History
Tuscarawas County Aviation was established on 26 January 1929 to build Schoenbrunn Air Field. An airway sign directing pilots to the airport was painted on the roof of a local factory building in August of that year.
Construction of an 8,600-square-foot (800 m2) brick hangar began in early July 1936. Just before World War II, future astronaut John Glenn learned to fly at the airport.
By November 1948, the airport had grown to over 97 acres (39 ha). A new 4,000-foot (1,200 m) runway was dedicated on 23 July 1950. By June 1956 it was known as the Dover-New Philadelphia Airport. Lake Central Airlines began offering flights from the airport using DC-3s in late March 1953. The service continued until 1961. Before the year was out, the city had offered the New Philadelphia Municipal Airport to the county and authorized leasing part of it to a charter service called Flytwin. Midwest Airways began offering service to the airport in early October 1964.
By late January 1967, paving of taxiways was underway. In January 1968, the airport received a $50,000 grant from the state to repave the runway. The paving was completed in mid April, with the only work remaining being painting the runway markings. After city council rejected a suggestion a few days later to institute landing fees, Tuscarawas Aviation, the airport leaseholder, announced plans to sell stock. The majority of shares were purchased by Jack and Harold Miller, who took over operation of the airport less than a week later. Following a proposal by a former mayor the year before, the airport was renamed Harry Clever Field in honor of its founder on 7 June 1969. It received another $50,000 grant from the state in early August 1970 to build taxiways. That November, four pilot-controlled strobe and twelve threshold lights were installed at the airport.
A Michigan-based company, GAM Corporation, took over operation of the airport in 1973. Perkins was given a lease in early April 1974 to build a new airport restaurant.
In 2015, the airport received funds to update its master plan and replace its wind cone. The master plan update allowed the airport to reclassify its runway and develop a new airport layout.
In 2020, a mural dedicated to John Glenn was painted at the airport.
Facilities
Harry Clever Field covers 65 acres (26 ha) at an elevation of 894 feet (272 m). It has two runways: 15/33 is 3,951 by 100 feet (1,204 x 30 m) asphalt; 12/30 is 1,907 by 70 feet (581 x 21 m) turf.
The airport has a fixed-base operator that sells fuel and offers services such as general maintenance and rental cars as well as amenities such as conference rooms, vending machines, pilot supplies, conference rooms, and more.
In the year ending September 26, 2023, the airport had 21,350 aircraft operations, average 58 per day: 95% general aviation, 4% air taxi, and <1% military. 40 aircraft were then based at the airport: 38 single-engine and 2 multi-engine airplanes.
The airport is adjacent to the Evergreen Burial Park.
