Letter: more about the hot air balloon over Bluffton 1905
Note: This letter is in reference to the following story CLICK HERE.
Bluffton Icon:
When I saw the “Hot air balloon over Bluffton - 1905” that was posted on January 2, I wondered if the story was truly “lost in history.” And were early air balloons really potato shaped? Here’s what I found: This airship could be piloted by Augustus Roy Knabenshue, an aviation pioneer born in 1875 in Lancaster, Ohio.
According to The National Aviation Hall of Fame, Knabenshue was an embarrassment to his family and used the name Professor Don Carlo when flying stunts (http://www.nationalaviation.org/our-enshrin…/knabenshue-roy/). Knabenshue later worked for the Wright brothers and and built observation balloons in World War I.
Could this be Knabenshue in the Bluffton photo? According to the hall of fame, "In January 1905, Knabenshue raced [Thomas Scott Baldwin’s] California Arrow against an automobile between Los Angeles and Pasadena, California and won handily. Knabenshue returned to Toledo and began to build dirigibles of his own design. In July 1905 Knabenshue flew his airship Number One from the Lucas County Fairgrounds to the roof of a building in downtown Toledo and returned.”
For more information about Knabenshue, check out https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A._Roy_Knabenshue, http://www.toledoblade.com/local/2013/06/30/Aviation-pioneer-made-histor..., and https://welweb.org/ThenandNow/Knabenshue.html.
Thanks for this curious jumping off point, Fred!
Paula Scott
Stories Posted This Week
Monday, June 30, 2025
Sunday, June 29, 2025
Saturday, June 28, 2025
- Community Pool closed June 28
- Weekend Doctor: About Rotator Cuff Repair
- WOAL Swim Champs in Wapakoneta July 11-12
- '60s Survivors Band plays fifth annual free concert
- Bluffton Lions to bring all-abilities playground to new Legacy Park
- July 2025 programs and services at Bluffton Public Library
- Save the date: July 17 Garden Club is all about herbs
- Bluffton Vacation Bible School, July 13-17 at Bluffton Y
Friday, June 27, 2025
- Foundation launches Rooted to Rise initiative
- Eight vehicle injury crash IR 75 in Hancock County
- Bluffton Mayor commends Safety Services on June 26 injury accident response
- What's in your weekend?, June 27-28-29
- Go wolfhound to Bluffton
- Letter: Ask for veto of HB 96 library provision
- ODNR Offering Hunter Education Instructor Classes
Thursday, June 26, 2025
- Bluffton safety services respond to multi-vehicle accidents on I-75
- Travel opportunities update from Bluffton Senior Center
- Send July 2025 Community Calendar items to the Icon
- National Night Out is August 5, planning is in final stages
- Bluffton Senior Center activities schedule for July 2025
- Does your business have summer hours? Post them on the Icon
- Bluffton, Ohio ranks 4th in Ohio for bike network quality