100th anniversary of first airmail flight between Ocean City and Stone Harbor
Stone Harbor, NJ – The Stone Harbor Post Office and the Borough of Stone Harbor invite the public to join them in commemorating a historical occasion. On August 3, 1912, the Ocean City Postmaster handed pilot Marshal Earle Reid a sack of mail and at 9:15 am the first airmail flight in New Jersey was on its way to Stone Harbor.
Aviator Marshall Earle Reid converted his Wright pusher aircraft into a hydro-plane for flying between Ocean City and Stone Harbor; as most of the flight would be over water. His twenty mile flights occurred daily, except for Sundays, and carried both mail and passengers. His original authorization for making flights between August 3rd and 10th was such a success that it was extended to September 5th, 1912.
On the Centennial Celebration of this significant event, Friday, August 3, 2012, the historic flight will be celebrated by Congressman LoBiondo, officials from both towns, along with the United States Postal Service. The ceremony will promptly begin at 10:30 am at the 95th street pavilion on the beach in Stone Harbor. A symbolic fly-over is planned and the pilot will say a few words to memorialize the occasion, which will be heard by those in attendance, over the loud speaker.
Immediately following the ceremony, a light reception and a special pictorial cancellation will occur at the Stone Harbor Museum located at 235 – 93rd Street, Stone Harbor. Those interested in obtaining the cancellation will have the opportunity to purchase the United States Postal Service’s Forever Sailboat stamped postcard and have it officially postmarked. To view actual pieces of mail, postmarked with “Ocean City & Stone Harbor Aerial U.S. Mail Service,” from this historic flight, go online to http://arago.si.edu/index.asp?con=2&cmd=1&id=188212&img=2&pg=3 .
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