WERTZ FIELD

In fall 1933, American Airlines was awarded an airmail contract route and began operating passenger service between Washington and Chicago via Charleston. At the time, West Virginia was one of just two states that didn't have airmail service, according to an airport history of Kanawha County. Four years later, American notified Charleston officials that it was going to discontinue service because Wertz Field was too limited. The airline, however, was convinced to stay by flying smaller DC-2 airplanes. Nevertheless, city leaders formed a committee to find a site for a new airport to replace Wertz Field. The city bought the Institute site in 1929, then leased the field to a group of businessmen who formed West Virginia Airways Inc. Wertz Field was closed in 1942 when its approaches were blocked by the new synthetic rubber plant that the federal government built for the war effort. (Photo from the Kanawha County Public Library)