Herald News Report

FAIRBORN – The new Fairborn Historical Society has kept busy.

After officially being founded in summer 2015, the society had its inaugural public meeting Aug. 31 in the Fairborn Library. The society met again Oct. 12 with Wright State University students on a strategic plan to develop a five-year plan. The planning is led by Danielle Booth, Caroline Mullin and Michelle Fullard, graduate students of WSU’s Urban Studies program. Among the strengths pointed out were the member resources and planning steps. Weaknesses included gaining members and volunteers to take the society forward.

The city of Fairborn was formed in 1950, merged from the 18th century settlement of Fairfield and the village of Osborn which was moved next door in the 1920’s. Paul Woodruff, architect and Cultural Resources Manager of Wright Patterson Air Force Base, arranged a tour of the old Osborn site near Skyborn Skateland this past week. Fairborn Historical Society board members saw foundations and sidewalks here and there, left after Osborn was moved.

The society will host a special presentation on the short history of Patterson Field, including Wright Field Dec. 7 at the local Senior Center. Woodruff will talk about the area of the northern section of WPAFB named after Lt. Frank Patterson, a test pilot. Patterson lost his life in a crash in that area of Fairfield Air Depot in 1918; he was a son and nephew of the founders of National Cash Register Company.

For more details, check Fairbornhistoricalsociety.com and the society’s Facebook site.