SANTA ROSA
October 18, 1928: "Starting construction work on the Santa Rosa airport is following closely after the announcement that the 127-acre tract had been taken over by the Richfield oil company. K.B. Ferguson, engineer for the company, who is traveling over the state, superintending installation of the large beacon towers which are being installed in many different places, including Santa Rosa, is in the county seat this week setting foundation blocks, arranging for electric and power wiring and water supply, and just as soon as the foundations are set he will notify the steel manufacturing company that is building the beacon towers. Then as soon as the details are arranged, a crew of men will be sent to begin operations on other features of the field. The concrete pedestals for the beacons, hangars, and leveling of runways at the airport will be well under way within the next two weeks.
In addition to completion of the airport, Richfield will, through Highway Communities, Inc., construct a modern village facing the Redwood highway at the airport site. The airport project alone calls for an initial expenditure of $18,000 while the highway village calls for an expense of approximately $80,000 officials of the Richfield company state." (Sotoyome Scimitar)
In addition to completion of the airport, Richfield will, through Highway Communities, Inc., construct a modern village facing the Redwood highway at the airport site. The airport project alone calls for an initial expenditure of $18,000 while the highway village calls for an expense of approximately $80,000 officials of the Richfield company state." (Sotoyome Scimitar)
October 24, 1928: "With the cement foundations laid, construction crews are now awaiting the arrival of materials before beginning further work on the airplane beacon at the Santa Rosa airport for the Richfield Oil company, which recently leased the landing field site from the chamber of commerce. While awaiting the materials the crew will today begin filling in the ground about the edges of the airfield for the Richfield village at the field. Grading for the building sites has already started.
The beacon, which will guide the planes to the field at night, will be located 200 yards north of the northern line of the landing field, on a strip of ground leased by the Richfield company from Kanaye Nagasawa, owner of Fountain Grove ranch." (The Press Democrat)
October 26, 1928: "Santa Rosa's new airport, now under development by the Richfield Oil Company, is unique in that it may be the northernmost air field on the coast to be illuminated by the gigantic Richfield beacon lights.
This was the statement yesterday of W.W. Russell, district manager for the company with headquarters at Napa, who was a visitor here on business connected with the local airport.
Russell declared that all the 30 beacons to be erected by the Richfield Company along the aerial 'white way' from Mexico to Canadian border, must be completed by January 10.
After that date no private concern or corporation will be permitted to erect beacons or similar devices under a recently enacted regulation.
All other beacons being established by Richfield in its present program are located along the interior valley routes of California. The company is also considering one and possibly two other sites on the coast route north of Santa Rosa, but site have not been selected and Russell believes that due to the short time remaining in which to erect the light towers, that these may be abandoned.
Russell also declared today that announcement of plans of the Richfield company to develop the local field has brought unlimited publicity to Santa Rosa already." (The Press Democrat)
October 31, 1928: "Within a week a huge aerial beacon will illuminate the Santa Rosa municipal airport, according to announcement of W.W. Russell and D.G. Crandall of the Richfield Oil company, which recently leased the airport for development. The airport is located just north of Santa Rosa, near Fountain Grove ranch." (Healdsburg Tribune)
November 1, 1928: "The huge aerial beacon which will illuminate the Santa Rosa airport, will be completed and lighted within ten days. This was the announcement last night of Richfield Oil Company officials who recently leased the field. Steel for the tower is now being delivered on the ground and construction work will begin tomorrow. Filling started today at the field, with 7000 cubic yards of earth to be moved to bring the airport to the standard of specifications." (Oakland Tribune)
November 8, 1928: "Erection of the 125-foot steel structure for the Richfield beacon at the municipal airport was completed today. Electricians immediately began the work of installing powerful lights on the structure. The beacon will probably be lighted before the end of the week.
A large fleet of trucks is now engaged in hauling 5000 yards of earth and rock to be used in making fills adjacent to the beacon. Leveling of land on both sides of the runways will probably be completed early next week." (Oakland Tribune)
November 11, 1928: "Work is now being done on the tower and station at Santa Rosa and, with its completion sometime later this month, a formal opening of that station is planned." (Napa Journal)
November 16, 1928: "Work is now being done on the tower and station at Santa Rosa and, with its completion sometime later this month, a formal opening of that station is also planned." (Chehalis Bee-Nugget - Washington
November 17, 1928: "The huge beacon erected on the Santa Rosa airport by the Richfield Oil company will be lighted tonight, barring unforseen difficulties engineers in charge of the wiring announced today. The search light which is one of 24 being erected along the Pacific Coast by the oil company, will be visible for 50 miles." (Oakland Tribune)
November 18, 1928: "Work is now being done on the tower and station at Santa Rosa and, with its completion sometime later this month, a formal opening of that station is also planned." (Oakland Tribune)
November 21, 1928: "Lights flashed from the beacon tower of the the Santa Rosa municipal airport for the first time Monday night.
Their glare visible for miles and the words themselves distinguishable for a considerable distance north and south on the highway, the lights that spell out the word 'RICHFIELD' placed vertically upon the tower were given their test, and from now on, it was stated, will be illuminated nightly.
The beacon itself, which is to send the beams of light out over the airport for the guidance of night-flying aviators, has not yet been put in place. This is due to the fact that some of the material did not arrive in time, and it was necessary to place the Neon light in storage here until everything is in readiness to place it atop the tower." (The Press Democrat)
November 22, 1928: "The illuminated letters forming the word 'Richfield,' placed vertically upon the large beacon tower at the Santa Rosa municipal airport, located on the Redwood highway, at Fountain Grove, the historic Japanese ranch, were illuminated for their final test Monday night and from now on will be lighted nightly. The glow of the illumination is visible for miles and the word itself is distinguishable for a considerable distance. The beacon, which is to send beams of light out over the airport for the guidance of night-flying aviators, has not yet been put into place, due the fact that some of the necessary parts have not arrived from the factory.
The filling and leveling of the entire field is progressing rapidly, and present indications are that most of the airport equipment will be installed in less than a month. The field is under lease to the Richfield company, which, in addition to making it one of the most modern in the world, plans to construct 'Richfield Village' on the out-skirts of the airport. The illuminated tower present a very beautiful night picture, worth traveling miles to see." (Sotoyome Scimitar)
December 16, 1928: "Following the official celebration at Palm City in the afternoon at which several squadrons of navy and commercial planes will fly in formation over the Beacon (Palm City). Admiral Ashby H. Robertson will throw the switch which simultaneously turns the light on the first group of finished beacons." (The Los Angeles Times)
December 22, 1928: "At the airport work is going forward in the construction of the first hangar unit, while for several nights the "Richfield" sign on the beacon tower, at the top of which an aerial beacon is soon to be placed, has been illuminated." (The Press Democrat)
March 1, 1929: "Meanwhile officials of the department of commerce, aeronautics division, are inspecting and testing many types of beacons in an effort to select a standard and most practical signal to be placed atop the Richfield steel beacon towers on the Pacific Coast chain. The huge tower here, which stands on the Redwood Highway in front of the new service station unit and within a short distance of the airfield is complete except for installation of the beacon light." (The Press Democrat)
March 29, 1929: "All details have been completed for the Richfield air beacon station at the entrance to the Santa Rosa airport, to be held tomorrow night, it was stated yesterday by S.B. Tarbox, traveling representative of the Richfield Oil company's service station department. Neon lights on the beacon and the elaborate illumination system of the service station and Richfield Village bordering the airport will be turned on at 9 p.m., and visitors will be taken through the buildings of the station.
The opening plans do not include the landing field itself, as border lights for the runways have not yet been installed. The date of the opening and dedication of the airport will be announced later by officials of the company." (The Press Democrat)
April 1, 1929: "At 8 o'clock Saturday evening the rotating searchlight on top of the mast at the air transport between Healdsburg and Santa Rosa was turned on for the first time and began its nightly gyrations which will serve as a beacon light for aviators flying over the north bay section. At the same time the flood lights around the airport and marking lights for the landing patch were lighted, together with those of the Richfield service station at the base of the mast. A large crowd was present for the ceremony.
The new beacon, under the present timing swings one and a half turns to the right, and then one and a half turns to the left, the light stopping when it points directly north on one swing and directly south on the other, thus providing accurate directions for aviators. The light is timed by an automatic switch and at this time of year will be on nightly from 6 p.m. to 6:30 a.m. As the days grow longer, the time will be cut." (Healdsburg Tribune)
April 23, 1929: "Santa Rosa's municipal airport, purchased by the chamber of commerce and developed under lease by the Richfield Oil Company, will be formally dedicated May 18 and 19 with community exercises and a flying circus. It was announced today by G.A. Proctor, chairman of a committee arranging for the celebration. Commercial and private planes from all over the state will take part in the ceremonies, and cooperation of military authorities of the Ninth Corps area has been assured. Installation of a flashing aerial beacon, runway border and floodlights, hangars and other equipment of the modern airport is just being completed by the Richfield company." (Oakland Tribune)
May 17, 1929: "On May the 18th and 19th the Municipal Airport at Santa Rosa will be formally dedicated by appropriate ceremonies. A very interesting and instructive program has been arranged and the public is invited to attend. The visitor will see the Richfield beacon tower and service station. This is a link in a chain of beacons and service stations on the Pacific coast that will extend from Canada to Mexico, approximately fifty miles apart, along the major roads. This company is establishing these beacons, service stations and landing fields to insure safe night and day flying by airplane, also provide the best of service at convenient points for the traveler by automobile. The flash of the beacon will be as welcome to the autoist as it will be to the aviator for it will mean, as he drives through the night, a place where he will always find the best of gasoline, oils, greases and other automobile supplies and service. This company will spend $10,000,000 in a chain of these airway-highway beacons, service stations and landing fields. This plan will be fully carried out within a short time.
A portion of every dollar spent by the public for Richfield oils and gasoline will go toward rendering this public service to the traveler by land or by air." (Press Democrat)
May 17, 1929: "Formal dedication of the new Santa Rosa Municipal Airport marks achievement of the goal which Santa Rosa Chamber of Commerce, business and civic leaders for years have been striving for.
Great strides in aviation, the conquest of the air, was seen by foresighted Santa Rosans as a challenge to the larger communities to provide adequate airports for the great liners of the skies, which already are daily weaving a network through the air lanes as they ply between the great cities of the nation, carrying passengers, freight and government mail.
As a result, Santa Rosa now has a modern flying field, which ranks with those in many of the larger centers of the west. And long before the field was anywhere near construction, officials of several of the largest transport companies has visited Santa Rosa for the purpose of making surveys of possible new air routes which would include Santa Rosa airport as a stopover.
The new Santa Rosa airport, located on the west side of the Redwood highway, two miles north of Santa Rosa is now operated by the Richfield company.
Already the concern has spent nearly $40,000 in improving the field, installing new equipment of the finest type and leveling and oiling the main runways.
Just 1200 feet east of the main runway approach a modern Richfield service station unit has been erected, while a 125 foot steel beacon tower rises at this spot, guiding both automobiles and aircraft to the airport.
The beacon is equipped with one eight million candle power lamp of the 'wobbler type,' while the field runway is lighted at night by two large flood lamps.
The huge steel and concrete hangar on the field, the first unit of many which are expected to be erected, has housing capacity for seven airplanes of the largest type, and is equipped with a machine shop for minor repairs.
Complete gasoline and oil storage facilities are also available at the field. Latest type aviation service units have been installed under ground for the convenience of flyers. Telephones are located in the hangar and at the beacon service station. L.E. Newton is field manager, and Al. Allison is field superintendent." (The Press Democrat)
"S.R.-- RICHFIELD" on tower. (Airway Bulletin, No., 1-2 1931-38)