The History: Arriving by train from Dayton, Wilbur had taken a steamboat named the Pennsylvania to Norfolk, Virginia. He had decided to purchase spruce wood for their machine in Norfolk instead of obtaining it from Chicago or Cincinnati before he left. Unfortunately, he was not able to find spruce in Norfolk and settled on white pine. Cumpston Goffigon, the foreman at the J.E. Etheridge Company, helped Wilbur get the wood sawed at the mill. The wood, which will be used for the spars (the ribs that go from the front to the back of the wing), cost $2.70.

Wilbur left at 4:30 PM for Elizabeth City, North Carolina.

Map Of Dayton, Ohio To Kitty Hawk, North Carolina