It will cost $100,000 to stabilize the Wittman Hangar, built in 1927 in Oshkosh, Wisc.

Dear Preservation 911,

I am writing to try to save from demolition an Oshkosh, Wisc., landmark hangar that is famous in American aviation history.

Why does the American-built race plane "Buster" hang in the Smithsonian's Air and Space Museum? Because of the creation work done here by the late aviator Steve Wittman (1904-1995) to build it. The Motorsports Hall of Fame inducted Wittman for finishing more air races than any other person. But he was more than the man who set the world speed record in 1937. He patented a landing gear design in wide commercial use today and the Wisconsin state government recognized his accomplishments with a large, descriptive memorial in front of the hangar. He flew in the National Air Races in the 1930s, trained pilots for war in the 1940s and piloted in the Goodyear, Formula One and Continental air races after the war—all while managing the Oshkosh airport now named in his honor. "Ambition" could have been his middle name.

Now, the hangar that was home to so many developments is threatened with disappearing forever. Constructed in 1927 of lumber on a steel skeleton, it stands as an open-span building suffering from neglect and needs a new caretaker. The Experimental Aircraft Association built a small hangar memorial to Wittman at its museum, but the real building still stands. Our newspaper editorialized to put the old hangar on the slow track for demolition, but our county government that will lease it or wants it relocated thinks otherwise. The hangar is on the Wisconsin Heritage Trust's top 10 most endangered historic properties list for 2003.

In September, a local group of airport business owners tried to rescue the hangar within their resources. Their admirable effort deflated in the face of the local Winnebago County government promoting a contractor that estimated $360,000 as the price to restore the hangar. We at the Northwestern thought that sounded way too high. We asked a contractor who specifically specializes in building restoration to inspect the building. He did and estimated stabilization at $100,000, finding the main 1927 part of the hangar to be structurally sound. He called the county's estimate "high," disputing several large-ticket items in that first estimate.

It is unlikely there has been much word outside the local area that this landmark is under duress. Once the local business people became disappointed, our county government put out a request this month for any proposal on the building's future due on Oct. 31. This is two months earlier than what was expected. County government appears open either to stabilization or relocation of the building. An RFP or even a letter of interest likely could stop this fast pace to demolition. Without any RFPs, or even a letter of interest, the decision of its future rests with our local county executive. There is talk of demolishing the hangar by the end of the year.

Can the hangar make any money? Based on conservative estimates for going airplane space rates charged by the county past contracts for office space in Wittman Hangar, the building should be able to return at least $21,600 in rental income annually. This is based on 10 small airplanes at the lowest rate of $100 per month, and $400 a month for either of the two wings connected to the hangar as based on a previous tenant's rent of one wing. These figures exclude ancillary products that a creative leaseholder should be able to develop to promote the historic aspect of the hangar.

The crime here is that our county likely will demolish this building quietly and erect a new building at several times the cost of restoration. For that effort, our county will continue to collect the going rental rate of 13 cents per square foot with a physical loss to the historic connection it touts.

It cannot be denied that Wittman Hangar is a place where important milestones in aviation history happened. Perhaps you can connect this threatened edifice with the person or people who can lead the way to prevent it from becoming rubble for a landfill.

Sincerely,

John J. Archibald
Oshkosh, Wis.

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