The first airport in the Saginaw Valley was opened in 1913 by Lionel DeRemer, and included land that is now part of the James Clemens airport. DeRemer also established a flying school that same year; one of his first students was mechanic Henry Dora. Dora's flying career was interrupted by World War I, but after his return he purchased a surplus Curtiss JN-4 and began barnstorming. He also began advocating for the establishment of a permanent and well-equipped airport for Bay City. His idea found fertile ground, as a number of young Bay City businessmen had also served in World War I and recognized the potential of airplanes in peacetime. The Bay City Chamber of Commerce began to promote the project in 1923, but the idea languished until 1926, when the suggestion was made to dedicate a new airport to the young men from Bay City who had lost their lives in World War I. The Chamber of Commerce reached out to William L. Clements, a wealthy local industrialist and a regent of the University of Michigan, where he had already funded construction of the William L. Clements Library. Clement's son James had been a naval aviator in World War I, and had died in France of influenza. Clements offered to donate $10,000 for the construction of an airport, asking that it be named for his son. Other local businessmen donated money, including James E. Davidson and O.E. Sovereign. Construction began immediately under the direction of Henry Dora. The landing field and hangar were completed and officially dedicated in 1928, and planes began using the facility. The administration building was completed in 1930, and the city sponsored a dedication ceremony that year. Regular passenger service from the airport began in 1931, and although the first company to offer the service went out of business, air routes were well established by 1935. Henry Dora continued as the airport manager until 1942, living in the administration building, and hosting visits from aviation luminaries such as Eddie Stinson, Clarence Chamberlain, Eddie Rickenbacker, and Walter J. Carr The Clements Airport remained in use under the direction of other airport managers.
Facilities and aircraft
James Clements Municipal Airport covers an area of 266 acres at an elevation of 585 feet above mean sea level. It has two asphalt paved runways: 18/36 is 3,798 by 75 feet and 5/23 is 2,600 by 75 feet. It also has three seaplane landing areas on water: 9W/27W is 3,500 by 500 feet ; 13W/31W is 2,600 by 400 feet ; 18W/36W is 3,500 by 500 feet. For the 12-month period ending December 31, 2010, the airport had 9,006 general aviation aircraft operations, an average of 24 per day. At that time there were 57 aircraft based at this airport: 89% single-engine, 5% multi-engine, 2% helicopter, and 4% ultralight.
James Clements Airport Administration Building
The James Clements Airport Administration Building was designed by local Bay City architect Joseph C. Goddeyne, and constructed by the Webber Construction Company in 1929-30. It was designated a Michigan State Historic Site in 1980 and listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1982. The building is a 2-1/2-story, three bay brick Georgian Revival structure measuring 40 feet by 48 feet. The first floor has a projecting entry bay with a six panel door topped by a leaded glass transom. Fluted pilasters, a frieze, and a cornice surround the entrance. Two plaques flank the entrance, one commemorating the men who died in World War I and the other memorializing James Renville Clements. A single double-hung eight-over-one window is set on each side of the door. The second story contains three small six-over-one double-hung sash window units in the center bay, with windows similar to those on the first floor to each side. A wood cornice rins across the top. The gable roof is covered with slate., and contains three dormers with six-over-six double-hung windows. The interior includes the main foyer, a large lounge, a manager's office, an airport office, and restrooms on the first level. The second floor contains the airport manager's apartment, with a first aid room, two bedrooms, a kitchen, a dining room, and a living room. The upper level is only partially finished. It was originally meant as a dormitory for pilots. The building includes a full basement with utilities and storerooms.
