Near here, some of Nebraska’s earliest experiments with flight in a heavier-than-air vehicle took place. Sometime before late 1907, the sons of Martin P. Savidge began constructing a flying machine, first studying hawks, then building model gliders, then full-size gliders, and finally a self-powered airplane. Their first public demonstration was successfully held on Sunday, May 7, 1911. After that success, the brothers spent five years barnstorming throughout the Great Plains. Matt Savidge was among the first to develop a method of skywriting. During those five years, the brothers built and flew three different biplanes. After a barnstorming tour through Texas, they returned home in the spring of 1916 to make repairs and adjustments on their plane. During a test flight on June 17, 1916, the plane crashed, killing Matt Savidge. After this tragedy, the family of the young fliers insisted that they give up their dangerous pastime, ending one of the earliest chapters of Nebraska aviation history.