Gridley Airport, Buildings Sold To Beverage Firm

SAT JUN 10 1950

Gridley Airport, Buildings Sold To Beverage Firm

Jack Smith Company Of Jackson To Use Area As Distribution Base

Purchase of Gridley Airport at US-23 and Morgan Rd. by Jack Smith Beverages, Inc., of Jackson, was announced today by Smith’s sales manager, Jack Petty of Ann Arbor.

Almost 113 acres of land and three groups of buildings were included in the transaction. The purchase was completed late Thursday at an undisclosed price.

The property will be used as a new beer distribution point for Washtenaw and part of Livingston counties, eliminating the present Ypsilanti branch at "about the end of July’’ when renovation of existing facilities and construction of an addition are expected to be completed, Petty said.

Work To Start Immediately

Work is to be started immediately on remodeling the present 80-by-80-foot main hangar and office, and on the construction of a new 30-by-80-foot addition. Eventually the company plans to have a storage and office area 160 by 80 feet in size.

Petty declined to disclose the cost of the project, which, he said is expected to extend over “two to three years.”

A building permit was issued to the organization this week by James E. Bird, Pittsfield township building inspector, in the amount of $20,000.

The property was purchased from Mr. and Mrs. Donald J. Gridley of Ypsilanti, owners and operators of the airport for about five years. The airport has been in existence since 1926.

The Gridleys announced they will enter the wholesale greeting card business in Ypsilanti.