The First Landing

   It was a short flight to the strip he and his family had carved out of the San Antonio Wash. It looked small from the air, but he saw the future and it was huge.

   Everything appeared fine as he came in on final. But the runway had just been watered and he didn't see a large rock that had been upended by the water truck. He flared expertly and had just touched down when one wheel hit the rock and was sheered off. The plane kept going, finally skidding to a stop. Upset but undaunted, he moved the plane out of the way and continued construction of the runway.

   There was no stopping now. The family reserves had been spent and the only way to survive was to get the airport operational. Dewey, Maude and the kids worked from sun‑up to sun‑down seven days a week to finish the runway. It wasn't long before it was 1500 feet long and improved to a point where other planes started coming in.

   One of the first to arrive was Everett Bronson, who became their first tenant. He flew his Aeronca Chief in shortly after Dewey made his first landing, and stayed through the years. He has changed planes, but not airports. Bronson was Cable's first tenant and is still there today. He is eighty-eight years young and now has a Piper Comanche.

   Maude made sure everyone was greeted with a smile. No one could turn down the Cable hospitality and welcome they got at the airport. They had rocks for tie downs and rattlesnakes for security, but it soon became known as the friendliest airport in the West.

   Thus Cable-Claremont Airport, as it was known then, was open for business in June 1945 with three aircraft being based there. "Claremont" was dropped from the airport name in 1961.

   It took another six months of hard work from daylight to dark to finish the main runway, 6-24, which was originally 2000 feet long. It was on nearly-level ground and had headwinds ninety percent of the time, which was ideal. By 1947 it had been lengthened to 2350 feet and was 110 feet wide.

   Building the runway was not easy because the whole place was nothing more than a huge pile of rocks, deep ravines, and washed out gullies. The more beautiful rocks were set aside for later use as building materials. Huge boulders, some bigger than the dozer, were used to fill the deep ravines. The rest of the rocks were dumped on top of the boulders, which gave the runways a solid rock base.

   After all the rocks were leveled out and compacted, the runways were covered with topsoil, surfaced with a two-inch coating of "Desert Mix," and packed to a hard surface. Dewey had discovered the mixture, which consisted of fine gravel and oil, during one of his numerous trips to the desert. This construction method more than met CAA standards and added substantial longevity to the runways.

   During construction of the main runway, Walter returned from his short stint in the service and went right to work with his brother Roger and sister Millie. At night everyone was bone tired but they all pitched in and got the house chores done. Roger and Millie were back at the airport the next day as soon as school was out and worked until dark with their Dad and Mother.

Constructing the first nestled T-hangars

   Maude was as committed to the success of the airport as was Dewey. She was there every day working beside him. She drove the truck, did the paperwork, and was a friend to everyone. When the day was done she went home and cooked dinner for the tired brood. Maude never complained and did everything she could to make the airport successful until the day she died in 1954.

Dewey and the Bureaucrats>>

Home • Live Cams • Live Weather • History • Air Fair • Contact • Information
Cable Web Gram • Classified Ads • Businesses • Links • Guestbook

Terms of Use

   ©2000 Cable Airport Inc.  All Rights Reserved.  Website Developed by MediaJim