110 Years Ago, 1916 transcribed as originally published in the Youngstown Vindicator:

“M’lle Zeno ready to race any one, so her manager states. Letter to this paper states how a match can be arranged. M’lle Zeno will travel abroad.”

“The many friends of Mlle. Alice Zeno in this city and Hubbard, will no doubt be more than pleased to learn that after years of experience as an aeronaut, she has at last reached the goal on which all her energies have been concentrated from the first aerial flight and parachute jump she undertook some ten years ago. She is now the champion balloonist of the world and anybody disputing her right to title of, male or female, is at liberty to challenge her. She is open to race any balloonist in the world at any time or place, dates barred, of course, for which she has engagements. All challenges must be bona fide and no attention will be paid, so M’lle. Zeno says, unless a challenge is accompanied with a cash deposit of not less than $100 or a certified check for that amount. The larger the amount over $100 the better, says Zeno. Zeno informs The Vindicator that she will cover any and all legitimate challenges by telegraph, at once upon notification.

“In this connection M’lle Zeno wishes the Youngstown public to know that she has absolutely no connection with Paul Hague, known as ‘Prof. Zeno,’ the aeronaut who was fatally injured last Sunday afternoon at Island Park, Springfield, O., by falling 200 feet….

“M’lle. Zeno is justly proud of the record she established for herself at Schenley Park, Pittsburg, on Fourth of July. She made four ascensions, which is the world’s record for any aeronaut in a single day. The first ascension was made at 11:30 am; the second shortly after 1:30 pm; the third at 5 o’clock, and the fourth at 8 o’clock in the evening. All were high, with clever parachute jumps.

“It was not Zeno’s intention, to make all the ascensions, but when the park people failed to get first class balloonists to fill out the day, M’lle Zeno pluckily undertook to accomplish the task for them and how well she succeeded can be vouched for by more than 75,000 people, who witnessed them. All of the ascensions were made under the personal supervision of H.K. Silversmith, who was last season responsible for the best balloon ascensions given in Western Pennsylvania and Eastern Ohio, including those at Idora Park here. On the first ascension, the balloon was filled in 14 minutes; on the second in 15 minutes; on the third in 10 minutes and on the fourth in 12 minutes. At each of the aerial trips, as on all that M’lle. Zeno makes, she wore suits of the latest design. Her first gown was that of the city’s colors, yellow and black. It is a rule M’lle. Zeno makes, to discard a suit after she makes an ascension. She likes pretty things and she assumes that the public likes them also.

“M’lle. Zeno is fairly well booked for the balance of this month, and two weeks in August. She has this season added night ascensions to her program and she carries fireworks. Balloon racing is also a feature of her entertainment. Next year she will not be seen in America after July Fourth. The lat-part of July next year she will sail for England where she will make several ascensions, then going to Paris, Berlin and Carlsbad, in each of which cities she will race and compete with the best foreign aeronauts.”

• Compiled by Dante Bernard, museum educator at the Mahoning Valley Historical Society