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22 | | Spring 2016 9HUQRQZDVERUQ2FWLQ5RPH,WDO\ WR5HY/HUR\0RQURH9HUQRQDPLVVLRQDU\ for the Methodist Episcopal Church, and Emily Fanny Barker. The family relocated to Syracuse, New York, in 1888, where Victor struggled in school because of his inability to speak English. After completing only one year of high school, he secured full-time work as a bank runner before moving on to work as a mechanic's helper for a large chemical plant. In 1911, he married Charlotte Elizabeth and children arrived soon after, with Victor Jr. born in 1912 and Charlotte Elizabeth (Betty) LQ%XWLWZDVQ¶WXQWLOWKHIDPLO\ZDV vacationing in Marblehead, Massachusetts, that Vernon's second greatest passion would take wing. While the family was out sailing, a Glenn H. Curtiss Flying Boat passed over them and Vernon was so fascinated by the hydroplane that he arranged to purchase one of the crafts from Curtiss himself. Hoping to turn WKHLQYHVWPHQWLQWRD¿QDQFLDORSSRUWXQLW\ Vernon wrote that he thought little of the dangers and expense of the endeavor. In the spring of 1914, he took receivership RI KLV QHZ À\LQJ ERDW ZKLFK KLV ZLIH christened the "Betty V" after their daughter. But Vernon's new career got off to a rocky start. During the Betty V's maiden voyage, while being piloted by a more experienced 86 1DY\ À\HU LW ZDV EDGO\ GDPDJHG during a crash landing. Curtiss offered to repair the hull at no cost to Vernon, thus beginning a strong and fruitful friendship and working relationship. Vernon soon began making exhibition ÀLJKWVDFURVV1HZ(QJODQGDQGHOVHZKHUH At the start of World War I, Curtiss contacted Vernon to operate a Canadian À\LQJ VFKRRO 5HORFDWLQJ WR 7RURQWR LQ 1915, he instructed 80 students, saying his 9LFWRU9HUQRQSRVHVEHVLGHKLVÀ\LQJ boat "Betty V" in 1914. 22 | | Spring 2016 B U I LD IN G A LE G A C Y

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