Cochecton Historian Art Hassis recounts this story regarding Abe Strong from Cochecton Center, who built an airplane using a mail-ordered plan in 1930. Three years and $400 later, he built a Heath Parasol converted from a second-hand Henderson motorcycle engine and Buick engine parts. May 28, 1934 was his first flight to Cochecton.

Abe joined Holger Hoiriis’ Flying Circus with no formal flight instruction, and in three months he had 104 flights up to 14,000 ft. The stunts for the circus involved “cracking up” and walking away unharmed. Abe bought a WWI plane for $50 to prepare for a stunt involving a small barn in his field. On September 11, 1938, 2,000 people at 50¢pp admission came to see Abe’s stunt in at Sunny Hills Golf Course on Tomelowitz Road, Cochecton. He roared his airplane through the air, then circled around and hit the building at 75mph. He crashed; the barn came down; he walked away and a young six-year-old named Arthur was flabbergasted.

The Cochecton Preservation Society’s last meeting for 2016 is on Tuesday, October 4 at 7 p.m. at the Erie Depot. Tours are by appointment. Visit cochectonpreservationsociety.com, email cps12726@gmail or call 845/932-8104.