Chapter 35 Cynthia #2
“What is this place?” she asked. It wasn’t her idea of a beauty spot for a picnic, or even any of the water sports she had come to associate with the lake. She had no idea whatsoever why he would bring her to such a place.
“It’s where I have in mind to undertake my big idea,” he said.
Cynthia looked about her once more. It was a large parcel, clear-cut for what must have encompassed more than a dozen acres. It appeared as though the only thing going for it would be that it was likely being sold for a bargain-basement price.
“And which idea is that?” she asked, hoping any reservation did not leak into her voice.
A giant smile spread across Calvin’s face as he held out his arms wide as if to embrace the property. “You know how there are so many wealthy visitors to the resort and the entire area around the lake?” he asked.
Cynthia nodded.
“Well, they don’t all like to come by train.”
Calvin had a point. According to her research, automobiles were overtaking trains in popularity by leaps and bounds.
The Maine Turnpike had been a tremendous undertaking, one of which the state was justifiably proud.
Only recently completed, it was being touted as a major source of convenience for increasing tourism to the state.
Both economic forecasters and elected officials held out hope that tourism was the way forward for a state where agriculture was losing market share year over year, and factory work was drying up too.
Larger facilities and cheaper labor in the South and Japan had given textile mills and even shoe factories a run for their money.
Professor Avery had mentioned in a lecture that both Sanford and Biddeford, Maine, were on a US Department of Labor list of top-priority distress areas.
“Are you planning to open an automobile dealership?” she asked.
She could imagine row upon row of shiny Buicks and Cadillacs stretched out across newly poured asphalt.
For such an enterprise the clear-cutting would have served as a benefit.
But where would a young man like Calvin find sufficient backing to open a car dealership?
She couldn’t imagine it would be an inexpensive undertaking.
He shook his head. “No. The very wealthy aren’t all that inclined to go on road trips either. What I have in mind is to open an airfield.” He gestured towards a flat spot near the road. “That’s where I plan to build a multibay hangar and small office.”
Cynthia peered around herself with surprise. She’d always imagined airfields requiring far vaster tracts of land than the space she saw before her. And was there really enough call for such a thing in rural Maine? Still, Calvin seemed quite sure of himself.
“Are you familiar with airplanes?” she asked.
“As a matter of fact, I am. I served as an aircraft mechanic in Korea. And I even have my pilot’s license.”
She was impressed. She’d never met anyone before who had a pilot’s license. But still, she had concerns. “Is there enough room here to land an airplane?” Cynthia asked.
“You need less than you think for the size of plane that people coming to the area tend to own or charter. I’m not talking about any sort of commercial aircraft, but rather the little private ones.
All I need for a runway is about five acres, and this parcel has fourteen.
See over there?” He pointed off in the direction of the lake.
“The lake, you mean?” Cynthia asked.
Calvin nodded. “I was even thinking about putting in a dock for any seaplanes that wanted to land and tie up. Not everyone has a big enough dock at their estate for such a thing, or if they do, the dock is already dedicated to watercraft. I thought I could offer chauffeuring service from here to wherever it was that they were going after they land.”
Cynthia tipped her head to one side and squinted.
As Calvin had been speaking, an image of his proposed business sprang up in her mind’s eye.
She could easily picture wealthy people, like Glenn’s parents or Pauline’s, bragging to their friends about flying to the lake for the weekend.
If they had the money, it would certainly make things more convenient.
And if they had the money, why shouldn’t they pay for something that saved them so much time?
“Would you need to own a plane yourself to do it?” she asked.
Another wide smile broke out across Calvin’s face.
“No, I wouldn’t. Not that I would be disinclined to purchase one as soon as I was able.
I do love to fly, and I can imagine there would be money to be made in providing chartered flights myself, but it would be easy enough to launch the business with just the airfield and a hangar. ”
“Do you plan to offer repairs as well?” she asked.
“Absolutely. There’s no place else in the area that specializes in aircraft. I think I found a niche in the market.”
The more she thought about it, the more his idea seemed to her to have merit.
The research she had done for the article for Professor Avery had convinced her of the connection between transportation and tourism.
With the dwindling opportunities in traditional industries over the past several decades, a steady, significant stream of young people left the state for a chance at a better future.
Maine’s remaining population skewed older than most other states, and the ongoing impact of that affected the entire economy in one way or another.
With fewer young people left, the birth rate dropped.
The housing sector showed little growth.
Schools were hard-pressed to make a case for robust portions of town budgets.
Calvin’s idea was innovative and inspiring.
With any luck, the turnpike would bring sufficient tourists to spark money-making ideas in other young Mainers, and the population would stabilize, or even grow.
“Calvin, I’m truly impressed. This is a bold plan, and not something everyone would think of, let alone dare to attempt. I’ll bet you could even use the GI Bill for a business loan with your sort of experience.”
A faint blush spread up the back of Calvin’s neck. She didn’t think it could be attributed to the sun despite the warmth of the day.
“Do you really think so? You don’t think I’m some kind of a crazy dreamer?” he asked, turning towards her and taking a step closer.
She looked him straight in the eyes. “No, I don’t think you’re crazy, even if you are a bit of a dreamer.
And what’s the world without dreams, anyway?
The Maine Chance wouldn’t have been built if Miss Arden wasn’t a dreamer.
Come to think of it, nothing would have ever been invented or built if someone didn’t have the vision and the courage to see it through. Besides, I happen to like dreamers.”
She surprised herself by looking him straight in the eyes as she spoke.
“You know, I haven’t told anybody else about my idea. Somehow I just knew that you would see it the way that I did.”
Calvin reached for her hand and pulled her towards him, bending over slightly to close the gap in their height. Then he leaned in close and kissed her.