Here are four unique facts that you may not have known about Moraine.
(1)The city name Moraine is very rare. There are no other towns named just “Moraine” in the United States and only one other named Moraine in this part of the world – Moraine, Haiti.
On this Caribbean Island, Moraine is located in the region Centre of Haiti, 31 miles northeast of Port-au-Prince, the capital of this Republic. One source refers to Moraine as a rural populated area of around 5,000 people with everyone sharing one water source. Thousands of Moraine residents came to a single shallow spring of dirty water trying not to disturb the mud in the spring and dirty the water. During the dry season all Moraine people had to painstakingly preserve what little water they had. Fortunately, a religious based organization raised money and a water well was drilled providing the community (SEE PHOTO #1 & #2) with fresh drinking water.
(2)Moraine is the home of the longest running same day EAA Fly-In in the United States. That’s right, the EAA (Experimental Aircraft Association) Chapter 48 at the Moraine Airpark on Clearview Road holds the Sunday Funday Fly-In on the first Sunday in May. The Fly-In began way back in 1959. Festivities consist of aviation booths, food & refreshments, and hundreds of vintage, experimental and regular airplanes on display. Hope to see you Sunday, May 4, 2025 for the 66th annual Fly-In!
(3)Moraine is home to one of the first seaplane bases in the world. Orville Wright began experimenting with adding pontoons to his regular airplane and testing them in 1912 and 1914 at the bend of the Miami River in Moraine and West Carrollton. He made over 100 flights. The seaplane base was on the riverbank on the Moraine side of the river near the east end of the Moraine Airpark’s runway. There is still debate whether the credit of the very first seaplane base in America goes to the Wright Brothers or to Glenn Curtiss of New York who began a seaplane base at about the same time.
(4) Lastly, Santa Claus almost lost his life back on December 24, 1904, at the small school at the Moraine Pinnacles. The children had assembled, and the Christmas program was almost finished when Santa (a local teacher) appeared. As he spoke to the children, he stood too close to a lighted candle and the cotton in his costume caught fire. In moments Santa was ablaze. Fortunately, billions of kids are still happy today and Moraine did not have the distinction as being the place where Santa Claus died. A teacher and others quickly tore off Santa’s costume. Santa completed his talk before the kids although slightly disheveled in appearance with his real hair singed. The school children quickly forgot about the fire and Santa as they received gifts and treats.
