Louise Henley Vogler was born on this day in 1900, in Winston-Salem, to William and Mary Kenna Joyce Henley.
Louise attended the local schools, including Winston-Salem High School, and graduated from the Normal School in Greensboro (now UNC-G).
Louise must have been adventurous, because when she was 19 years old, she was the first woman to fly in an airplane over Winston-Salem. L. D. Merrill came to Winston-Salem to establish his winter headquarters, and offered passenger flights to those who were interested and who could pay. The flights were even marketed as early Christmas gifts.
Mr. Merrill said that interested passengers asked about safety if the engine should stall, and they asked about how cold it was high in the sky in an airplane. His answer was that he could coast and land safely if the engine died, and that it was no colder that being in the front seat of an automobile.
The newspaper did not report how Miss Henley reacted to flying over “the heads of the people you see,” but Lieutenant Merrill attracted a crowd of more than a thousand people to see their fellow townspeople experience the thrill of flight.
Louise married Herbert A. Vogler in 1923.
She taught Sunday School for 35 years at Home Moravian Church. She was a Red Cross volunteer with the Bloodmobile, and she was a member of the Junior League, Sorosis Club, and the Salem Birthday Club.
Louise passed away in 1993.
Photo shows Louise as a high school senior at Winston-Salem High School in 1917.
Photo courtesy of Forsyth County Public Library Photograph Collection.
