replace what was lost. The Virginia Industrial Development Commission quickly advised that a nearby airport would have to be a priority item. During the time, The Bootstrap Committee decided to invite Bath County to participate in the effort. Several meetings between The Bootstrap Committee and local governing bodies led to the formation of an airport committee. The new committee would have the full support of, and be sanctioned by, the four governing bodies involved. It would be called The Alleghany-Bath-Clifton Forge-Covington Airport Committee and consist of three appointed members to represent each locality. The first official meeting of the airport committee was held March 21, 1960. Thomas J. Lennon, vice-president and general manager of The Homestead, was elected chairman. Norman C. Scott of Clifton Forge served as vice-chair; Howard Humphries of Covington was elected as secretary-treasurer, and Duncan M. Byrd of Bath County was named as general counsel.