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On March 20th, 1914 Hoover flew his Gnome-[[strikethrough]] motored[[/strikethrough]] engined Curtiss from Cicero Field, Chicago to Wolf Lake, Hammond, Indiana to become chief pilot and instructor for the I. H. Athey Hydro Station and Flying School. Athey proposed to carry passengers, give instruction and engage in exhibition work for the season. By early May a hangar had been erected and a ramp made for beaching water planes, and Hoover was flying his Curtiss [[strikethrough]]actively[[/strikethrough]]frequently to attract the public. That month they secured a 4-cylinder low-power plane for primary school work, a Chicago aviator, Vandic Ludwig, was engaged to instruct, and Hoover did passenger and exhibition work. The firm began advertizing in May. May 30th Hoover made first flights at Wolf Lake with a new 3-passenger flying boat, powered by a Curtiss OX engine.

The Athey venture was short-lived, and at this time Hoover again started flying exhibition dates for William H. Pickens. On June 1st he flew his Gnome-Curtiss biplane at Rock Island, Illinois, then July 4th to 12th he flew at the Plymouth Fair Grounds, Sheboygan, Wisconsin during automobile races. July 28th to 30th he exhibited at Marquette, Michigan, and on August 27th was at Lacon, Illinois. In September Hoover was back at Cicero Field, Chicago, overhauling his Gnome-Curtiss plane in preparation for a late fall and winter southern tour. During 1914 Pickens was also booking Lincoln Beachey's exhibition dates and formed Lincoln Beachey, Incorporated. 

In the spring of 1915 Hoover was back flying at Cicero Field, then in June he started the exhibition season through the mid-west states with bookings from Pickens. Following Beachey's death in March Pickens changed the name of his agency from Lincoln Beachey, Incorporated to William H. Pickens, Incorporated.

During the latter part of 1915 there was a move [[strikethrough]] on foot[[/strikethrough]] to abandon Cicero Field and [[strikethrough]] the [[/strikethrough]] start flying at [[strikethrough]] of [[/strikethrough]] Ashburne Field [[strikethrough]] began [[/strikethrough]]. Cicero had always been Hoover's headquarters and he [[strikethrough]] was often flying [[/strikethrough]] flew there between engagements. He serviced and overhauled his planes there and was one of the regulars of the "Old Cicero Gang". By this time the exhibition game [[strikethrough]] demanded [[/strikethrough]] required looping and acrobatic flying to attract the sensation-loving public so Hoover started building a 100 [[strikethrough]] H.P. loop[[/strikethrough]] h.p. tractor plane, [[strikethrough]] reportedly [[/strikethrough]] probably in the shops of the Chicago Aero Works. He had the misfortune to have this plane [[strikethrough]] involved [[/strikethrough]] badly damaged in a fire shortly after it was completed [[strikethrough]], in which it was badly damaged [[/strikethrough]]. 

For the 1916 exhibition season Hoover again flew bookings by Pickens through

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