Town of Clayton in Winnebago County, Wisconsin — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)

Larson Brothers Airport

Photographed by Paul Fehrenbach, June 11, 2011

1. Larson Brothers Airport Marker

Inscription. On his father's farm in 1922, Roy Larson, his brothers, Clarence, Newell and Leonard cleared an 80 rod strip for a runway. Roy received flying instructions at Chicago in 1919, paying $50 per hour. Roy and Clarence attended the Sweeney Mechanics School in Kansas City, Mo. Purchasing their first airplane, a Canuck, in 1922, Roy taught his brothers to fly. The plane, with wings removed, was stored in the barn during the winter. In 1924, a 52 x 60 hangar was constructed. They now had a real airport, instructing students, and giving pleasure rides, $5 for 10 minutes, for an extra $5, you could have loops and rolls. The brothers left the plow to go roaring over the fields in their flying machines. They barnstormed at county fairs, picnics and for political campaigns throughout Wisconsin and Minnesota. They had the agency for Waco Planes in Wis. and Upper Mich. during 1926-27. Roy was a well known pilot throughout the midwest, his aviator friends used this airport to refuel and as a place to rest. During Word War II, Leonard instructed glider pilots for the army at Antigo and in Missouri. Leonard, the sole surviving brother, and

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his wife, Viola, have continued to operate the oldest exiting airport in the state.

On April 5, 1984, The Larson Brothers Airport was listed in the National Register of Historic Places.

This marker is dedicated to the memory of the Larson Brothers and other early pilots, who pioneered aviation in Wisconsin.

Erected 1985 by Leonard Wilbur Larson and Viola Larson.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Air & Space. A significant historical month for this entry is April 1955.

Location. 44° 11.935′ N, 88° 38.292′ W. Marker is in Town of Clayton, Wisconsin, in Winnebago County. It is on County Route II half a mile east of County Route M, on the right when traveling west. Marker is located in a small road side turn out on the north side of CTH II. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Larsen WI 54947, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in the Fox River Valley.

It is also in the American Midwest

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

Photographed by Paul Fehrenbach, June 11, 2011

2. Larson Brothers Airport Marker

once the territory of the Mississippian Culture

and also the Northwest Territory.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 8 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Samuel N. Rogers, Sr. (approx. 2.1 miles away); Fox – Irish Cemetery (approx. 5.9 miles away); South Greenville Grange No. 225 (approx. 5.9 miles away); Butte des Morts (approx. 6.9 miles away); Trading Post (approx. 7.1 miles away); Winneconne Pioneer Cemetery (approx. 7.1 miles away); Little House (approx. 7.3 miles away); Clemansville (approx. 7½ miles away).

Larson Brothers Airport Marker and Landing Strip image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Paul Fehrenbach, June 11, 2011

3. Larson Brothers Airport Marker and Landing Strip

Light green grass is the landing strip; wind sock can be seen just to the left of the hay bales.

Photographed by Paul Fehrenbach, June 11, 2011

4. Larson Brothers Airport Marker

Looking east along County II.

Credits. This page was last revised on October 5, 2020. It was originally submitted on June 17, 2011, by Paul Fehrenbach of Richfield, Wisconsin. This page has been viewed 1,199 times since then and 71 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on June 17, 2011, by Paul Fehrenbach of Richfield, Wisconsin. • Bernard Fisher was the editor who published this page.