We’re forever curious, especially if history is in the conversation. Lately, for us anyway, it feels like the world is opening its virtual kimono: there is so much new information and content appearing all across social media. Our choice is consuming “the real thing” rather than memes and sites like TikTok. And, as the Google algorithms work their magic, every day we peel off another layer of interesting – and even thrilling – history.
Your editor has been scanning and saving family pictures from the 1950s, and as I go, it’s like stepping out of a fog. But what a reveal when we find what we find sometimes! As I was sitting down enjoying some of the family snaps (my father was an energetic photographer) and a picture of a place that I had heard of (Gander) automagically came to the fore to give birth to this post. The ladies standing above on the tarmac in Gander are my mother and my aunts, probably in the 1950’s, waiting to fly to the UK, where they lived. Flying over the ocean was grueling in those days, so stepping out of the plane to stretch was a minor miracle. Even when I was young, the name Gander stuck in my mind: it was so unusual, not the Canada that I knew as a child..
From an historical perspective, primarily due to its pivotal role in aviation history, especially during World War II and the early days of transatlantic flight, and its subsequent unique position during the Cold War. It’s often referred to as the “Crossroads of the World” for a very good reason. In the 1930s, as long-range flight became possible, Newfoundland’s strategic location as the closest point in North America to Europe along the “Great Circle Route” made it ideal for a refueling stop.
An international consortium chose the site near Gander Lake in 1935, and construction began on what was then called “Newfoundland Airport.” It opened in 1938 with four runways, becoming one of the largest airports in the world. This was a massive undertaking in what was essentially wilderness, and it was a godsend. We take for granted flying from pole to pole, all the while watching today’s latest films. That was what it was like.
The airport is still running, although traffic has dropped since the halcyon days of yore. Gander itself has been impacted greatly in these modern times. When you next fly from east to west, why not choose a plane that stops in Gander. The history is tangible. Residents will warmly greet you. Note that Canadians don’t say “eh” anymore: it’s “right” PS: take a gander = have a look.
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