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Exploring The Hanover Airport
Anxiously wanting to visit the remains of Hanover Airport, I figured my best shot would be to venture out early in the morning. Not only thinking that it would yield nicer photographs, but also hoping to avoid as much traffic/people and inevitably attention of proper authority. So finally the right morning came, and around 8am I turned my suppositions into action.
(A circa 2001-2005 USGS aerial photo of the airfield, which remained largely intact.)
(A 1979 USGS Arial Photograph of the airfield. )
Now the once vibrant airport has been reduced to a few crumbling buildings, an old hanger, and plenty of brutalized tarmac. Even the former parking lot and plane holding areas have been essentially placed off limits by large dirt barriers damming the former entrance and exit to the place.
Not knowing what to expect I cruised by the place doing a quick survey, and immediately realized that one, there is a TON of traffic on this road. No matter how early or late. And two, that the only out of sight way in was through the woods. So I park my car at one of the local businesses and start walking down the road. I walk a good click hoping to avoid the giant open plane holding zone, and aim toward the runway. I find a solid break in traffic and off I go. Plunging headlong into thick bushes and briars. And I must say if you head into the woods too early you will be dealing with a Ton of prickly thorns, on my way out I found a much nicer path further up the road that leads directly to the runway. But my curiosity was bubbling far beyond containment, I forged my way ducking and diving, stepping up and over to one of the first abandoned buildings past the hanger. It is in a simply terrible state. Roof beams crumbling, walls collapsed and full of vegetation and foam(I think). Walking around here is a much needed relief from my thorn-scapade. That is until I met my furry little friend.
Marmota Monax. I first spotted him when I was approaching the abandon building and thought nothing of it. Ground hogs are pretty common to the area. I saw him mucking about once or twice when I was in the ruin as well. Yet when I go climb over the junk blocking the door, the one exit that leads to open area and runway, he’s but a few yards a way in a pile of crumbled stone and what looked like a giant water drainage pipe. Big deal, until I poke my head out the door and Mr. Groundhog’s curiosity is now riled up by this stranger near his home. I don’t know if there were little groundhog children involved, but what I do know is he’s headed this way! So out the side door at a brisk pace I avoid the charge of my animal friend. As if it wasn’t a pain enough getting onto the property and not be seen, now I have to pander to the moods and wants of the woodland creatures. Great.
Anyway the runway now lay ahead of me. There are a couple more worn down buildings and one foundation to my right, but I have no interest in those. I’m here for the meat and potatoes. The giant stretch of unused runway that has been sitting, lonely since 1985. The original airfield was formed by a farm owner sometime between 1944-49. Originally established as the East Hanover Airport it was a 2,500 foot turf and dirt runway. It became a paved stretch of 2,000 feet somewhere between 1958-1961. With one main runway and a parallel taxiway, this is a fantastic little field. Now there seems to be slim pickens left of it. I certainly wasn’t expecting to see it in such rough shape. Pictures from as recent as 5 years ago do not do it justice due to the rate in which vegetation and growth has overtaken things. Back a few years ago it seems like the holding area was used as a parking lot for local businesses. No more. Its all left for the birds. Wildlife seems to be the only thing utilizing the area anymore. From the Red tailed hawk overhead, to the dead vole at the start of the runway. We see how nature continues with out us and our permission. Seemingly shocked, like the groundhog, that any human is still interested in the area. All the area outside of this air strip, especially toward the Ridgedale Ave and Rt.280 is full of animal runs. Rabbit runs especially, as noted when one jumped out and went dashing, startled by my loud steps slipping and crunching on the golf ball sized chucks of pavement. I really wish I could have seen this place in its heyday. It must have been a fantastic sight. Taking off with the sun to your back and vast stretches of wetland underneath you. Even to be here in the 80’s after its closure, it must have been a haven for young teenagers. Now its simply left to become, the sun’s anvil.
-Peter
Abandon Hanger
Abandon Hanger
Abandon Hanger
The Ruins
Other Abandon Buildings
Runway Circle
Taxiway
Runway heading towards Ridgedale Ave.
Large 'Hanover' Marking
Treasure Underfoot
Taxiway Heading towards Ridgedale Ave.
Gates blocking last bit of runway.
Toxins Sign
Parking lot/ Plane Holding Area
Additional Source: http://www.airfields-freeman.com/NJ/Airfields_NJ_NE.htm#hanover
Follow up:
The now vacant Hanover airport is located off of Ridgedale Ave. actually a few mere miles from the thriving Morristown Municipal Airport. Having driven by the area a thousand times in the past, I was never the wiser that a large airport that had the occasional DC-3 stop in, was hiding in plain sight.(A circa 2001-2005 USGS aerial photo of the airfield, which remained largely intact.)
(A 1979 USGS Arial Photograph of the airfield. )
Now the once vibrant airport has been reduced to a few crumbling buildings, an old hanger, and plenty of brutalized tarmac. Even the former parking lot and plane holding areas have been essentially placed off limits by large dirt barriers damming the former entrance and exit to the place.
Not knowing what to expect I cruised by the place doing a quick survey, and immediately realized that one, there is a TON of traffic on this road. No matter how early or late. And two, that the only out of sight way in was through the woods. So I park my car at one of the local businesses and start walking down the road. I walk a good click hoping to avoid the giant open plane holding zone, and aim toward the runway. I find a solid break in traffic and off I go. Plunging headlong into thick bushes and briars. And I must say if you head into the woods too early you will be dealing with a Ton of prickly thorns, on my way out I found a much nicer path further up the road that leads directly to the runway. But my curiosity was bubbling far beyond containment, I forged my way ducking and diving, stepping up and over to one of the first abandoned buildings past the hanger. It is in a simply terrible state. Roof beams crumbling, walls collapsed and full of vegetation and foam(I think). Walking around here is a much needed relief from my thorn-scapade. That is until I met my furry little friend.
Marmota Monax. I first spotted him when I was approaching the abandon building and thought nothing of it. Ground hogs are pretty common to the area. I saw him mucking about once or twice when I was in the ruin as well. Yet when I go climb over the junk blocking the door, the one exit that leads to open area and runway, he’s but a few yards a way in a pile of crumbled stone and what looked like a giant water drainage pipe. Big deal, until I poke my head out the door and Mr. Groundhog’s curiosity is now riled up by this stranger near his home. I don’t know if there were little groundhog children involved, but what I do know is he’s headed this way! So out the side door at a brisk pace I avoid the charge of my animal friend. As if it wasn’t a pain enough getting onto the property and not be seen, now I have to pander to the moods and wants of the woodland creatures. Great.
Anyway the runway now lay ahead of me. There are a couple more worn down buildings and one foundation to my right, but I have no interest in those. I’m here for the meat and potatoes. The giant stretch of unused runway that has been sitting, lonely since 1985. The original airfield was formed by a farm owner sometime between 1944-49. Originally established as the East Hanover Airport it was a 2,500 foot turf and dirt runway. It became a paved stretch of 2,000 feet somewhere between 1958-1961. With one main runway and a parallel taxiway, this is a fantastic little field. Now there seems to be slim pickens left of it. I certainly wasn’t expecting to see it in such rough shape. Pictures from as recent as 5 years ago do not do it justice due to the rate in which vegetation and growth has overtaken things. Back a few years ago it seems like the holding area was used as a parking lot for local businesses. No more. Its all left for the birds. Wildlife seems to be the only thing utilizing the area anymore. From the Red tailed hawk overhead, to the dead vole at the start of the runway. We see how nature continues with out us and our permission. Seemingly shocked, like the groundhog, that any human is still interested in the area. All the area outside of this air strip, especially toward the Ridgedale Ave and Rt.280 is full of animal runs. Rabbit runs especially, as noted when one jumped out and went dashing, startled by my loud steps slipping and crunching on the golf ball sized chucks of pavement. I really wish I could have seen this place in its heyday. It must have been a fantastic sight. Taking off with the sun to your back and vast stretches of wetland underneath you. Even to be here in the 80’s after its closure, it must have been a haven for young teenagers. Now its simply left to become, the sun’s anvil.
-Peter
Abandon Hanger
Abandon Hanger
Abandon Hanger
The Ruins
Other Abandon Buildings
Runway Circle
Taxiway
Runway heading towards Ridgedale Ave.
Large 'Hanover' Marking
Treasure Underfoot
Taxiway Heading towards Ridgedale Ave.
Gates blocking last bit of runway.
Toxins Sign
Parking lot/ Plane Holding Area
Additional Source: http://www.airfields-freeman.com/NJ/Airfields_NJ_NE.htm#hanover
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