The Gratz Airport was established in 1946 by Clifford Bressler who owned land west of Gratz, Dauphin County, Pennsylvania, Bressler built a 4-plane hangar to house his own small planes. As time went by, additional space had to be reserved next to the hangar to accommodate others who wanted to use the airport.
After GI’s began returning from World War II, Earl Bressler began offering courses in flying as well as mechanical and technical programs eligible under the GI Bill. Ray Leitzel, who after his return to Gratz from the service got his pilots license in Sunbury, operated a flying service giving rides to interested people for the price of $8.00 for about 15 minutes.
The airport was also the site of flying and parachuting exhibitions, plane rentals, social events, and was popular with glider enthusiasts.
Also, a popular restaurant was located here which served home-cooked meals. Appropriately called the “Airport Restaurant,” it was managed by Verna [Hess] Bressler (wife of Earl) with Naomi Starr serving as cook.
Unfortunately the airport was affiliated with several fatal accidents. It is not known whether these accidents resulted in the airport’s closure.
The photograph above was taken after the airport officially closed about 1954 when the facility was purchased by Samuel C. Starr of Valley View, Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania. For a short time, the restaurant continued to operate under the management of Charles Starr and his wife Naomi Starr. Then the buildings became a storage facility for a local clothing factory.
About 1992, the complex was purchased by Metal Industries Inc. (M.I.), a manufacturer of replacement windows. A new addition was completed in 1995 and today [2018] M.I. continues to operate at the site.
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