Our History

• The “birthday” of the airport. On September 24, 1924, the Chamber of Commerce signed a five-year lease on the farm owned by Garrett C. Wells and Hazel Wells, with option to purchase, as site of the aviation field. Lease signed by Ralph H. Holmes, President, and John I. Gibson, Secretary, for the Chamber of Commerce. Farm contained 116 acres. Work of grading field began immediately. William S. Smart’s Curtiss trainer was the first home-owned plane on the field. U.S. Department of Commerce approval of the field was secured before the end of 1924.

City of Kalamazoo purchased 383 acres near Portage and Kilgore roads and an airport is opened.

Thompson Aeronautical Corp. inaugurates airmail service. The first airmail plane arrived from Chicago at 10:18 AM, piloted by L. F. Bishop of Kalamazoo, flying a Stinson-Detroiter.

January 13, 1936. Gift of airport to the City of Battle Creek by W. K. Kellogg was announced to the City Commission by Mayor J. William Murphy.

January 1955. Snogo snow blower truck, model truck from 1947.