"The Flying Allens" Family History

   This is my daughter's Allen family.

   What I know about this family begins with Ira Allen. Ira was a private with Company K of the 21st Regiment, New York Cavalry during the Civil War. Ira must have been quite impressed by the famous "Professor" Thaddeus Lowe who held the distinction of operating the first military "spy" observation smoke filled, hot air balloon. It was the " Intrepid" used for the Union Army. Lowe was then given the title of "Chief of Aeronautics, U. S. Army" by Abraham Lincoln and more balloons followed.

   After the war, Ira returned home to .....with stories of the intelligence ballooning missions. His younger brothers, Comfort and Martin were obviously intrigued.

   Ten years later Ira and his brother, Martin , performed at the Nation's Centennial, July 4, 1876. They took the act to the Dansville NY Main Street where their tight rope spanned the thoroughfare from tops of buildings three stories high. Ira rode a bicycle on the tight rope. Martin performed from a trapeze suspended beneath.

"By 1878 they had constructed and piloted their own hot air balloon."

   "August 8, 1894, three hot air balloons took off simultaneously from Dansville's Main Street at dusk.. Martin guided one and Ira rode another from Main and Ossian Streets; the third balloon carrying Warren, 18 year old son of Comfort, lifted off from Main and Perine Streets." Comfort had decided to be the one who would concentrate on the contruction, and repairing of the smoke filled balloons and parachutes.

Our ancestral line is from Comfort Allen who was a twin to Martin. Comfort and his wife Mary had amongst their children a set of red-haired twin boys who also performed. They were younger than their brother Warren. They were born in 1896 and were named Edgar William Allen and Edward Bostwick Allen. Once or twice their act included their pet dog in a parachute. [see articles].

Their nicknames could be confusing. Edgar William Allen was nicknamed "Red" and his twin, Edward Bostwick Allen was called "Bill" at first and later on he acquired the nickname, "Captain Eddie Allen".

The twins began their daredevil stunts at ages 15 and 16. They would perform a double parachute suspension, each with a trapeze bar beneath the balloon basket. The boys would hang from their knees and do stunts on the bar. When the hot air balloon attained a certain height, they would cut themselves loose from the trapeze bar and parachute to the ground. The twin boys performed hundreds of times, including the NY World's Fair.

Our line continued with Edward B, "Red" aka Captain Eddie Allen. He is my daughter's greatgrandfather. He and wife Lousie Brundage were delightful folks. I had the pleasure of visiting them several times. They lived in a wonderful community in the town of Batavia, New York. They were appreciated by their town and many honors were bestowed upon them.

Captain Eddie, wife Louise and their children comprised the daredevil act that thrilled so many, across the miles and over the years.

Their lives are commemorated with an annual balloon rally and

articles regarding their traveling act as the "Flying Allens" are displayed in local libraries as well as The Smithsonian Institute.

My daughter's grandmother performed by being "shot" out of a cannon which was suspended beneath the balloon high in the air.

Here I must quote Captain Eddie, as he would make his signature shout just before "lift off". "What a way to make a living!" or sometimes..."It's a helluva way to make a living!"

From Balloon Life magazine :"This Genesee County community, Batavia, became training center when the third generation of Allens reached flying age. Furthermore it served as the proving ground for equipment refinements and dramatic innovations in technique." "Glamorous fledglings these, the third generation of flying Allens. Their colorful exhibitions hold an outstanding spot in the history of ballooning."

Sadly, the family was not without tragedy. Please view the articles section of this site for more.

Captain Eddie's grandson, David Allen, son of Eddie Allen, Jr. followed the grand family tradition. Dave founded "Magical Mystery Flights", a hot air ballooning center located in Media, PA. He became one of the most accomplished ballooning experts in the world. In 2007 we lost David Allen at age 54, to heart disease.

Captain Eddie died in May 1989 at the age of 88.

I've included links to photos, magazine and newpaper articles about the family. Sometimes a picture is worth a thousand words!