James Shapiro

James Shapiro lived in Saranac Lake in the 1950s with his wife Bibi Shapiro. They both worked managing the Saranac Lake Airport from 1956 to 1960.

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Adirondack Daily Enterprise, September 14, 1955

VOTE APPROVES AIRPORT BONDS

...Two other recent developments may make Saranac Lake even a greater air terminal. First, a new agreement has been made with Colonial Airlines whereby the financial return to Harrietstown for use of the field increases immediately and will further increase when the $130,000 improvements are made. Secondly, the Harrietstown Town Board is considering a proposal by James Shapiro, of Point Judith. R.I., a naval aviator and maintenance expert, to operate and manage the airport.

The $130,000 improvements mean more, better and larger revenue producing passenger traffic into Saranac Lake and the entire area, establishment of a permanent operator and manager at the airport would guarantee it as an important air terminal with, under the Shapiro plan, a charter a air amb- [sic] phases of flying, and the establishment of a shop for plane repair, rebuilding and conversion.  The $130,000 in improvements are an established fact. The Shapiro plan is being studied.

Asked for his opinion on the advisability of Saranac Lake having an airport manager or what is known as a "fixed base operation", Raymond said that no airport now served by Eastern was without an airport manager, and that most of them had fixed base operators. He added that air taxis or charter service brought considerable business to the scheduled airlines. James Shapiro, whose proposal to be established at the Saranac Lake Airport as a fixed base operator has been approved in principle by the Harrietstown Town Board, was present at the meeting as a guest of Mr. Wolff.