Barren Island during hydraulic landfill operation 1928---Smithsonian Institute
All of this construction began in 1928, and by the time it was completed in 1932, the City had spent over 10 million dollars which included, two perpendicular cement paved runways, an administrative building with a flight tower on top of it, eight hangars north of the administrative building with lean-tos (small sheds) for mechanics, and lights for night flights. The administrative building which would be the main terminal included a barbershop, a telegraph room (main means of communications before phones became popular), a café, pilot’s lounge, and a newsstand. All this designed in an Art Deco fashion (very popular décor at the time).