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News Articles
Township Awakens Piece of History
Eckel's Autogiro Port thought to be first of its kind in country.
Sunday, January 07, 2007
By LYNN OLANOFF
WASHINGTON TWP. | Earle S. Eckel opened Route 57's first gas station.
The former township resident also invented a filter that allowed aircraft to land in sandy areas. World War II pilots used the filters so they could cross North Africa.
But the township Historic Preservation Commission wants people to know about another one of Eckel's accomplishments: his construction of an airport exclusively for autogiros, an early helicopter.
Built in 1931, Eckel's Autogiro Port is thought to be the first of its kind in the country. It remained in operation until 1955.
Keen-eyed drivers can spot the two autogiro hangars from Route 57 near its intersection with Mill Pond Road. To an unknowing eye, the hangars look like the many faded barns along the highway.
Improvements under way
The preservation commission recently undertook a project to make the nondescript buildings stand out. In November, the commission hired a painter to repaint the port's original logo on one of the buildings. Eckel dubbed his business the "first exclusive autogiro airport in America."
Next up for the commission is a spring event to Brian Wilcox Chairman Wash. Twp Historic Preservation Commission show the public the site. The commission hopes to repaint both buildings and fix the door on the larger of the two.
The commission is working on the historic site "so (residents) have an appreciation for some of the unusual activities that
happened in the township," said Brian Wilcox, the commission's chairman and the port's next-door neighbor. He lives in Eckel's former house, which has sections dating from 1760 and 1834. 
Everyone knows his name
Many old-timers don't need the new sign to remind them of the site's former grandeur. Eckel was one of the area's best-known residents in the 1930s, according to his grandson, Don, who lives on the other side of the port.
With his brother, Wilmot, Earle Eckel owned nine service stations in the area under the name Eckel Oil Company. He once owned dealerships for motorcycles and cars -- two of his other hobbies.
He turned an old gristmill on his property into a hydroelectric plant to supply electricity to his house starting in 1929. In 1934, he connected the system to recycled heaters from the trolley line that used to run between Washington and Easton. It was the first known instance in the area of using electricity to heat a dwelling.
"I don't think there was anyone with that notoriety -- he was pretty well-known for the things he did at that time," Don Eckel said.
Wanting to preserve history
Don Eckel would like to see his grandfather's airport restored and an autogiro returned there. Most of one of his grandfather's autogiros is housed at the Reading Regional Airport, and Eckel has other autogiro parts in
his house.
What happens at the site is up to Washington Township officials, who bought it as part of the former Segal & Morel property in 1999. The developer's plans to build 376 condominiums on Earle Eckel's old airfield threatened the historic buildings as well.
When the plans fell through, the township bought the 88-acre property for $2.5 million, and the historic commission made township officials pledge to maintain the hangars.
Since then, the two buildings have served as storage for the township's public works department. Township recreation commission members want to turn the airfield, which is rented to a farmer, into soccer fields.
Both the fields and further restoration to the hangars will depend on money, said township Committeeman Barry Mueller, who serves on both the recreation and historic commissions.
"Hopefully we'll be able to combine the historic area with the recreation area for the benefit of all," he said.
Reporter Lynn Olanoff can be reached at 908-475-8044 or by e-mail at lolanoff@express-times.com.
