1930-1950

1930-1950. The Great Depression and World War II. , 1930 , Municipal Stadium is constructed and the first home game is played by Hagerstown Hubs on May 8. Willie Mays plays his first professional baseball game here in 1950., 1931 , Fairchild Aircraft moves to Hagerstown from New York and manufactures civil and military aircraft until 1984., 1932 , Hagerstown's first commercial radio station signs on when WJEJ begins broadcasting from a studio in the Hotel Alexander on October 29th., 1934 , The city purchases the Kreider-Reisner airstrip and makes substantial improvements. It begins operations as "Hagerstown Municipal Airport" in 1938., 1937 , A two-week long celebration called the "Wings of Time" commemorated the founding of Hagerstown, the founding of Washington County, and the 75th anniversary of the Battle of Antietam. The event was visited by President Roosevelt., 1942-45 , Fairchild Aircraft employs a large workforce during World War II. To meet the demands of the war effort, Fairchild's "Hagerstown System" becomes a nationwide model for using small local manufacturing businesses to make parts in support of nearby larger assembly plants., 1946 , Hagerstown Junior College is founded and becomes Maryland's first "community college"., 1947-51 , Hagerstonian William Preston Lane, Jr. serves as the 52nd Governor of Maryland. His leadership results in the construction of a bridge across the Chesapeake Bay near Annapolis which is named to honor him.