“Aviation history —
_in Terrace

‘rank’s field

first landing ©

TERRACE — It was a long time ago that local resident Don
Cooper, 65, walked out onto Frank’s Field at the west of the bench

above Skeena Sawmill, to take a look at the first plane to land in the”
, community,

Cooper was a young boy when he ‘ventured onto Harry Frank
Senior's field, with other members of his family to see the American
airplane which had made an emergency landing in the hay field. It
was Cooper’s understanding that the owner of the land wasn’t too

impressed with the airplane mowing a path through his main source . ,

of cattle feed. And curious spectators, who visited the site, trampled
additional trails through the field.

It was 1933 when the Jimmy Mattern rescue expedition set out

from the United States in search of a missing plane. The American
plane was a Kings Breweries sponsored flight, and set out. from the
mid-States. The pilot passed ovér Terrace and headed for Prince
Rupert, but found out there was no airport in the coastal-communi-
ty. An airport was not constructed in. Prince Rupert until around
1960, Cooper said. - ..

The pilct remembered seeing the open field i in Terrace and headed
back for an emergency landing.

The downed plane sat in the field for approximately one month.

while-an order for fuel was filled. Cooper said many Terrace

residents took the opportunity to visit Frank’s Dairy and see the
plane which landed at the makeshift airport.
When the fuel arrived, trees were cut down at the west end of the

field and a fence dismantled so a runway of sufficient length could .
. enable the airplane to take off.

‘Cooper said the pilot ended the Jimmy Mattern expedition ona
positive note. Mattern was found in Alaska where he had been forc-
ed to make a crash landing.

Don Cooper is a long-time Terrace resident who moved to the

community with his parents and other family members in 1927.

Cooper has seen the town expand to be officially recognized i in

1987 as a city during Terrace’s 60th anniversary.

_was site of ih

- Don Cooper, a Terrace resident for many years, is pictured at Frank’s Dairy in 1933 along with members of his

family, Don is the young boy standing in the photograph second from the left. He is flanked to the extreme left by
his brother Colin, who.is no longer living, plus his other brother Bob Cooper (extreme right) who is currently a
member of Terrace council. A third brother (Bill Cooper, centre) holding onto the airplane propeller. Jackle Grant, -
also holding onto the prop, is no longer alive. The Cooper hoy’s mother is standing, holding one of the Bedore

children.

Joe McClaren (right) was the assistant forest ranger under Sid Cooper who was the forest manager in Terrace.

‘ragedy

stop. artist |

doesn’t |

Others in.the field are Sid Cooper, standing in the middle (with hand on hip) and Mrs. Cooper beside him.

Terrace residents in 1933 watch Ivan Frank harvest a hay crop on the u upper field behind Frank's Dairy. Ivan is no

longer alive but is survived by his wife, Terrace resident Vera Frank.

Sketcher and painter Chester Hunter makes his living selling his art in the
Terrace area. ‘'If your product is of good quality, you can make it," he said.

TERRACE — Yes, you can
make a good living as an artist,
if your product is of good quali-
ty, said sketcher and_ painter,
Chester Hunter.

Hunter said he has been draw-
ing almost forever. ‘‘I started
long before I even went to
school .""It was always more of i a
hobby for him until a tragic acci-
dent in 1961, when Hunter Jost
his left arm,

ss ; “T'm left handed you see, and
when I lost my left arm, I had to

— learn to do everything with my

.

right arm and hand.” Things
were difficult, he noted. After
days of. frustration, Hunter was
challenged by a patient in his
hospital room. He asked if J
would do some sketches for him.
Nurses at the hospital had
suggested that Hunter start
learning how to do everything
with his right hand. It was a
Challenging opportunity, and
Hunter went for it, drawing pic-
tures.of patients, and nurses for
$1 a portrait. As time went on,
Hunter became more comfor-
table with his right hand, and
produced not only fine sketches
continued on page 21

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