Airport – RDZ Photography

Akron – May 2021 – Attention to Architectural Detail

Architecture, Art, History, Transportation

With the invention of the production line for the automobile a few cities grew at a tremendous rate between 1910 and 1920. Akron, home of the rubber companies, was one of those. In 1910 there were less than 70,000 people in the city, by 1920 it had tripled to over 200,000, with an additional increase of 50,000 by the 1930 census.

As a result there is a plethora of architecture from the era.

Our first stop is a great apartment building in the Highland Square neighborhood, dating from 1927. The neighborhood is very eclectic, with a great collection of shops and cafes.

The Polsky Building was one of two major downtown department stores, serving shoppers from 1930 until it closed in 1978. This art deco masterpiece was famous for the Christmas displays in their windows.

Today the University of Akron owns the building, using it for classrooms, with the art students using those same windows for displays.

The Mayflower Hotel was for many years the place to be in downtown Akron. For it’s opening in 1931 roses were dropped from airships (blimps) onto the roof of the Zeppelin Observation on the roof of the hotel.

While the hotel itself was named after the famed ship that brought pilgrims to the new world, the restaurant was Hawaiian themed.

Not long after it opened it was the location of the founding of Alcoholics Anonymous in 1935.

The Rubber Room paid homage to the primary industry of the city by having nearly all the fixtures made out of rubber. Note the ‘tire lights’ in this period photo (found on pintrest). Sadly the great murals were lost during a remodeling in the 1980s.

The hotel has for the last few decades been a senior citizen home. Today it is going through another remodel, but will remain affordable senior housing.

The ATT Building (Ohio Bell) continues the Art Deco trend as Akron boomed in the 1920s and 1930s. Much like the Cincinnati Bell building seen on our visit to the Queen City, this building was designed to support the massive switching equipment needed for the telephone service of a large city.

Examples of this design include enhanced ventilation to keep the equipment cool, and a four foot thick concrete pad as a floating foundation.

The vertical lines of the exterior make this 7 floor building seem much taller, while providing the traditional art deco attention to detail.

The Akron YMCA was founded in 1870, but didn’t have their own building until 1904. When that building was outgrown, they built this 200′ tall, 17 floor building.

It is unique in that is set a few blocks away from the rest of the downtown buildings, and it is in an orange-ish brick instead of the stone art deco look of it’s time, but does retain the art deco styling.

Akron is likely one of the few cities that the tallest building in town dating from the 1930s, the Huntington Tower. Opened in 1931 as the Central Depositors Bank and Trust Company Building, it has been renamed numerous times, always after a bank.

This classic limestone exterior rises 28 floors above the street now named for basketball star LeBron James (King James Way). This height allows it to serve as a falcon nesting space.

The Cleveland based architects of Walker & Weeks also designed Severance Hall and Cleveland Public Hall.

The sculpture that is above the main entrance is known as ‘Security’, emphasizing the banking background.

A look around the South Main Street historic district at a few of the other buildings in the neighborhood. While there are a few taller buildings dating from the 1960s and 1970s, the newest being from 1976, most are from the 1920s and 1930s, including 11 of the 18 buildings at least 100′ tall.

As previously noted Akron has been since the early days of automobiles the home of tire production. One of the four largest tire producers in the world, Goodyear, remains in the city.

One of their primary buildings is Goodyear Hall. Located about 2 miles east of downtown, this massive 7 floor structure takes up an entire block. Constructed over 3 years, it opened in 1920.

At one time this building housed an auditorium with over 1600 seats, gymnasium with 5000 seats, bowling alley, rifle range, and a cafeteria that served over 8000 people a day. Much of the building has been redeveloped into apartments, with the theater still in tact and in use, as well as the gymnasium (albeit with less seats).

Mill Street Bridge connects the main University of Akron campus to downtown. It is lined with some reliefs honoring Akron history, and from this vantage point offers a view of the aforementioned Huntington Tower.

Akron has a nice collection of government buildings including the historic post office, library and county building.

While Goodyear is the center of life on the east end of town, Firestone was the mainstay of the south end. While there is still some Bridgestone/Firetsone facilities in the area, it is a shell of what it once was as the headquarters relocated to Nashville years ago.

The Selle Generator Works building at the south end of downtown is also on the historic registry. One of the few structures dating prior to 1900, it is the remaining building of a much larger complex.

Today it is known as the Haunted Labratory, this great looking art deco building next to Fulton Airport, and the Airdock was the Guggenheim Airship Institute.

Founded in 1929 by Daniel Guggenheim was founded to aid in the study of improving all aspects of airship, including aerodynamics, meteorology, and others. The building also housed a vertical wind tunnel, capable of wind speeds of up to 125 mph.

The last photo is of a relief on the back of the building of an angel holding an airship (photo from Akron Beacon Journal – I failed to go the back of the building, but it is too cool to leave out – next time I will walk around the building!)

This art deco terminal was built for aviation, but not airplanes. This being Akron, it was built in anticipation of the expansion of airship passengers. Today it serves as an office building for a medical equipment company.

It was designed by the same person, Michel Konarski, that designed the Guggenheim Airship Institute just up the street.

Our final stop on the way home was in the small city of Wooster for a quick look at the very fine Wayne County Courthouse.

Urbana, Ohio – October 2020 – Random Views of Champaign County and beyond

Architecture, Art, History, Transportation

Todays road trip through the country takes us to the town of Urbana, county seat of Champaign County. Full disclosure – some of the photos are likely from border counties as I was on country roads without county line markers.

Each little town seemed to have a commercial block of 100 year old buildings, this one with a restored clock tower.

Talk about a barn find for the Ohio countryside – an old Mercedes with late 1980s license plates!

An abandoned school in a crossroads town.

This stylish little building was in the small town of Mechanicsburg.

Normally ‘Quilt Barns’ are much larger than this, but the contrast of the farm implements added to the look of this one.

Not too many farms date from 1814 in Ohio.

Eventually I reached the town of Urbana. As with most county seats it seemed to have the best collection of buildings in the area. Some nicely restored, some not so much, it was worth the stop.

The Hotel Sowles dates from around 1800, it is said to have hosted every Ohio governor from the beginning of the state until 1900. A community effort resulted in this great old building being restored.

This former bank in an Art Deco look is now a law office.

The Perpetual Federal Savings and Loan has been located in Urbana for 140 years. The building is generally designed in a Roman Corinthian style, but with classical touches. A true midwest building it is built out of Minnesota granite and Indiana limestone situated in a small Ohio town.

Personally I think the Yellow Mini sets it off nicely.

This classic Gulf Gas Station from the 1970s is still in use as an auto repair shop.

The local airport is home to a small museum where they are restoring a B-17.

This small theater started life in 1904, However in the 1930s it was destroyed in a fire, and was rebuilt in 1941 – hence the Art Deco look.

It is currently undergoing restoration.

Urbana has a number of great ghost signs.

This vacant, decaying building once housed a company that provided galvanized iron for railroad use.

Just across the street is the former train station, now a coffee shop. This station served the Pennsylvania Railroad for many decades.

Our time in Urbana is over, time to move on.

Virtual Travel – Massachusetts

Architecture, History, Museum, Nature, Sciences, Sports, Transportation, Water Features

The Massachusetts Bay Colony was established in 1628, with the initial towns being located in Salem and Boston. This colony was established 8 years after the Plymouth Colony, but the name they chose stuck.

The state has numerous locations of historical importance, but it does not live in the past. With colleges like MIT it is at the forefront of technology.

But you have to travel to get around the state so we start with:

1971 – 1999 – 2012 Transportation in Massachusetts

According to some statistics Massachusetts drivers are statistically the worst drivers in the country. But if you leave the hotel at 5 AM on a Saturday you get a tunnel that looks like this…

Instead of this….

Boston does have an extensive subway system.

There are two major train stations in the city, including South Station

Logan Airport is just 3 miles from downtown Boston, but it is across the harbor.

The MTA also has a fleet of ferry boats, however most are very small.

2009 History in Massachusetts

As previously noted, Massachusetts has a lot of history. Below is a actor playing the part of Paul Revere

Salem – House with 7 Gables

Salem Harbor

Lowell – Historic Cotton Mills

2001 & 2007 – Boston

Boston is a city where the latest is next door to the historic.

Historic Waterworks

North End

Fenway Park – the legend

MIT

Boston Main Library

2003 – 2011 Cape Cod & The South Shore

The Massachusetts coast has numerous small towns with harbors.

Plymouth Rock – pure fiction, but pure American.

Lobstah

Cape Cod National Seashore

Shack where the first transatlantic cable terminated. At one time this was high tech.

Southern Argentina – December 2019 – The Flight Home

Uncategorized

There are about 10 flights a day from Buenos Aires to Bariloche. During the Christmas holiday it is packed with Porteno’s from the city headed to the mountains. A flight back on Christmas eve – not so much – Our 737 had 12 passengers and 5 crew.

With nobody on the plane, and fairly clear skies for much of the trip, I took the opportunity to get some shots from up high. The late afternoon sun gave some challenges to lighting, but the terrain below was very interesting.

We arrived to a nearly empty terminal

When we were checking in at the terminal in Bariloche they insisted on weighing our carry on bags, then pronounced them overweight so we had to check them (despite the fact we could have 10 overhead bins to ourselves).

When we arrived in BA they were easy to find, since they were the only 2 bags! Because there were only 12 people on the plane, and everybody including the crew wanted to get home we left as soon as the arriving passengers deplaned – leaving 45 minutes before scheduled time and arriving about an hour before our scheduled time!

Columbus – September 2018 – Flying Into Town

Architecture, Nature, Transportation

On my return from New York I was on a very empty airplane, and happened to have the SLR camera with me. Once we can out of the clouds on the approach to Columbus I was able to get some photos.

About 50 miles east of the airport is Zanesville, Ohio. While very tough to see they have a famous ‘Y’ Bridge. This bridge has a Y intersection in the middle of it (and the river).

Buckeye Lake – The surrounding countryside would normally be as green as the trees but since it is late September the corn and soybeans have all turned brown, hence the interesting contrast.

As a city kid I always thought that meant they were dead, it really means it is time to pick them.

Note the 5 large white buildings. A few of them are Amazon fulfillment centers along I-70.

When you see the airport you are headed towards at this altitude you know you aren’t quite ready to land – which was good this day.

Northwest Columbus and Ohio State University.

A bit closer view of Ohio State, along with the Ohio 315 Freeway winding it’s way along the west side of campus.

A hard right turn gave us a great view of the old suburb of Grandview Heights.

Looking east back towards the airport (upper right) and downtown Columbus. Of note is the different of the main thoroughfares from the early days and now. Broad Street goes the entire distance top to bottom on the right side of the photo in essentially a straight line.

I-679 on the left side winds its way basically parallel to Broad Street, only with numerous curves since they were going through already developed neighborhoods (destroying many in it’s path).

Downtown Columbus. After a week in New York City it looks very sparse.

Continue the hard right turn we looked straight down on the Lane Avenue Bridge and a portion of Ohio Stadium.

The final view is of Ohio Stadium. There was something about the double windows of the airplane and the SLR wanting to focus that makes this photo almost look ‘fake’.

A few minutes later and we were on the ground.

Dayton – September 2018 – World War I Centennial Anniversary

Architecture, Festival, History, Transportation

With 1918 being the 100th anniversary of the end of World War I, the USAF Museum in Dayton held a commemoration in the form of a period correct air show.

While this air show occurs annually, the 100th anniversary brought special meaning to it.

Many of the participants dressed in period clothing.

Most of the aircraft present were in flying condition, although some are recreations and not original, 100 year old planes.

Wright Patterson Air Force Base is huge, and could easily support the air show on a distant runway of the base.

As with other events, the re-enactors added to the scene.

Women were an essential part of the war effort as well, as represented by this Red Cross worker.

Not really sure why so many of the men had on kilts though.

A field hospital doctor with period medical pieces.

There was constant flights occurring – these are actual model aircraft flying while the full size ones took a break.

While they had nice paved runways, the period aircraft used the grass areas between the pavement for their movements.

Ready to go…

The Air Force base buildings also added to the atmosphere.

Usually the skies over Dayton are filled with screaming jets, but on this day the sounds were very different with the piston engines taking flight.

The building in the background house some of the museum’s 350+ aircraft.

While there were no female pilots in World War I, this pilot was flying today.

Cincinnati – August 2018 – 1940s Day at Lunken Airport

Architecture, Art, Festival, History, Nature, Transportation

Lunken Airport is located in a valley on the east side of Cincinnati where the Miami River flows into the Ohio River. Because it is in a valley that has a tendency to flood it is known as ‘Sunken Lunken’.

In the early days of aviation it was the airport for Cincinnati, but in the late 1940s they moved to a much larger site across the river in Northern Kentucky.

Lunken still is a very busy airport, serving corporate jets and other smaller private planes, while maintaining it’s classic art deco look.

On this day the Cincinnati Museum group was hosting ‘1940s Day at Lunken’. Among the events was a ‘Rosie the Riveter’ photo shoot.

Amazingly a couple of elderly women were on hand actually were ‘Rosies’ during the 1940s.

People were encouraged to dress the era, and many did.

The festival hosting a number of vintage airplanes and cars, and those that came in costume fit in perfect with the equipment.

Either she is a spy or one of the museum workers.

A Carmen Miranda look, minus the fruit.

We saw a couple of ladies dressed in their ‘League of Their Own’ uniforms – a great touch.

There was entertainment all day. The ‘Queen City Sisters’ acapella group were great singers, with style in their presentation.

The umbrella served two functions this day – shade in the hot sun, then protection from the rain when a hard shower came through.

She made a great entrance from the sidecar.

As noted previously there were some vintage planes and cars, and this fire truck.

They were very selective in the cars presented, all fitting the environment, if not exactly period perfect.

Some Model A’s.

Airplanes and a stylish dress and hat – how cool.

A vintage Navy plane was on hand.

I can see this being 1935 in Cincinnati.

Molly Wellmann is a local tavern owner, and historian. She entertained the crowd with the history of alcohol production in Cincinnati (which is extensive).

Meanwhile the contestants for the costume contest gathered.

I suggested to these three they visit Twinsburg next year, they would be a hit there too.

These ladies were also from the museum.

The styles were great – without the people who came this would’ve been a mediocre event with a couple of planes and cars. With them it was fantastic.

A vintage couple with a vintage hangar in the background.

One observation I have made over the last couple of years that if you ask someone to take their photo and you have your phone or a point and click camera you don’t get much response, but if you have a SLR you get enthusiasm.

While the dancing was occurring in another tent, this costume contestant decided to combine them.

The pilots are ready for boarding.

If this is the 1940s I need to time travel – what a great day.

And they danced the day away….

Warren, Ohio – August 2018 – Wings and Wheels

Architecture, Art, Festival, History, Transportation

Sloas Airfield in Warren, Ohio is a nice 3,000 foot long grass landing strip that sees occasional use, except for 1 day a year – this day.

This was the day for Wings and Wheels. As we entered we immediately passed by a fantastic Porsche.

Hurried by the Cobra.

Skipped the Ferrari…

Even blew by the Superbird, because on this day cars were anything but the Superbirds.

The ‘Wings’ part of the show were the stars.

Taking off and landing throughout the day.

With biplanes.

We were literally standing next to the runway for the takeoffs.

The classic cars lining the far side of the runway.

The pilots were showing off their skills.

Many completing low passes down the length of the runway.

Before gaining altitude and heading out.

The weather was perfect, a few big puffy clouds.

The ‘crew’ were the volunteers.

Old school leather helmets were in order.

Biplanes have a majestic look to them.

Another one heads skyward.

I would estimate there were about 50 airplanes when we arrived, many parked with their owners hanging out or checking out the rest of the planes and the cars.

The noses of the various plans are very distinctive.

As well as the tails.

An immaculate Piper Cub.

Even a couple of ultra lights.

We spent most of our time in the planes, as we see custom cars all the time.

Another one heads out – we were happy we were there fairly early as by noon many had departed.

And he takes off for home.

While one returns.

The symmetry of a small plane.

This photo illustrates how close you were allowed.

Planes everywhere you looked.

An excellent paint job for this biplane.

Future pilots perhaps?

Even the Porsche pales in comparison to this.

Inside the hangar is a museum with numerous models.

Most of the models were custom built.

Models everywhere.

All of the models had amazing detail to them.

We headed back out into the heat to check out a few more airplanes. This one is a 7/8 scale Italian WW1 air force plane.

The owner of this is an American Airplanes pilot. It must be strange going from 737s to a 2 seater.

Finally it was time to fly on out (ok – drive). What a great event.

Hagerstown, Indiana – July 2018 – Wilbur Wright Fly In

Art, Festival, History, Sciences, Sports

The small eastern Indiana town of Hagerstown is the home of an annual small airplane ‘fly-in’. Home to one of the longest, nicest grass runways in America, it is the perfect stopping off point for the planes headed to the large show in Oshkosh, Wisconsin.

As we arrived and parked we passed by a number of vendor booths including this one manned by Bob, an elderly man who makes whirligig airplanes out of soda cans.

He is very skilled, and his touch includes having a picture on a can, if available to be the pilot.

When I was there he was making one out of Pepsi cans featuring Ray Charles – it was cool enough it now is proudly hanging in my garage!

But it was time to move on to the main display area. All of the planes were accessible to all who attended.

Many had open cockpits.

The pilots were on hand to answer questions about their planes.

All were magnificently restored.

It attracted photographers young and old.

The grass runway resembled a fairway on a golf course – bordered by the Indiana cornfields.

A sleek nose cone for the propeller.

They came in a variety of shapes and sizes.

The two bi-plane rides stayed busy throughout the afternoon.

With many excited and happy customers.

The weather was perfect, just a few puffy clouds far above where anyone was flying.

Some had creative designs.

While others looked like racing airplanes.

But eventually it was time to fly out of there. If you are an airplane fan, and can’t make it to Oshkosh, this is a good alternative much closer to home.

Great Falls, Montana – September 2017 – Unusual Sights in Montana

Architecture, Art, Transportation

A road trip to Montana has provided some unique photo ops, starting with the Great Falls Airport’s Model Airplane collection. It turns out a Great Falls resident was an avid collector of die cast model airplanes, accumulating what is thought of as the largest collection in the world. When he passed away the family provided them to the airport for display.

One of two display cases stuffed with the model planes.

Just outside the terminal are a number of retired Air Force jets displayed on stands.

Easily the highlight, and worth a trip to Great Falls is the Sip n Dip Lounge, a 1960s style Tiki Lounge with Mermaids and Piano Pat, an 85 year old piano player.