Correspondent photo / John Patrick Gatta Boardman resident Stephanie Pacifico, marketing manager at PBS Western Reserve, introduces the PBS documentary, “Icon in the Sky: 100 Years of the Goodyear Blimp” before it screens for members of the William Holmes McGuffey Historical Society Saturday at the Denny’s restaurant meeting room in Liberty.

LIBERTY– On Saturday, the William Holmes McGuffey Historical Society traveled more than a century in time without ever leaving the Denny’s restaurant meeting room when it screened the PBS documentary, “Icon in the Sky: 100 Years of the Goodyear Blimp.”

The telefilm discussed the blimp’s 1852 origin in France, its use as a tool to aid America’s military in World War I and II, transition to a commercial blimp and the ongoing fascination with the airship that captivates the interest of kids and adults.

“When I see the blimp in the sky, I’ll pull my car over immediately, park the car and take a picture of it,” said Boardman resident Stephanie Pacifico, marketing manager at PBS Western Reserve, who brought the documentary to the historical society.

“It’s such a representation of our area, and it brings the community together to talk about something we all know and we all love.”

The first commercial blimp, dubbed Pilgrim, debuted in 1925 by the Goodyear Tire and Rubber Co. and used the less flammable helium rather than hydrogen. Later, Goodyear attached lights to the airship in order to place advertisements.

While the tire company’s headquarters are based in Akron, the fleet of blimps has been housed and maintained in nearby Suffield in southern Portage County.

“It is such a staple of Akron and Northeast Ohio. Everywhere I go, every time I tell someone I am from Northeast Ohio, that’s one of the first things they ask me about — the Goodyear blimp — if I’ve ridden in it, if I’ve seen it from my house,” Pacifico said.

During the Golden Age of Airships, Goodyear had six moving around the country. That era ended after the 1937 Hindenburg disaster and the growth and convenience of airline travel.

Following their use in World War II, seven were purchased by Goodyear from the military and used to show an eye in the sky camera view during special events such as the Rose Bowl Parade, Super Bowl and as a news source following the 1989 San Francisco earthquake that occurred during a World Series game and after Hurricane Andrew slammed Homestead, Florida.

Now, the dirigible fleet numbers three with hangars in Akron, Los Angeles and Fort Lauderdale, and appearances in the sky for events or a select group of passengers.

The hourlong program reminded Denise Walters Dobson of Youngstown of her ride on the airship 23 years ago when she won a raffle of donated tickets from Goodyear at an event hosted by Youngstown Area Goodwill. She was joined by her husband and young daughter on the older GZ-20 model of the airship.

“My 3-year-old daughter rode with us, and she wasn’t even scared, but she probably didn’t quite understand what was going on,” she said. “The ambassadors from Goodwill were so accommodating, and they explained the operation. Then, you didn’t feel scared because you knew what was going on and how it operated.”

Walters Dobson added, “It just lifts. It’s almost like a hot air balloon, which I’ve been on, too, and it kind of floats. It’s noisy, and I was intrigued by the lack of technology in the old model because its rudder was a piece of wood.”

She recalled that the ride traveled just outside of Cleveland and then returned to its homebase. “You were looking at farms; you were looking at cities. It was so engaging, and so exciting. It was fabulous. It was a very good experience, and I would love to do it again.”

While Pacifico was pleased to host a program for McGuffey’s members for the fourth year, she remains much less enthusiastic about riding on the Goodyear blimp.

“I’m a little scared of heights. I am, personally, afraid of even airplanes. Getting on an airplane is one of my biggest struggles. Statistically, I know I’m safe, but it’s just that mental block I just can’t get over, but I love looking at (the blimp) from the ground.”

The McGuffey Historical Society continues its Memories of a Lifetime programming on April 18 at Denny’s, 4020 Belmont Ave., Liberty, with former director of intergovernmental affairs and department assistant to President George Bush, Janet Weir Creighton, showing photos of her days in and outside of the White House. For more information, 330-726-8277.

PBS’s next area event presents Family Book Day from noon to 3 p.m. April 11 at the Warren-Trumbull County Public Library. The free event will feature a variety of activities for all ages, including a Bug Lab Experience, a puppet show, activities with PBS Western Reserve and Central State Extension, a visit with some popular bug-themed characters and everyone ages 0-18 can receive one free new book to keep.