ALBANY — The Albany Historical Society will present Airmail Beacons in Southern Wisconsin Fields at 7 p.m. on March 19 after a general meeting at the museum, 119 N. Water Street, in Albany.

Modern day navigation and the understanding of getting from Point A to Point B was influenced heavily by the U.S. Postal Service’s beacon towers — one beacon was located in western Decatur Township.

Airmail was a critical component to the development of American aviation in the 1920s and ’30s, but how and why did this affect rural towns and real people? This presentation will explore the role light beacons played in the advancement of airmail, airways, and navigation, shedding astonishing new light on aviation and U.S. history. 

Presenter Michael John Jaeger is a volunteer docent and researcher at the Kelch Aviation Museum.  

The program will be after a short general meeting. All are welcome.

Questions can be addressed by texting or calling 608-214-8289.