Stapleton International Airport and its Lack of ____ Public Support100322086 History Seminar: Capstone Paper 12/03/2013 ‘Stapleton International Airport, and its Lack of Public Support Robert Stapp the Public Affairs Manager of Stapleton International Airport from 1971 to 1982 made the statement “Stapleton International Airport is a testimonial to man's ability to look into the future—but not too far. Its history virtually parallels the history of commercial aviation; its future is as uncertain as next year’s weather!.” This quote is a good analysis of Stapleton International Airport and its long legacy. The original ianding strip was little more than a dirt parking lot, but within a century the airport would be one of the largest in the country. Progress is not always easy and it’s not always made with the consent of the everyday citizen. Popular support was generally not in favor of the airport. Stapleton International Airport from humble beginnings rapidly and continually expanded throughout it’s almost decade long trek. But this expansion seems to have been done with little input from local residents. At the very least people seemed indifferent to the large sums of money being invested. Despite Stapleton’s important role in Colorado aviation history not much has been written on it by scholarly sources. Most if not all modern historians seem to focus on Denver International Airport. A few books written by former employees seem to be the extent of Stapleton’s spotlight in history. The best by far is Stapleton International Airport: The First Fifty Years. It did not analyze public support of the Airport but it did detail various upgrades and expansions. 1 Jeff Miller, Stapleton International Airport: The Firet Fifty Years (New York: Pruett Publiching, 1983), XT100322086 History Semin: 12/03/2013 Stapleton International Airport, and its Lack of Public Support : Capstone Paper The Rise of Aviation Around the early 1900's the Federal Government began to see the usefulness of establishing a transcontinental air mail system. The original plans by passed Denver because aviators were unsure if planes could even make it over the Rocky Mountains. In the late 1920's aviation began booming around the country and several airfields began appearing in the Denver area. Benjamin F. Stapleton the mayor of Denver saw the danger of uncontrolled and uncoordinated aviation growth. Stapleton a former Army Officer was elected in 1923 on the ballot of “clean city, business administration and just taxation". Stapleton was a dreamer and a huge supporter for the creation of Denver municipal airport. Stapleton was reelected several times and was mayor from 1923 to 1947, a total of five terms. During these five terms he initiated public works projects and continued to support, and after construction fought to expand the airport. Planning for Denver Municipal Airport began almost immediately after Stapleton took office when he sent representatives to discuss the idea of a municipal airport with leaders of the aviation industry in Denver. In order to voice their opinion in the issue the City Council formed several committees to look into the 2 Stapleton Blection Pamphlet. (Unknown, title page missing). Denver, 1923.100322086 History Seminar: Capstone Paper 12/03/2013 Stapleton International Airport, and its Lack of Public Support idea. Several sites in and around Denver were proposed as good locations by one of the committees, Mayor Stapleton played an active role in choosing the sight for the future airport. After looking at the various proposed sights Stapleton selected a location at Sand Creek which was far from the heart of Denver. Parts of the city council were unhappy with the site location and some citizens complained that the site was chosen simply because Stapleton was friends with the land owner. On March 20%, 1928 the Denver Post published a statement from a Colorado lawyer in opposition to the airport stated “the city has no more right to enter the airport business than it would have to build and operate a union station for railroad trains or motor buses®.” The Denver Post continued to be a major opponent of the airport and went so far as to call it “Stapleton’s Folly” in several newspaper articles. If these articles are any indication of public opinion it would be fair to state that a decent portion of the population was against or at Jeast not for the airport. ‘Those in opposition seem to have been against the airport for two main reasons. Aviation was a new untested industry and a municipal airport run by the city did not sound like a capitalist idea. Despite the resistance from media 9 Jeff Miller, Stapleton International Airport: The First Fifty Years (New York: Pruett Publishing, 1983), 5 4 Jeff Miller, Stapleton Internationsl Airport: Tho First Fifty Years (New York: Pruett Publishing, 1988), 8100322086 History Seminar: Capstone Paper 12/03/2013 Stapleton International Airport, and its Lack of Public Support outlets and sections of the government, the mayor continued to push for the new airport at the Sand Creek site. Construction of the New Airport Begins Construction on Denver Municipal Airport began early 1929. In order to receive the highest available Airport rating in the country, workers built both the main air fields over six hundred feet longer then recommended. This made both main fields over four thousand feet total. The rating meant that Denver Municipal Airport would automatically be one of the largest in the country. Only one landing light was constructed. The light was a high intensity beam built on top of the administrative building. ‘The beam would light up underneath planes and let the pilot know when they were 6 feet off the ground. The system seems to have worked well when no adverse weather conditions were present. Construction was completed in October 17 1929 and the finished Airport had two main runways, a hanger, a small building which held firefighting equipment and a central building. Total cost of the Airport ended up being close to four hundred and thirty thousand dollars, a significant investment for the time.100322086 History Seminar: Capstone Paper 12/03/2013 Stapleton International Airport, and its Lack of Public Support Completion of the new airport spurred festivities in Denver. According toa Denver post article twenty thousand attended the opening of the new airport®. ‘The completion was marked with air races, an emergency landing demonstration, the bombing of a miniature village and a small banquet. The festivitios seemed to have been well received by the public and anti-airport sentiment died down, at least on paper. The Early Years (1920s-40s) ‘The early years of Denver Municipal Airport were marked by air traffic beyond expectations. In 1931 traffic at the airport was so heavy that a forty thousand dollar project to build an additional large hanger was approved, Despite this new upgrade, by 1938 Stapleton was rapidly becoming too small to handle increased air traffic. A Denver Post article published April 18 1938 stated Stapleton had managed three thousand five hundred take offs in thirty days’. This averaged out to be around one hundred take offs a day which is about halve of the largest airports in the nations capacity. 1938 saw continued expansion with a fifty thousand dollar project to build radio towers, new lighting systems and a brand new runway. Late 1938 the airport received the civil aeronautics boards top ratings, a 5*20,000 cheer as airport lights are turned on.” Denver Post, 10 19, 1928. 5 “Denver Airport pays its way in first year” Denver Post, January 01, 1981. 7 "3,500 take offs in thirty days set record at airport.” Denver Post, April 18, 1938. Pg. 4100322086 History Seminar: Capstone Paper 12/03/2013 Stapleton International Airport, and its Lack of Public Support high honor which meant that the airport was one of the best in the nation. Denver Municipals first year of operation earned the city about twenty five thousand dollars®. ‘The late thirties and forties saw the creation of the Works Progress Administration (WPA) as well as the Second World War, both of which affected Denver Municipal Airport. On January 15, 1938 President Roosevelt allotted one hundred ninety four thousand seven hundred and thirty four dollars to allow the WPA to expand the airport. The WPA would eventually expand runways, create a drainage system for unpaved runways and build a brand new runway for the airport. The WPA would continue to conduct expansion operations for the airport through the 1940s. The WPA’s work allowed the airport to receive the national safety award in 1944, Also that year in recognition for Mayor Stapleton’s continued support for the airport, Denver Municipal airfield was renamed to Stapleton Airfield. By 1946 the city approved to add a new terminal building to the airport. In 1947 Rocky Mountain News reported that Stapleton Airfield was ranked 19" nationally®. This was a stark increase from 1940 when the airport had been ranked 324, 1948 was a major year of massive expansion for Stapleton Air Field. In April, Federal aid was approved to assist the city in expanding the runways, facilities and allowing Stapleton to go from a class 5 airport to a class 6 which was the highest ©"Denver Airport pays its way in first year” Denver Post, January 01, 1931. ° "Stapleton field ranks 19th in US." Rocky Mountain News, November 22, 1947.100322086 History Seminar: Capstone Paper 12/03/2013 Stapleton International Airport, and its Lack of Public Support rating of the time. On November 14* 1948 President ‘Truman approved a massive federal aid package to the airport. Eighty two thousand seven hundred and sixty cight dollars were promised to build a new modern control tower. Plans were also made to add the latest in lights to all primary runways. Airport Manager Charles 0. Woodworth stated “These new improvements, plus the 300,000 WPA project to Grail smprove the field, now under construction, will make the airport one of the most modern in the country!”. Public support for the airport seemed to very greatly during this period. In the early 30's the Great Depression was in full swing damaging the national economy. Denver was not spared and new opponents rose against the airport. The opposition saw the vast monetary investments into Stapleton as a waste of money. ‘This changed once the WPA began work on the airport. The WPA worked on large government funded projects to create work for young men. With vast WPA projects expanding the airport many people relied on the airport for employment. Stapleton’s Decline (1950’s-1980’s) In the 1950's Stapleton met its first challenge that simply upgrading existing facilities could not fix, Jet airliners. By the late 1950's jet powered planes began to replace older propeller planes. Jets required more runway room and were 210 "streamline' program approved for airport.” Rocky Mountain News, November 14, 1948.100322086 History Seminar: Capstone Paper 12/03/2013 Stapleton International Airport, and its Lack of Public Support considerably louder than propeller planes but they could carry more passengers. Stapleton officials saw the threat of their airport becoming obsolete and began working on plans to deal with the issue. Based on newspaper articles there seems to have been concern about the ability of the airport to deal with this new issue. The Mayor of Denver at the time the Honorable Nicholson stated to Rocky Mountain News “I honestly don’t know if Stapleton can handle jet-airliners. There are many conflicting reports and continual experiments with jet airliners!.” By 1958 congestion at Stapleton had reached the point where traffic cops were necessary to guide air traffic on the ground’. In January, 1957 the mayor received two reports recommending expansion of Stapleton over moving to a new location. ‘The reports estimated a total cost of 20 million to expand the airport. Both recommend the construction of a new air field and expansion of current facilities. ‘The mayor expressed his support of expansion by stating “The farther an airport is from the heart of a city, the less air traffic is generated. An airport must be readily accessible to would be travelers!s.” To cover the cost the reports recommended increasing landing fees. Mayor Nicholson agreed to the notion and even stated that “1 am certain Denver taxpayers will not approve general obligation bonds to pay for the necessary improvements'4.” 11 Rocky Mountain News November 21, 1956 18"Stop and go lights and "cops" will direct planes." Denver Post, , see. pg. 5, Mar 08, 1958. 18 Zuckerman, Leo. "Mayor Nicholson proposes independent airport authority.” Rocky Mountain News, January 11, 1957. 4 Zuckerman, Leo. "Mayor Nicholson proposes independent airport authority.” Rocky Mountain News, January 11, 1957.100322086 History Seminar: Capstone Paper 12/03/2013 Stapleton International Airport, and its Lack of Public Support Increased landing fees were not received warmly by the major airlines operating at Stapleton. Two of the largest argued that their contract detailing landing fees did not expire until the late 1960's, Even after they finally agreed to pay additional money there was still arguments over exactly how much. In the end the airlines did not start paying additional fees until the early 1960's and the fees were about halve of what the city had originally wanted. ‘With the need for new space the city turned its eyes towards the neighboring Rocky Mountain Arsenal. The Arsenal was largely undeveloped land owned by the Colorado National Guard that bordered Stapleton to the north. The Rocky Mountain Arsenal was used in the forties and early fifties to test chemical weapons. City attempts in previous years to gain the land had resulted in nothing but frustration. In 1957 the city in conjunction with the Air Force requested several thousand acres, it seemed that a joint deal would be accepted. But bureaucracy, infighting between the Air Force and the Army resulted in Denver only receiving two hundred and fifty two acres in 1959. The city continued to fight with the Army and attempted to establish some kind of comprehensive plan. This resulted in another four hundred twenty seven acres in 1960. In 1961 the city made another large attempt to gain arsenal land. Mayor Batterton told the Denver Post in early 1962 “[the land] is vital to the continued growth and development of Stapleton Field. It is readily apparent that the only direction the airport can be expanded between 1970 and 1985 is to the100322086, History Seminar: Capstone Paper 12/03/2013 Stapleton international Airport, and its Lack of Public Support north'®,” The city was finally able to purchase eight hundred and five acres of arsenal land in 1964. Denver despite the setbacks remained hopeful that they could eventually win out more land but in 1968 General F.S Besson stated “It has been determined that all land areas now held at the Rocky Mountain Arsenal must be retained indefinitely as the established safety buffer zone for the production and storage of classified materials at the installation!®.” Denver's hoped were further crushed when Adams County stated that any attempt by Denver to absorb more Arsenal Land which is part of Adams County would result in legal action. The final chunk of arsenal land the city was able to secure was six hundred twenty two acres secured in 1969. This piece brought the total amount of arsenal land secured to only two thousand one hundred and six, a small portion of what the city had originally hoped for. The jet age arrived for Stapleton in May 1959 when the first jet planes owned by Continental Airlines began utilizing the field. A few months’ later United Airlines followed suite truly ushering in a new stage for aviation, In 1960 newspaper articles complaining about airport noise begin to appear. Stapleton completed the new field on the recently acquired arsenal land in 1962. Despite this now airstrip which was supposed to alleviate the issue noise remained a constant problem for local residents. A Denver Post poll in January 1963 showed that Park Hill residents were extremely upset about the noise from the airplanes. 1 Denvor Post Jan 21, 1962 “Arsenal Must Keep Land, Army Cliams.” Denver Post, May 10, 1968. 10100322086 History Seminar: Capstone Paper 12/03/2013 Stapleton International Airport, and its Lack of Public Support Resistance towards the airport reached a new level in August of 1963. Residents in the Park Hill area formed an association of over two hundred members, to make their voices heard by their representatives. The noise in the Park Hill was so bad residents christened 26% avenue “The 26‘ Avenue Expressway”!7. In 1965 a handful of home owners successfully sued the airport. They argued in court that the noise from the airplanes had decreased the vaiue of their homes. Their lawyer Fred Rehmer stated “Of course we realized the airport has been there since 1929 or thereabouts. But the noise was insignificant. It didn’t become significant until the late 1950's. When the Jets came it was horrible”. The judge ruled that the airport had infringed on the rights of the homeowners. With increased controversy and increased traffic the airport was renamed to Stapleton International Airport in 1964. The next year in 1965 the city voted on a twenty five million dollar bond measure to expand Stapleton’s facilities. The same year also saw Stapleton go from the fifteenth busiest airport in the nation to the seventh. According to the Rocky Mountain News during the time frame of 1964 to 1965 Stapleton saw a thirty six percent increase in air traffic. Plans were pushed forward to expand by adding another runway as well as building a new terminal. Despite a five percent increase in air traffic between 1965 and 1966 Stapleton moved from seventh to eighth busiest airport. In 1968 it went down again to the ninth busiest. By 1967 air traffic throughout the nation had exceeded forty nine million and three hundred thousand takeoffs a year. 1 "Park Hill unit readies claim over jet noise.” Denver Post, 02 22, 1968. 1100322086 History Seminar: Capstone Paper 12/03/2013 Stapleton international Airport, and its Lack of Public Support In the 1970's excessive noise seems to have been a national health concern, In 1977 the Federal Government issued Airport Noise Regulations in order to reduce noise pollution, In 1978 the Environmental Protection Agency began publishing a pamphlet named Noise: A Health Problem. The pamphlet detailed health issues caused by loud noises. In 1980 the newsletter Quiet Neighborhoods was being published from D.C. The newsietver urged the population to remain informed on the dangerous of loud noises and featured stories of neighborhoods banding together to fight the dangers of loud noises. One featured story was local residents closing the Washington D.C airport. ‘This national concern was not good for Stapleton’s future, By 1979 the airport had less than halve the acreage of the O'hare Airport and the Dallas-Ft. Worth Airport. Officials wished to expand but noise was already a significant issue. An airport official created a memo detailing ways Stapleton could get around the problem. He recommended a jet ban, nighttime restrictions on traffic and the construction of noise barriers. These solutions may have been possible in the 50's but by the 70's it was obvious that any airport that wanted to compete nationally needed to accommodate the newest form of airplane. With growing issues it became apparent that Stapleton was at a cross roads, expansion or death, Stapleton made Denver an important transportation hub but many questioned if it was worth the fight to expand. Both moving the airport 12100322086 History Seminar: Capstone Paper 12/03/2013 Stapleton International Airport, and its Lack of Public Support and expanding the airport would be a costly affair. The Park Hill County was organizing and was getting more aggressive against the airport as time went on. Growth of Local Resistance While the threat of not being able to expand loomed a new opposition movement began. This organization was founded by a local Park Hill County Mother, Margaret Meagher. “On August 26, 1979 I listened to approximately 12 hours of low heavy air traffic over my home at 232 Grape Street in Denver, Colorado. The crafts were 800 feet above my head and pounded continually for every 1-3 minutes. I called the Stapleton tower and was mocked and not given adult information about the plight of being a captive audience for planes. This incident precipitated the formation of the Ground Crew of the Greater Parks Hill Community.” Meagher recalled this moment in a letter detailing the activities of the GPHC in its first years, The morning after the incident Meagher met with a handful of neighbors and her six year old son to start a petition demanding the creation of a noise complaint hotline. The GPHC seems to have grown rapidly and conducted a wide variety of activities such as appearing on talk shows, hosting cocktail parties and creating bumper stickers. The GPHC seems to have been a leading opponent of Stapleton expansion until the airports eventual demise. Out of ** Meagher, Margaret. Margaret Meagher to interested parties, Denver, CO, 1982. 13100322086 History Seminar: Capstone Paper 12/03/2013 Stapleton International Airport, and its Lack of Public Support all the resistance movements to Stapleton this one by far seems the most organized and effective. Discontent with the airport led to the creation of SNAG, the Stapleton Noise Advisory Committee. The committee was at least indirectly created due to the efforts of the GPHC. SNAC was a combination of airport officials and volunteers that worked to bring information about the airport to politicians and local residents. SNAC was assigned an Airport Noise Officer who brought the committee's concerns to the Director of Aviation for Stapleton directly. At its height in the late 80's several members were city council members and they had monthly meetings in the Commerce City Municipal Buildings Community Meeting Room. SNAC managed a noise hotline that the GPHC had petitioned for at their creation. When annoyed local residents called in, a SNAC volunteer would explain what was going on at the airport to the individual. The organization could not stop the noise but it could explain what was going on and when the noise was expected to dissipate. This it soems to have helped placate some members of the community. The organization kept detailed records of calls and began to create reports on where the most complaints came from. They managed to observe a pattern where during January and February when the winds were heavy noise complains went up drastically. By 1988 the organization had cstablished automated noise monitoring systems around Stapleton to gather information on decibel levels. The mayor and 14100322086 History Seminar: Capstone Paper 12/03/2013 ‘Stapleton International Airport, and its Lack of Public Support other city officials were privy to SNAC’s reports. Sometimes the committee personally reported to the mayor. By 1991 construction on Denver International Airport had been going on for three years so the organization now without a purpose began to dissolve. ‘The late 1970's to 1980's were critical years for Stapleton due to public unhappiness and lack of space. Many were concerned that the airport simply could not handle increased expansion while others argued that moving was impractical due to the expense. Those who were interested in moving the airport could not decide when the move should take place. Captain Tom Lindermann an airline pilot stated “ Stapleton Airport is at capacity today, not in the year 2000. We need to start planning for a new airport so we can be in it in 10 or 12 years!®.” Mayor MeNichols was a strong supporter of the new airport and spent most of 1979 pitching the idea to the city council. Despite his support, in 1983 Denver was still no closer to either establishing a new airport or expanding the old one. Continued indecisiveness about expansion or movement seems to have increased agitation in the local population. Surprisingly the city seemed fairly unconcerned about local opinion. The creation of SNAC was a stop gap measure issued to appease people but the city seemed to treat this new opposition much like it had treated previous opponents. ® Denver Post May 28 1978 15100322086 History Seminar: Capstone Paper 12/03/2013 Stapleton international Airport, and its Lack of Public Support Death of Stapleton International During the 1984 election both primary candidates supported expanding the airport. In 1984 the newly elected Mayor Frederico Pena stated that Denver only needed the southern section of the Arsenal and during a question and answer session with a Rocky Mountain News reporter Mayor Pena outlined the continued conflict with Adams County, Adams County's official stance was they were against the expansion of Stapleton due to the impact it would have on residents living in the county but several newspapers during the time period mention that a moved airport may mean more business for Adams County. By the end of 1984 many within the government had accepted that northward expansion was not possible. In 1986 in a last ditch effort to save the Airport a deal was proposed by Stapleton officials where Denver would spend 20 million to sound proof Adams county homes in exchange for northward expansion support. By this point however negotiations had dragged on for too long and it was simply too late. ‘When it became obvious that expansion into the arsenal was not viable, Mayor Pena began looking at other sites. In 1984 Pena froze any expansion at Stapleton. The Mayor stated to the Denver Post “Does it make sense to continue to make those kinds of commitments to the current facility, adding additional 16100322086 History Seminar: Capstone Paper 12/03/2013 Stapleton international Airport, and its Lack of Public Support congestion, if we are very seriously committed to building a new airport.” Within a few years a site was selected in Adams County far away from any population center. In May of 1989 the land was annexed by Denver County with the promise that Adams County residents would be given employment at the new facility. Construction on the future Denver International Airport began late 1989. Despite the mayors decision the local airlines still disagreed with moving the airport. Many of them had invested large amounts of money into Stapleton and the surrounding area and were reluctant to leave. Despite anti Stapleton sentiment in at least a portion of the population many seemed reluctant to abandon the old airport. Those who opposed the move can be put into two camps. One group simply was loyal to the airport while the other felt that such a momentous decision required direct input from the voters. A Denver lawyer named Richard B, Young was a leader of the opposition. Young stated “when we have the governor and your honor, the mayor saying that this is the greatest public works project in the history of the state and the cost is the highest of any public works project, I submit the public need to he involved?!” His sentiment was similar to many in the city council who demanded more input in the construction of the new airport. Despite the cries of the opponents and members of the city council Mayor Pena continued with his plans to move the Airport. ® Weaver, Nancy. "Stapleton expansion is frozen.” Denver Post, November 15, 1984. % Blynn, Kevin. “Airline, city expected to meet.” Rocky Mountain News, February, 4, 1989. v7100822086 History Seminar: Capstone Paper 12/03/2013 Stapleton intern: nal Airport, and its Lack of Public Support The Final Years With the knowledge of future closure Stapleton International Airport had perhaps its worst years ever between, 1987 and 1988. In 1987 delays at the airport were probed by a federal committee. In 1988 Stapleton was declared the fifth most dangerous in airport in the nation by air line pilots. The same year revenue for all terminal stores was down and Stapleton ranked second to last in timely flights. The airport would soldier on for the next few years to eventually be shut down in 1995. After an extensive redevelopment program run by the city all that remains of the once great Stapleton International Airport is a lone traffic control tower. In conelusion Stapleton International Airport had a long and prestigious history. Its expansion and eventual downfall practically mirrors the rise of the aviation industry in the United States. From humble beginnings it rose from a small airstrip in the outskirts of Denver to a significant air hub, Despite this outstanding growth public support was rarely in its favor. The high point of Stapleton public relations was the late 30's and early 40's when the WPA provided work to many in the Denver area. 18100322086 History Seminar: Capstone Paper 12/03/2013 Stapleton International Airport, and its Lack of Public Support Bibliography "20,000 cheer as airport lights are turned on." Denver Post, 10 19, 1929. "3,500 take offs in thirty days set record at airport.” Denver Post, , sec. Pg. 4, Apr 18, 1938. "50,000 Denver air guide post almost ready for operation." Denver Post, Mar 31, 1938. "Adams to fight bigger airport.” Denver Post, 11 06, 1968. "Airport expansion viewed." Rocky Mountain News, 11 14, 1968. "Airport land cost-'move one barracks’." Denver Post, 11 25, 1969. "Arsenal must keep land, army claims." Denver Post, , sec. Pg. 14, 05 10, 1968. Bell, Dan. "651-acre airport growth discussed." Rocky Mountain News, , sec. Pg. 6, 04 03, 1969. Bell, Dan. "Our air stature grows." Rocky Mountain News, 01 06, 1969. Bell, Dan. "Pena says Denver needs only ‘south tier’ of arsenal." Rocky Mountain News, Jan 23, 1984, Brimberg, Judith. "airport's expansion on arsenal backed.” Denver Post, 06 03, 1983. "Couneil gives ok to changing name of Stapleton field.” Denver Post, 07 21, 1964, "Crowd assembles to rename airfield.” Denver Post, 18 25, 1944. Delsohn, Gary. "Stapleton to add ‘short’ runway." Denver Post, Jun 21, 1986. "Denver airport pays its way in first year." Denver Post, Jan 01, 1931. Frerking, Beth. "Delays probed at Stapleton.” Denver Post, 08 14, 1987. "Final plans ordered drawn for Denver airport building.” Denver Post, 09 15, 1946. Foster, James. "January 1 crisis facing Stapleton airport." Rocky Mountain News, 11 15, 1968, Harding, Del. "traffic hicked but Stapleton dips in rank." Rocky Mountain News, , sec. Pg. 14, 04 21, 6. Jeff Miller, Stapleton International Airport: The First Fifty Years (New York: Pruett Publishing, 1983) Kane, George. "City seeks arsenal area for airport.” Rocky Mountain News, 09 19, 1968. 19100322086 History Seminar: Capstone Paper 12/03/2013 Stapleton International Airport, and its Lack of Public Support Kowalski, Robert. "Runway opens amid controversy." Denver Post, 01 10, 1987. Logan, Donna. "Issue backed by 8-1 margin." Denver Post, 08 11, 1965. Lyle, Don. "Army deeds 622 acres to Denver for a new runway." Rocky Mountain News, , sec. Pg. 5, 11 15, 1969. Meagher, Margaret. Margaret Meagher to interested parties, Denver, CO, 1982. "New Denver airport facility's are used for the first time." Denver Post, , sec, Pg. 4, Oct 31, 1938, “Park Hill unit readies claim over jet noise." Denver Post, 02 22, 1963. "Roosevelt allots 194,734 to expand Denver airport." Denver Post, , sec. Pg. 1, Jan 15, 1939. "Stapleton 7th internationally.” Denver Post, 09 29, 1982, "Stapleton ninth busiest in nation." Rocky Mountain News, 03 27, 1968. "Stapleton changes name at dedication.” Denver Post, Oct 19, 1964. "Stapleton’s danger high, pilots report." Denver Post, Apr 26, 1988. "Stapleton field gets federal aid.” Denver Post, 02 11, 1948. "Stapleton ranks second to last in timely flights." Rocky Mountain News, May 05, 1988. "Stapleton field ranks 19th in US." Rocky Mountain News, 11 22, 1947, "Stapleton is nation's 7th busiest airport.” Rocky Mountain News, , sec. Pg. 5, Mar 17, 1965. "Stapleton will add runway.” Denver Post, 12 30, 1965. "Stop and go lights and "cops" will direct planes." Denver Post, , sec. pg. 5, Mar 08, 1958. streamline’ program approved for airport." Rocky Mountain News, 11 14, 1948. "Visiting celebrities praise ." Denver Post, May 15, 1937. Weaver, Nancy. "stapleton expansion is frozen.” Denver Post, 10 15, 1984. Wibur, Richard. "judge rules jet use at airport infringed on right." Rocky Mountain News, , sec. Pg, 5, Feb 17, 1965. Zuckerman, Leo. "Mayor Nicholson proposes independent airport authority." Rocky Mountain News, JAN 11, 1957. 20