The John Wise and History of Ballooning Collection contains material about John Wise, a pioneering balloonist from Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, and the history of ballooning. Articles written by and about John Wise provide information about the man and his career. The bulk of Series 1 is correspondence, research notes, and drafts of "The John Wise Story," by John H. Andrews. Series 2 contains material about the ballooning hobby, other early aircraft, and the history of air mail.
Admin/Biographical History
As an adventurous and inquisitive young boy, John Wise was drawn to the skies above his native Lancaster County. He was fascinated by aerial pursuits and began to conduct experiments. He tied his cat to his homemade parachute and observed the cat's safe descent from a local church steeple.
A keen interest in ballooning developed and Wise became a famous aeronaut. Although balloon ascensions were common at county fairs and carnivals he had never observed an ascension before he made his first one in Philadelphia in 1835. John Wise completed 462 balloon ascensions including Lancaster ascensions from Penn Square and the prison yard.
In the nineteenth century many ascensions were made just for the novelty of the event, but John Wise's approach was from a scientific perspective. Each ascension gave him a chance to conduct scientific investigations of the atmosphere, pneumatics and hydrostatics.
It also gave him the opportunity to develop a more advanced flying machine. Wise was the first to observe the "great river of air which always blows from west to east" in the higher regions of the atmosphere. Today we call this phenomenon the jet stream. He also developed the ripcord safety mechanism.
John Wise promoted the advantages of balloon transportation. In 1843 he conceived a project for crossing the Atlantic Ocean and asked Congress to appropriate $15,000 for the project. Congress rejected the appropriation. Wise suggested a plan to bomb the Castle at Vera Cruz during the Mexican War and during the Civil War the Bureau of Topographical Engineers requested his services as a balloonist. He is credited with the first airmail transportation in 1859.
Detailed descriptions of his ascensions and experiments are found in his book, Through the Air, published in 1873. The last ascent of John Wise took place on September 29, 1879 from St. Louis, Missouri. This flight ended disastrously in Lake Michigan where his balloon fell and his remains lie.
Prepared by the Lancaster County Historical Society, ca. 1995.
Button from the 1977 Lancaster County Firemen's Association Convention. Tan and black keystone with a white #1 in center of keystone. "Keystone Hook and Ladder Co." around edge. A 1.625in black ribbon hangs 3.5in below the button. in gold letters on ribbon: "57th Annual Convention Lancaster County Firemen's Assn. June 4, 1977 Columbia, PA."
Gold colored metal badge (2in x .75in) with white insert card, typed: "Christ B. Koehler" "1971" written in ink. on a 1.625in wide yellow ribbon in blue letters: "Delegate 51st Convention 50th Anniversay Lancaster County Fireman's Association Manheim, Penna"
Delegate badge from the 1970 Lancaster County Firemen's Convetion. Gold colored metal badge (2.125in x .75in) with white insert card, typed: "C.B. Koehler" "1970" written in pen. On 1.5 in wide yellow ribbon in black letters: "Delegate 50th Anniversary Convention Lancaster County Firemen's Association June 6, 1970 Denver, Penna."
white button with "BOOSTER" in red letters. on 1.625in wide red ribbon in white letters: "53rd Annual Lancaster County Firemen's Association Convention June 2, 1973 Mount Joy, PA."
Delegate badge from the Lancaster COunty Firemen's Association 1974 Convention. White Button with "Willow Street Fire Co. 1974" printed around the edge in blue letter. Central circle in gold depicts frie regalia and equipment. On 1.625in wide yellow ribbon in blue letters: "54th Annual Lancaster County Firemen's Association Convention June 1, 1974 Willow Street, PA."
One of two. button of the Lancaster COunty Firemen's Association Convention. green button with balck letters : "L. C. F. A. 1975" around edge. In center is 8 sided "Lancaster County Firemen's Asso Inc." logo. On 1.625in wide green ribbon in black letters: "55th Annual Lancaster County Firemen's Association Convention June 7, 1975 Vo-Tech Willow Street, PA."
Two of two. button of the Lancaster COunty Firemen's Association Convention. green button with balck letters : "L. C. F. A. 1975" around edge. In center is 8 sided "Lancaster County Firemen's Asso Inc." logo. On 1.625in wide green ribbon in black letters: "55th Annual Lancaster County Firemen's Association Convention June 7, 1975 Vo-Tech Willow Street, PA."
One of two. Badge from the Lancaster County Firemen's Association Convention. White button with green letters: " Friendship Fire Co. No. 1 Florin Fire Co. Inc" around edge. Inner circle reads "Good Ship Mount Joy, Mount Joy, PA." Ship pictured in center between "June2" and "1973" On 1.725in wide green ribbon in white letters: "53rd Annual Lancsater County Firemen's Association Convention June 2, 1973 Mount Joy, PA."
Two of two. Badge from the Lancaster County Firemen's Association Convention. White button with green letters: " Friendship Fire Co. No. 1 Florin Fire Co. Inc" around edge. Inner circle reads "Good Ship Mount Joy, Mount Joy, PA." Ship pictured in center between "June2" and "1973" On 1.725in wide green ribbon in white letters: "53rd Annual Lancsater County Firemen's Association Convention June 2, 1973 Mount Joy, PA."
