Central New York’s First Aerial Heroine: Balloonist Nellie Thurston Squire

Musings of A Simple Country Man

By Hobie Morris

(Brookfield, NY – May 2013) The first “manned” hot air balloon ascension reportedly took place in France on Sept. 19, 1783. The large balloon was made of linen and lined with paper; the creation of two professional papermaking brothers Joseph and Jacque Montgolfier.

The first three balloon passengers were not “men” but were in fact a rooster, duck and sheep; arguably the most famous (and only?) barnyard trio in aviation lore. The rooster had plenty to “crow” about after their 1,500 feet high, one mile and eight minute historic flight. An exciting brand new chapter in aviation history had begun; a story that is still being written.

Today, according to Munnsville commercial balloon pilot and resident of Airbome Adventures Ballooning, Inc., Dwight Cramer, there are more than 3,500 balloons and 4,000 licensed pilots in the US (and another 1,000 or so balloons in other countries).

Central New York has had a long standing love affair with gas and hot air ballooning. The story that follows is a fascinating episode in this extraordinary spectacle.

Other than being a hot air balloon passenger – standing in the traditional wicker basket suspended beneath a huge balloon – I can think of nothing more thrilling or beautiful than watching a colorful balloon gracefully, silently, effortlessly floating across the blue sky. Many hundreds of feet above the gloriously scenic rolling landscape of Central New York.

And what can possibly be more charming than the delightful old French custom of a champagne toast after a successful balloon ascension? (And of course a bottle to the land owner where your balloon has come to rest).

Central New Yorkers are probably unaware that our love affair with ballooning predates the great Civil War of the early 1860s. In fact, for a long time the charming little Oneida County village of Prospect was widely known as the “balloon center of New York,” according to the well respected North Country Historian Howard Thomas.

“Why prospect?

First, it was the home of two famous balloonists. Secondly, “Prospect limestone” was very famous for its many building uses. But for this story limestone was a vital ingredient in purifying hydrogen for use in inflating balloons. It was a lengthy and expensive process in which there was combined a ton of oil of vitiriol, a ton of iron shavings, 30 tons of water and sufficient lime to purify the gas. This gas producing process proved almost as interesting to the spectators as the ascension itself. When inflated it often required 12 to 20 men to hold the balloon down.

(There is a difference between hot air and gas balloons. ‘The latter is completely enclosed and filled with helium or hydrogen. They can stay afloat for several hours or days. The hot air gets its lift from feeding the hot air within the balloon. Most hot air balloon can only carry enough fuel for one or two hours of flight).

In late Spring while looking through some rolls of microfilm of the Utica Daily Press, I came across a brief Jan. 5, 1932 article that instantly caught my attention. The article told of a death in Prospect of an 85 year old woman who in the 1880s had become Prospect’s first telegraph operator. But it was another part of the heading that really interested me: “Former Well Known Balloonist Performed at Fairs, Carnivals.” The lady’s name: Mrs. Nellie Thurston Squire. Hadn’t I come across her name before? I would search my files back home.

Several months later on a blistering hot August afternoon my wife and I stood before a large burial marker located in a remote, bone-dry, hilltop cemetery near the Oneida County village of Gravesville, southeast of Prospect. We had found the decension place of two local people who had been great celebrities in their day.

Young and pretty (and very brave) was the popular description of a young lady named Nellie.

It wasn’t her real name. That was Ellen Moss; born near Troy, NY a little over a decade before the Civil War. Her businessman father and wife had moved from Canada to Vermont before arriving in New York state. Ellen’s father was reputed to be a second cousin to one of America’s great pioneering balloonists John LaMountain, who was also living in the Troy area at the time.

Apparently it was this distant family connection that at a very tender age interested Ellen (Nellie) in ballooning. Her mentor was LaMountain who was 18 years her senior. Together they would make several documented ascensions before the Civil War

A young Ellen would also wed LaMountain in 1864 but the marriage lasted only two years.

LaMountain then moved on to Indiana where he died at age 40 in 1870. It was LaMountain who suggested that “Miss Moss,” as she was known to the public in early balloon promotional flyers, assume the new name of “Nellie Thurston.’

Another aspiring young balloonist who came under LaMountain’s tutelage was a Prospect lad named Herman D. Squire. According to Nancy Squire, a great niece of Herman, it the age of 13 Herman made his first balloon ascension with LaMountain. Young Squire was lavishly described in newspapers of that time “as a pupil and later as an associate of John LaMountain.”

Eventually Herman’s own career rapidly lifted off’ like his first balloon. He called it the “Atlantic.” It was 37 feet in diameter and it took 12,000 cubic feet of gas to inflate it. This particular balloon made a great many ascensions before it “went smash” in 1879. Squire would own several other balloons including a new “Atlantic.”

At the peak of his popularity, Herman was known as “the most daring and successful aeronaut living.” According to several sources in 1859, Herman Squire set a World’s record by winning a balloon race from St. Louis, Mo. to St. Lawrence County, NY; over 1,000 miles in 19 hours.

It was undoubtedly the LaMountain connection that brought Nellie and Herman together eventually as husband and wife. Nellie was quoted as saying she “had been acquainted with Professor Squire from childhood and had marked his undisputed skill in constructing a balloon as well as managing one.” (Between them the Squires ascended 249 times, 140 of them by Nellie, who was almost l0 years younger than her husband).

Eventually Herman would make fewer ascensions. (Had he become too rotund, as one person suggested)? What he did do and quite brilliantly was successfully promoting his wife and their business. Herman used his own Prospect printing press for effective advertising posters, flyers and regular newspaper coverage of their activities, which helped to generate constant demand. Herman also traveled widely “speaking before groups of influential citizens from whom he demanded and got $500 a performance,” as one local newspaper reported.

For nearly 20 years Nellie Thurston was the reigning darling and undisputed “daredevil” of a small group of courageous women balloonists. Especially in the early years of her career she was widely recognized as “the only female aeronaut in America” and “the first American woman to make solo ascensions in a balloon,” according to contemporary newspapers and later books. This young lady thrilled countless thousands of excited people in ascensions made throughout this state, Massachusetts, Illinois and even in Canada. Nellie was in great demand at fairs, various celebrations, Fourth of July festivities, etc. At a time where the vast majority of women were homebound Nellie was successfully breaking down gender barriers. “Flying” through the air at breathtaking speeds 30 years before the Wright brothers barely got their heavier than air contraption off the ground in 1903.

After the Civil War balloon ascensions were an extremely popular public attraction. Nellie’s presence at such an occasion virtually guaranteed a huge crowd of spectators. In time other female aeronauts came along including in this area “Miss Mindy Williams” (Arminda Robenia Williams) of Sherburne. In the 1870s she appeared several times at the popular “Brookfield/Madison County Fair.”

Unquestionably Nellie’s biggest rival in later years was the popular “Carlotta” (Miss Charlotte Suits of Camden) whose married name was Mrs. Carl Myers.

Unquestionably Nellie’s biggest rival in later years was the popular “Carlotta” (Miss Charlotte Suits of Camden) whose married name was Mrs. Carl Myers.

“Carlotta,” who made her first ascension at Little Falls on July 4, 1880, also appeared numerous times at the “Sangerfield and Marshall Agriculture Fair” held annually in Waterville. The local newspaper gave her appearance extensive coverage when she came to town.

But Nellie Thurston was Central New York’s leading lady in the early years of area ballooning.

“There it is…. Can’t you see it?”

High in the clear and calm October sky a small, moving dot suddenly appeared over the bustling village of Brookfield. It was moving rapidly from the northwest towards the southeast, several thousand feet high.

From her swaying wicker basket Nellie looked down and plainly saw the village below and the pointing people looking up at her. The basket moved gently back and forth in the cold fall air.

It was 1878; unusually pleasant and mild for early October. The much anticipated local Fair is about to begin. The Brookfield community is a beehive of excitement, anticipation and preparation.

It was between 5 and 6 o’clock on a Friday evening when the high flying object was spotted in the sky. A little earlier it had been seen over Waterville traveling at a rapid rate of speed.

It was a large gas balloon. But who was in it?

Nellie had made her ascension at Oneida at approximately 4:40. She would eventually land safely, according to the Utica Herald, at Burlington Flats, Otsego County: “65 miles within 60 minutes!” (The actual distance is probably closer to 45 miles).

Nellie was quoted in the Utica paper as saying “this was the most delightful and exciting ride she has ever enjoyed out of the 100 ascensions she has made since she was 3 years old.”

Her husband Herman, however, told the Herald that he felt “more anxiety over Mss Thurston’s safety than she did, but hereafter he will probably be convinced that some fond angel watches over the brave little lady who enjoys the distinction of being the only female aeronaut in the country.” (During the years covered by this story there were any number of balloonists killed or seriously injured. Some narrowly escaped death; others were temporarily lost or had to be rescued from water bodies, trees, etc. Ascensions were risky as numerous incidents confirm).

Nellie’s fame spread rapidly after her first solo flight, which she made on July 4, 1871 from Eastman Park in Poughkeepsie. She was then l9 years old and had made 22 previous ascensions but never alone! From then on Herman and Nellie were in constant demand at the huge number of fairs, etc. that were major events of those years. The decade of the 1870’s may well have been the Squire’s most successful period of ballooning. (Three years after her solo flight Nellie and Herman made an appearance at the 23rd annual “Sangerfield and Marshall Fair.” She spoke to a Waterville Times reporter who wrote this account of her first solo.

Professor Squire went first in his balloon “Atlantic” and Nellie followed in “Golden Gate.” About three-quarters of a mile above the earth their balloons nearly collided, which could have proved disastrous. Nellie’s beautiful new balloon missed the other by only a few feet and then shot swiftly up among the clouds. At three miles the plucky lady threw out a large quantity of ballast and soon found herself at a height of four-and-a-quarter miles.

Miles; pressure was so great she had to descend, When she reached ground she suffered much from pain in the head. .. sense of hearing was greatly impaired.” [She also experienced intense cold].

Nellie was described that day of July 4, l871 as “a lady who is small in stature, possessing in appearance and who was attired in a light suit and wore blue kids, dressed as though for an afternoon promenade.”

It seemed in the-1870’s the Squires were appearing everywhere! Herman constantly promoting, occasionally ascending, Nellie being billed as the “only female aeronaut in America.” Their fee for the “Sherburne Driving Park,” in early fall, 1871 was $300 for Herman and $350 for Nellie, As Nellie’s popularity grew her fee increased to $500. (It should be noted that a considerable part of this sum was the expense of inflating the gas balloon).

A typical ascension went like this. After the balloon was in inflated and inspected, Nellie entered the wicker basket, waving to the crowd with a handkerchief or the American flag and usually accompanied by a band playing the appropriate “Up In A Balloon.” When ready she told the men holding down the balloon to “let her go.” The balloon would quickly ascend to about 500 feet where the prevailing wind would begin propelling the balloon. (Ballast was used to affect height and a valve could be opened to bring the balloon down). Landing could be many miles from the initial liftoff.

In the fall of 1878 Nellie made an ascension from the “Waterville Fair.” As the Times noted in its coverage “we know of nothing which tends to draw a larger crowd than an ascension by the beautiful and daring Miss Nellie Thurston….Although stepping into the basket herself as gracefully and unconcernedly as she would into a phaeton (and some gentlemen) admirers almost held their breath from fear from her safety…she waved her adios as contentedly as though she knew not what fear was.”

After leaving the Waterville area Nellie passed over the then in progress Herkimer Fair and came down in the village of Herkimer. A contemporary account noted that “two fairs enjoyed the-same show.”

On another occasion, an Edmeston Fair ascension saw Nellie land near Leonardsville where she was taken by wagon to West Winfield. Soon she (and her deflated balloon; climbed aboard a Richfield Springs branch train heading for Utica. Again in waterville (1874) Nellie landed in Burlington Flats, a quarter mile from the exact spot where she landed a year earlier after a flight from Oneida.

The next day in 1874 she made another ascension from Oneida. This time she floated in an easterly direction and landed in a Utica suburb. About 500 people flock around the balloon “disarranged and tore the netting,” much to Nellie’s disgust. Finally, the balloon was put in a wagon and taken to the city by a “drayrman,” who considered his service worth $2. Later Nellie would tell the Utica Herald that a “descent in the North woods is more agreeable than landing near a city.” Maybe not, as her many admirers would discover five years later.

It was September, 1879.

The telegraph flashed the bad news announcing the “loss” of Nellie Thurston after a balloon ascension from Carthage on Sept. 5. Later she would write of her thrilling adventures. An account that was widely published under the title of “Nellie’s Story Her Night in the Woods.”

She described what happened when deep in the heart of the trackless North Woods her balloon “Lorne” almost came down to earth.

“I allowed the balloon to descend into the trees; which I am told was about twenty miles southeast from Lowville, thirty-five miles from Carthage. The basket caught on a limb about seventy feet high; I let out a portion of the gas leaving still enough in the balloon to keep it above the trees so as to prevent it from tearing, in hopes of sending someone to rescue it when I found my way to civilization. I then threw open the anchor and went down the rope 70 feet; I next endeavored to fasten the anchor, but as the balloon pulled so hard, I was unable to make it secure; I used all my strength cutting both of my hands badly. A guest of wind struck the balloon and with the seeming power of a locomotive hurled me to the ground, the anchor catching in my clothing, tearing through with lightning force; I barely escaped its entering my side and neck. Getting up from the ground, I saw the balloon high in the air. It was then my heart sank within me; my balloon gone, my clothing torn to shreds, my hands badly lacerated and covered with blood, my body bruised and I in a wet, cold uninhabited wilderness; I knew not where.”

This indomitable little lady did survive through luck and pluck. It was an adventure that added another thrilling chapter to her illustrious career.

A short time before, another Waterville ascension in September 1880 (in which she landed in the Sauquoit Valley and took the first train back to Waterville where she received “…the hearty congratulations of a large number assembled to meet her) Nellie and Herman had been in Ilinois.

It was the “Great Northwestern Four” at Sterling, Ill. They made several ascensions including one witnessed by 25,000 people, among them former President (and civil war General) Ulysses S. Grant, his wife and many other dignitaries. In a Fair publication the Squires got top billing (first three pages) while Grant got only a half column on page 5l. Apparently the Squires’ appearance was an important factor in the Fair’s success.

By the early 1880’s Nellie’s long ballooning career was gradually coming to a close.

Other female aeronauts would follow Nellie Thurston’s successful pioneering career. Up to the first World War ballooning was still popular on special occasions. But its popularity seemed to be on the wane as other attractions, such as airplanes, etc. soon grabbed the public’s fascination.

By this time Nellie and Herman were no longer active participants in the balloon ascension business. No doubt many times during the years ahead they enjoyed recounting the countless exciting experiences when they were the ballooning world’s shining stars.

But time waits for no man, or woman, not even Central New York’s most famous balloonist, aerial heroine and undisputed most “frequent flyer.”

In the quiet Gravesville Cemetery we saw where Herman and Nellie began their greatest ascension of all!

Hobie Morris is a Brookfield resident and simple country man.