Stephan Johnson Livres

Discover the dozens of exciting never-before-published images of the people and events at Lunken Airfield. Lunken Airfield flew headlong into the golden age of aviation in the 1920s. World War I veterans became gutsy barnstormers who had only roads and railroad tracks as navigational landmarks. They gave way to courageous pilots who flew airmail, as well as record makers who flew for the joie de vivre and fame under conditions fraught with danger. These flyers gave way to aircraft engineers and designers who would craft the next generation of planes. Pilots were seduced by the allure of international recognition and wealth, as well as the feeling of freedom experienced in the air. Along the way, they assumed the status of movie stars. On any given day, anyone from a spectator to a mechanic might hobnob with Charles Lindbergh, Amelia Earhart, Roscoe Turner, or Jimmy Doolittle, who routinely flew in and out of Lunken. Over the decades, Lunken has undergone many changes, but today, as it approaches its centennial, planes still take off and land daily, and crowds still flock to special events.

Revolutionary War veterans began buying land in the Madeira area in the 1790s. Family farms and orchards blossomed throughout the rural landscape for the first six decades. The coming of the Marietta and Cincinnati Railroad and establishment of a freight station in 1866 precipitated the community’s creation and gave it the name Madeira, chosen for the surname of the rail line’s treasurer. Public schools, churches, and small businesses developed to serve a flourishing new population. Madeira incorporated in 1910, and citizens began a century of hard work, service, and neighborliness that makes the official motto of “friendly town” especially apt. Images contributed by the Madeira Historical Society, community groups, and residents provide insights into the community’s rich history and enduring charm.