Whiteside Co IL Town & City Histories

STERLING AIRPORT
The first airport in Sterling was established in 1923 or 1924 and located west of Sterling on the property known as "Speedbowl Park." The airport was appropriately called "The Speedbowl Park Airport." The first plane landed on what would be called the infield of the old speedway.
When the Twin City Golf Club began using the field, the airport was transferred north on Lincoln Highway. The first hanger was build here on April 1, 1924 for H.B. Nallette, Sterling's first local pilot. Two years later a double hanger was built by Laverne Miller.
Planes kept in the l ocal airport around 1929 were owned by Earl Klendworth, Frank Barnard, Josh Adams, Floyd Adams and Earl Watson.
The Sterling Municipal airport was established in 1927 and located on Highway Rt. 40, now Rt. 88 and the the intersection of St. Mary's Road; in the northwest corner of this particular field, so at this time (1976) Sterling has two airfields. A special feature of the Sterling Municipal airport in 1929 was the "government beacon" and one of the few radio beacon stations in the country at that time.
The Sterling Gazette July 1, 1976. (As of 2005 the Airport in Sterling no longer exists - and route 88 has now become route 40 again)..