File:Brunswick and the B&O Yard.jpg

Summary

Here's a great view of Brunswick and the B&O Yard that was likely taken from a small plane using the air strip you can see on the lower left. The airstrip was located between the Potomac River on the left and the C&O Canal and Railroad tracks on the right. The air strip was located where the Brunswick Campsite is now. We believe this dates to the mid- to late-'50s since you can see both the old and then new Potomac River bridges.

According to Bill Eshbaugh, "In its hey day, the grass strip and a couple small wooden hangars were a popular place to house and fly small private planes out of for personal pleasure. Several local businessmen kept their planes there. Jimmy Ridgeway, (Jimmy's Food Market) Bill Weller (Wellers Radio & TV), Charlie & Dutch Halley (Halleys Small Engine Shop), Bill Care ( Vets Cab & Care's Amoco), had an Ercoupe, Piper Cub, and Taylor Craft. Around that time there was a small aero club and guys were taking private lessons to get their pilots license. Richard Care actually got his license by the time he was 16. Jimmy Ridgeway was tragically killed along with local contractor Bob Greenwood on a Sunday afternoon near Point of Rocks when he struck a ferry cable connected to a nearby island used for farming. Following this tragedy, interest was lost and the airport closed."

(Photo source unknown)

Bill Eshbaugh: I had always heard it was Jimmy Ridgeway who performed that daring event of flying under the new bridge. I'm not sure if it was hearsay or truth. I did, however, hear Mr. Maynard Eagle tell the story of the time he was out working in one of his fields and heard the noise of an engine coming towards him. When he turned around, he saw Jimmy in his Ercoupe coming towards him at such a low altitude, that he actually dropped to the ground to avoid being hit. True story!