Heritage Preserved: Piper Aviation Museum Receives Pennsylvania Historical Marker

Reposted from Breanna Henley, The Express, June 2024

 It was beautiful weather on a June Tuesday as the Piper Aviation Historical marker was unveiled. Dozens came out to show their support and witness this historic event, from members of the public to local officials.

Ron Dremel, Board President of the Piper Aviation Museum, welcomed everyone to the event and introduced the day’s guest speakers. “The history of Piper Aircraft Corporation is recognized worldwide. Pilots and aviation enthusiasts make the pilgrimage every year to Lock Haven, not just during Sentimental Journey but all year long. Thousands of visitors come here. In the last 12 months we have had visitors from every state in the union and every continent except Antarctica.” said Dremel.

The next individual to speak was William Lewis with the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission. “I am so pleased to welcome all of you to the newest of more than 2600 historic markers that mark the places, the people, the events that make the history of our Commonwealth so special and so unique. This is probably one of the most unique ones I’ve ever done. I have never been at a dedication under an airplane before. I’m excited — it speaks to what Piper was to this area, to the state, to the nation and the world. This was an amazing company, part of the arsenal of democracy that made the world safe. You should be so proud of the heritage that you have here in Clinton County,” said Lewis. He noted that the museum itself was an incredible educational tool that he hopes will be used 100 years from now to tell the impact Piper had on the nation.

Lock Haven Mayor Joel Long spoke next, offering a personal anecdote about growing up in the area. “If you’re from here, you had to know someone or were related to someone who worked at Piper. It made such a mark that it will always be part of Lock Haven,” said Long. “In most communities, you know Spring (is here) by a certain bird that shows up in your backyard, or a flower that blooms. In Lock Haven, you know it’s Spring because you hear the sound of a small engine airplane flying overhead. You look up, and it brings back memories of how planes used to fly here all the time. We’re proud that Lock Haven was the home of Piper for so long, and always will be,” he continued.

County Commissioner Angela Harding thanked the board of directors for the museum for the strides they’ve made in modernizing the museum. She also spoke fondly of a special member of the community during her speech. “I want to spotlight someone special to me and to this community, and her name is Beth Piper. Beth has been on this board for a very long time, she is very committed to the museum and to the organization. Thank you Beth for your dedication, and your love of Piper, Lock Haven and the museum. ..We’re very excited to make sure that Lock Haven and Piper stay on the map for Clinton County,” said Harding.

The final individual to speak was Gregory Peek, Board Member of the Piper Aviation Museum and Professor of History at Penn State University. He gave a brief account of the history of Piper Aviation as well as the specifics on the surrounding buildings. “Our museum excels in telling the story about airplanes, engineering and pilots. I would like to offer up a request and a hope that our museum does a better job in telling the story of the people who worked here,” said Peek.

The marker relates the history of Piper Aircraft Corporation that was headquartered at the William T. Piper Memorial Airport from 1937 to 1984.

Situated directly behind the marker is a 1967 Piper Twin Comanche that was manufactured in Lock Haven. The Comanche was donated to the museum by Steve Weller. The marker reads:

“Founded as Taylor Bros. in 1927. In the 1930s William T. Piper purchased the company and moved it to Lock Haven in 1937, rebranding as the Piper Aircraft Corp. Employed more than 2,000 people at its height. Manufactured nearly 77,000 general aviation aircraft here, including 20,000 J-3 Cubs, Piper’s most popular model. In WWII, thousands of modified Cubs, known as L-4 Grasshoppers, served to train pilots and provide reconnaissance.”

According to Peek, they wanted to include a sentence regarding the company’s economic output in Clinton County, but unfortunately did not have room.

“At its height, Piper was responsible for about 50-percent of the economic output of Clinton County. Over 2000 workers spread between three different locales. That’s a lot of people — a lot of families. My hope is that we can tell more stories about the people, and we’re going to need help from the people of (Clinton County.) I know in your basements and attics there’s stuff from your grandparents and great uncles — artifacts, letters, documents. We need that stuff, and we would be honored to receive it, display it and help tell your family’s stories,” said Peek.

Dremel emphasized the fact that none of this could be done without the generous help of locals in the community. There were many individuals who came together to make this event possible, and he extended his gratitude to every one of them.