The History of

1992

Picture of the ribbon cutting ceremony for the new runway on October 17, 1992

Reprint of an article appearing in the New Richmond News in October 1992

Article written by New Richmond native Jerry Johnson

Aviation and New Richmond:  A History

Many of you know there is an improvement project in progress at the New Richmond Municipal Airport.  On October 17, 1992, there will be a grand opening ceremony at the airport celebrating the new improvements.  We will have more information about that later.

First, lets cover some history of the airports around New Richmond.  By consulting some of the senior aviators and local historians, I have gathered the following information.  Mr. Bill Wahlquist recalls that in the 1920’s and 30’s, barnstorming pilots landed in a grass field on the north side of Highway 64 across from the county fair grounds.  Holy Family Hospital is currently located on the old fair grounds.  The barnstormers came in during the fair and gave air shows, sold rides, and dropped parachutists.

Mr. Mike Early recalls the first person to own an airplane at New Richmond was Mr. Ed. Soderberg.  Both Mr. Wahlquist and Mr. Early recall that Mr. George Levrens was one of the first in the area to give flight lessons.  At the time, Mr. Levrens was a mechanic for Northwest Air Service.

During the early 1930’s, there was a place to land in a field located south of New Richmond, along side Highway 65.  The landing area was on either the Tierney or Epley farms, depending on which farm had a suitable field for landing.  Free rides were given to members of these families.  This area is now occupied by the New Richmond Business Park and St. Croix Press.  Mr. Wahlquist remembers a Mr. Lindbergh landing at this site in a Ford Tri-Motor.  Mr. Lindbergh was from Appleton, WI, and was the son-in-law of Mr. and Mrs. E.J. Bell.

On December 7, 1944, the New Richmond News reported that the common council approved $7,500.00 for the purchase of land for an airport.  The land was located 1.7 miles north and east of the post office on Highway 64.  For a variety of reasons, this land was not secured, and there was never a landing strip at that location.

Mr. Bill Pierson recalls an airstrip located on the Bernard Ulrich property, east of New Richmond.  Mr. Ulrich apparently intended to build a first class facility, complete with restaurant.  An airplane crash occurred on December 27, 1947, involving the Bungee brothers.  The plane landed in the vicinity of County Road T and Highway 64.  This crash apparently cancelled the improvement project.

Both Mr. Wahlquist and Mr. Pierson recall that in the late 1950’s and early 1960’s there was another landing area located south of New Richmond on the east side of Highway 65.  The landing field was located on top of the hill south of Hallewood Boulevard.  It remained there until another aircraft accident, when a Beechcraft Bonanza attempted to go-around from a landing when the pilot discovered the runway was too short to get the aircraft stopped in time.  The aircraft suffered structural damage.

In the February 22, 1962 issue of the News, it was reported that the common council voted to issue $50,000 in general obligation bonds toward the cost of a municipal airport for this city.  In 1963 the airport was moved to its present location north of town.  The recent pictures in the News showed there were only a few hangars at the new airport.  Mr. Dick Cox is quoted in the May 7, 1970 New Richmond News as saying  “This airport is one of the better ones in the area from a pilot’s standpoint.  It is out in the open with no power lines or other obstacles interfering.  The city does a fine job of maintaining the grounds, runways and lights.”  In the 1970’s, the paved runway was re-surfaced.

1992 finds the airport undergoing a radical face-lift.  The existing paved runway, 13/31, had been completely removed.  The new paved runway 14/32, will be 4000 feet long, an increase of 1000 feet over the previous runway.  A new aircraft parking ramp, with over 75,000 square feet, has been added.  In addition, the main taxiway has be relocated to allow for several new hangars.  The airport is getting an improved storm sewer system to reduce the possibility of flooding.  The airport telephone and electrical service is being updated to accommodate the anticipated future growth.  The non-directional beacon (NDB) will get a new antenna.  Pilots use the NDB to fly an instrument approach to the airport in poor weather.  The new antenna will make it possible for pilots to receive the signal at a greater distance from the airport and should improve the reliability of the NDB.

The New Richmond Municipal Airport has the only paved runway in St. Croix County.  There are 24 hangars at the airport that house 54 aircraft.  St. Croix County has approximately 316 pilots.  These pilots are involved in corporate and commercial aviation, flight instruction, aircraft rental, crop dusting, aircraft repair and painting, law enforcement, military training, aerial photography, scenic flights and sale of pilot supplies.  There are pilots building aircraft at the airport as well.  According to the Wisconsin Bureau of Aeronautics, there are approximately 22,000 operations (takeoffs and landings) at the airport each year.  Clearly, aviation has a significant impact on the economy of New Richmond and surrounding communities.

The improvements to the airport will make it more attractive to businesses seeking a new location.  Since the airport is located outside of the Minneapolis Terminal Control Area, pilots do not have to deal with air traffic control to land and depart from the airport.  There are 27 public airports located within 50 miles of New Richmond.  With the new 4000 foot runway, New Richmond is number seven on the list when the airports are ranked by runway length.  This should make it more attractive to businesses seeking an airport to base a corporate aircraft.  It is an airport with easy access, both from the air and from the ground.  With the improvements to Highway 64, and the highly desirable new bridge between Stillwater and Hudson, new businesses should find New Richmond a very attractive place to locate.  New businesses will mean more jobs, and will keep the New Richmond economy healthy.

The local pilots are excited about the airport improvements.  We look forward to a time when the airport will provide even more capability to New Richmond and St. Croix County.  The next time you are near the airport, drive in and see what a first class operation it has become.  You can be proud of this new facility.

Don’t forget the grand opening scheduled for October 17, 1992.  In addition to the ribbon cutting ceremony, we will have the annual fall Air Tours, sponsored by the New Richmond Community Education office.

  New Richmond Regional Airport, New Richmond, Wisconsin ~ Airports Mean Business!