Monett in Barry County, Missouri — The American Midwest (Upper Plains)

Airplanes and Monett

Photographed by Duane and Tracy Marsteller, June 29, 2024

1. Airplanes and Monett Marker

Inscription. Monett, as well as Neosho and Joplin, was an early aviation hotbed in the United States. Monett had investors from the area named L.B. Durnil and U.S. Barnsley who wanted to build an airplane. They had two projects in Monett including the building of a DeChenne bi-plane and the building of a Holbrook Helicopter. The Holbrook Helicopter was made of aluminum and in production 40 years before even our military used them. Logan McKee, a local pharmacist, was known for flying a DeChenne bi-plane in Monett, including at the 4th of July celebration in 1911 in front of a crowd of what is believed to be 10,000 people. It is believed that this was the first public demonstration of the flight of this plane.

Monett's first airport was located where the present Monett High School stands. The current airport was originally developed as a private field by Hubert Friend, founder of Friend Tire. It was seized by the federal government in a drug raid in 1980 and subsequently sold to the City of Monett for $1. Significant federal funding supported by the city has led to its present development as one of the busiest regional

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airports in the state. Currently, our regional airport is owned by the city and sits 5 miles outside of town.

Written by: Amy M. Sampson and Murray Bishoff

This sign was created by students under the direction of Monett High School Missouri Literature and Composition teacher Amy M. Sampson and was paid for via a grant she wrote and was awarded from Rural Schools Collaborative and their 2023 Celia B. Godsil Grants in Place Fellows Program.

Erected 2023 by Monett High School students.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Air & Space • Industry & Commerce. In addition, it is included in the Missouri, Monett High School class project series list. A significant historical date for this entry is July 4, 1911.

Location. 36° 54.661′ N, 93° 55.67′ W. Marker is in Monett, Missouri, in Barry County. It can be reached from South Lincoln Avenue (State Road 37) south of U.S. 60, on the left when traveling south. Marker is by the U.S. Air Force F-4E Phantom jet on display in Monett South Park. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 113 S Lincoln Ave, Monett MO 65708, United States of America.

Photographed by Duane and Tracy Marsteller, June 29, 2024

2. Airplanes and Monett Marker

Featured marker is in the center.

Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Southwest Missouri and in the Branson and Table Rock Lake Area.

It is also in the American Ozarks,

in the Lewis & Clark Corridor,

and in the Corn Belt.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

the Louisiana Purchase,

and the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Memorializing Our Veterans (here, next to this marker); Logan McKee and the 4th of July 1911 (here, next to this marker); Christopher G. Stark Memorial (within shouting distance of this marker); Veterans Memorial (within shouting distance of this marker); War Memorial (approx. 0.2 miles away); Monett Cave (approx. 0.3 miles away); Trail of Tears (approx. 0.3 miles away); Native American History (approx. 0.3 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Monett.

Also see . . .
1. The Holbrook/DeChenne Aeroplane – Monett & Joplin, Missouri. Photographs, newspaper clippings,

Logan McKee in his Biplane image. Click for full size.

MO State Archives, RG005 Sec. of State Publications Vanishing Missouri Photograph Collection (Public Domain), August 3, 1911

3. Logan McKee in his Biplane

Pilot Logan McKee of Monett was one of the first to fly a Missouri-made plane. The DeChenne Biplane was developed in Joplin and Monett by E.M. DeChenne. McKee flew the airplane several times in Missouri and Oklahoma at various exhibitions. He is pictured here in Golden City, Missouri. –Missouri State Archives

biographies and other extensive information about the pioneering aircraft and those behind them. (Robert O. Banks, Jr.; via Rootsweb) (Submitted on July 16, 2024, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee.)

2. Long-Range Improvements at Monett Airport (PDF). The City acquired the airport during the 1980’s from the federal government and constructed a 3,000’ x 60’ runway in 1989. (City of Monett, “Frisco Line News” newsletter, March 2010) (Submitted on July 16, 2024, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee.)

3. Fluke Halts Career of Drug Fugitive. Archived news article on the capture of the head of "The Company," a large-scale marijuana-smuggling ring that bought and used the Monett airstrip in the late 1970s. (Chicago Tribune, Sept. 26, 1985) (Submitted on July 16, 2024, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee.)

The Holbrook Helicopter image. Click for full size.

Arthur E. Holbrook; via U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (Public Domain), circa 1910

4. The Holbrook Helicopter

Holbrook filed his patent application for his design on Jan. 19, 1910, but it wasn't granted until Feb. 10, 1914.

Credits. This page was last revised on July 18, 2024. It was originally submitted on July 15, 2024, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee. This page has been viewed 798 times since then and 100 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on July 15, 2024, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee. 3, 4. submitted on July 16, 2024, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee.