Stratford, CT – April 13, 1911
Lordship Park
On April 13, 1911, George C. Nealy, aka “Steeple Jack” Nealy, aka “The Human Fly”, was making a trial flight in a Bleriot aeroplane at Lordship Park in Stratford, when a sudden gust of wind suddenly sent the aircraft plunging forty feet to the ground. Nealy was tossed out by the impact and suffered only minor injuries. It was believed the airplane could be repaired.
It was reported in The Bridgeport Evening Farmer that “Nealy is one of Stanley Y. Beache’s “stable of aviators”. Beach has several machines at his hangar in Stratford, two Bleriots, a Curtiss biplane, and others. ”
“Steeple Jack” Nealy gained fame when he hung upside down from the spire atop the Singer Tower in Manhattan, N.Y., and took photographs of the view – something that had not been done before.
The 47-story Singer Tower was the tallest building in the world from 1908 to 1909. It was demolished in 1968.
Nealy had placed an advertisement in the March 1911 issue of Aircraft that read as follows:
“Steeple Jack” Nealy, better known as The Human Fly, would like to run an aeroplane for some reliable company. I am the man that hung by my toes from the Singer Building flag pole 674 feet high. Have made many parachute descents and have invented an automatic device for stability. Geo. C. Nealy, 1454 Rockaway Ave., Brooklyn, N.Y.”
Sources:
The Bridgeport Evening Farmer, “Steeple Jack Has Mishap In Aeroplane”, April 14, 1911, First Section, Page 4.
Aircraft, classified ads, “Steeple Jack Nealy”,March, 1911.
Wikipedia – Singer Tower
