WHO WAS LYMAN GILMORE - GRASS VALLEY - RARE 1931 FOOTAGE

Did you ever wonder why the middle school in Grass Valley is named Lyman Gilmore? He built a steam-powered airplane and claimed that he flew it on May 15, 1902

Gilmore was granted two patents on steam engines, the first of which was granted in 1902. He invented in other areas too, for example a rotary snowplow. On March 15, 1907, Gilmore opened the first commercial airfield, Gilmore Airfield, in Grass Valley. The location of the now middle school was named in his honor on the site of that airfield.

Local legend says Gilmore wore the same long coat for years and was never far from it. It continues to say that when he was involuntarily hospitalized for his last illness the coat and all of his long-worn clothing were burned. While he had never accumulated much money, it was said that all he had was sewn into the lining of that coat and was destroyed with it.

After the fire in his hangar, Gilmore began mining for gold and died a poor man in Nevada City, California. His grave can be found in Pine Grove Cemetery, about a half mile outside of town.

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