St. Johnsbury, VT. – September 11, 1914

St. Johnsbury, Vermont – September 11, 1914

Caledonia County Fair

     balloonOn September 11, 1914, the last day of Vermont’s annual Caledonia County Fair, a hot air balloon unexpectedly landed on the boardwalk in front of the grand stand where several persons happened to be standing.  Three ladies were injured when the balloon came down on top of them, the most serious being a 66 – year-old woman who suffered a scalp laceration and bruises to the face.  She was transported unconscious to Brightlook Hospital for treatment.  It was reported that she was expected to recover.   

     No further details were given.

     Source: The Bennington Evening Banner, “Accident At Caledonia Fair”, September 16, 1914

Updated October 6, 2016

     The accident occurred while Harold Cates of Boston was giving a parachute exhibition.  He’d ascended in the balloon alone, and at the proper altitude, jumped with his parachute, and landed safely on the field.  The unmanned balloon came down upon the boardwalk.   

     Source:

     The Burlington Weekly Free Press, “2:24 Pace Is A Feature Of Fair At St. Johnsbury”, September 17, 1914     

 

 

Hyde Park, VT – July 4, 1873

Hyde Park, Vermont – July 4, 1873

 

    balloon On the afternoon of July 4, 1873, Professor Frank K. King, son of the famous aeronaut Samuel A. King, made a balloon ascension from the fair grounds near Morrisville, Vermont.  The balloon sailed away and was in the air for slightly more than an hour when it unexpectedly came down in a wilderness area somewhere near the town line between Eden and Hyde Park.   

     King climbed down from his balloon but had no idea of his exact location, or in which direction he should begin walking.  He set out on a course he hoped would bring him out of the woods, but after hiking for a good length of time found himself back at his balloon.   He spent two days and two nights in the woods without food or shelter before he met up with a search party that was looking for him.   

     Source: Orleans County Monitor, “Fourth Of July Balloon Ascension At Morrisville”, July 14, 1873.  

Updated January 25, 2017

     When King and his balloon were about two-and-a-half miles up he encountered a snow storm.  The snow and ice coated the balloon adding weight and forcing it down.  The number of searchers was said to be five hundred men. 

    Source:, The Somerset Herald, (Somerset PA.), “Balloon Adventure”, July 16, 1873   

 

    

    

Rutland, VT – September 2, 1930

Rutland, Vermont – September 2, 1930

     On September 2, 1930, Mr. and Mrs. William Vaughan and their friend, Howard Chandler, were traveling in an automobile headed to the Rutland Fair when a hot air balloon suddenly crash-landed on their car, caving in the roof, and seriously injuring the occupants.  The balloon was part of an act being performed at the fair, when for some reason it rapidly deflated and fell five-thousand feet before striking the auto. 

     There was no word on any occupants of the balloon.

     Source: New York Times, “Balloon Drops On Auto”, September 3, 1930.  

Updated April 12, 2017

     The accident occurred around 3 p.m.  The balloon had been used by DeForriest Dickinson, 21, a parachute jumper performing at the Rutland Fair.  Dickinson’s act involved his being launched from a cannon suspended from the balloon while 5,000 feet above the ground.  After leaving the cannon, Dickinson dropped for 1,200 feet before his parachute deployed.  Upon landing he narrowly missed some electrical wires near a railroad track before alighting safely on South Main Street.  

     Meanwhile, his balloon lost its buoyancy and fell rapidly, crash-landing on top of the automobile occupied by the Vaughan’s, Mr. Chandler, his wife, and their 9-year-old son Russell.  The balloon reportedly weighted more than 100 pounds, and when it hit, it completely enveloped the car.  The impact took place at Strongs Avenue and South Main Street.  Fortunately, Mr. Chandler, who was driving, was able to bring the vehicle to a safe stop, thus avoiding a greater accident.

     Source: Rutland Herald, “Autoist Injured, 4 Endangered By Falling Balloon”, September 3, 1930.  Article supplied by Mr. Brian Lindner, Vermont Avation Historian.  

Bellows Falls, VT – August 20, 1875

Bellows Falls, Vermont – August 20, 1875

 

    balloon On August 20, 1875, a man identified as “Professor Bristol” an aeronaut with “Cole’s Circus” was in a balloon 1,000 feet above Bellows Falls, when a current of cold air running along the Connecticut River caught the craft and caused it to rapidly descend towards the water.  Just as the balloon was about to hit the water above the falls, the breeze blew it a little towards shore, which gave Professor Bristol the chance to jump clear and make it to safety.  No sooner had he done so, the balloon touched down and went over the falls where it was wrecked.   

     Source: (Vermont) Orleans County Monitor, (no headline) August 30, 1875

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