Manchester Airport's 1937 Terminal Building
"The Move"

For more about this project, visit the New Hampshire Aviation Historical Society at www.nhahs.org.

Built as one of the Works Progress Administration (WPA) projects that sprinkled New Hampshire with unique, useful structures and employed hundreds of Granite State residents, the 1937 airport terminal continues in service to the public. Threatened with destruction as Manchester airport expanded its operations, a memorandum of agreement was signed in
1995 by the City of Manchester, the Manchester Airport Director, The Federal Aviation Administration and NH Division of Historical Resources, to preserve terminal.

Photo: Manchester Terminal, c. 1940

While serving as a member of the Manchester Airport Authority, Patrick Duffy, the current Vice-President of New Hampshire Aviation Historic Society, established the fund designated to finance the terminal's move from its original location, across two active runways to a permanent home, on the southeast side of the airport. The move required accurate
coordination between the building movers, airport maintenance staff and the Federal Aviation Administration. The move began at 6:30 P.M. on Sunday, June 27, 2004.

Photo: Manchester Terminal in 1991

Pilots who know how sacred the center line is when taking off and landing will appreciate the professional care taken when FAA closed the east west runway for an hour while the terminal crossed, then an hour later, re-opened it for traffic while relinquishing control of the north south runway for the second crossing. This is only the third time in U.S. history that a structure was moved across active runways. The Project Director with Northeast Building Movers informed us that six of the dollies used to move the terminal were also used to move the terminal at Newark Airport. So not only is the facility preserving aviation history,
it is making history! Joe Labbey, Goffstown Falls historian, filmed the event for posterity as architects, engineers and members of New Hampshire Aviation Historical Society walked slowly for an historic mile with the terminal.

Moving the 315-ton building was methodical and flawless. During the initial movement, a ten-ton truck loaded with two 500 pound blocks of concrete, selected to tow the building, bucked like a wild bronco eager to be let loose and needed assistance of a heavy earthmover to keep it steady on a controlled roll. Once on its way, the building was the only
object of attention for the movers right up to the last three feet when the terminal was placed within an inch of its settlement on the foundation. By dawn of Monday, June 29, 2004, the terminal was placed within one hundred yards of the foundation where it settled for three days.

Tow equipment continued to make a one hundred and eighty degree turn to place it on the foundation. As a testimony to his accuracy, this was the first time Eddy Couturier, Project Director, used a measuring tape to align the building with foundation. The close range of the pulling engine to the security fence did not allow the winches to gain enough purchase
to pull the terminal the last three feet. Realizing that the tow method would not work and against his lifelong experience, Eddy made the decision to use an earthmover to push the building its last three feet of the journey. With much trepidation we held our breath as men and machines worked with crucial accuracy to move and brake at the precise moment. As
the call came out to brake and the terminal came to an instant stop, so too did our hearts! With quite enough excitement for the day, we left while the terminal settled within one inch of its foundation.

By June 15th, the terminal was safely resting on the foundation and ready for internal repair work and renovation to begin. Concurrent to the renovation, NHAHS is opening a Capital Campaign to raise 1.1. Million dollars as a match to the original investment. These funds will endow the facility with staff and necessary furnishings to become a museum, archives
and educational center for the public.

In 1995, Manchester Historical Society chose the terminal for its annual preservation award. At that time the survey for application on the State and National Registries of Historic Places was begun. NHAHS has completed the documentation required for placement on the New Hampshire Registry of Historic Places. The Granite State now has a lovely addition to its
precious history, as this terminal becomes the only museum in New Hampshire dedicated to the history of aviation.

Affectionately known as the Cashin terminal in memory of Charlie Cashin, flight instructor and FAA examiner, who certified hundreds of pilots for their license, the facility will continue to educate the public in the history of aviation in New Hampshire. Many honors to Charlie have taken shape since his death. Susan and Charlie, owners of WINGS Pilot Shop have
filled two logbooks with names of pilots who flew with Charlie. NHAHS is paying special tribute to Charlie Cashin by nominating him for induction in the EAA Hall of Fame. Those who knew Charlie are invited to write letters of support for his nomination.
Letters should be addressed to NHAHS P.O. Box 3653, Concord, NH 03301-3653.

For more about this project, visit the New Hampshire Aviation Historical Society at www.nhahs.org.