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Bicycle’s historical past in Henderson dates again to 1881
Twenty-one riders entered a four-block bicycle race a century in the past in downtown Henderson. Solely 4 completed the course. The winner’s time was 28 minutes flat.
I’ve been writing my historical past column because the first of 1998 and have fairly completely coated the native look of vehicles and airplanes. However I’ve by no means actually given the early beginnings of the bicycle its due. I’m making an attempt to treatment that with this column.
The primary bicycles to seem domestically have been nearly definitely what have been then often known as “penny-farthings,” the sort with the large entrance wheel and no chain. They have been ridden principally by daring younger males as a result of they have been considerably harmful. In case you hit a pothole or different obstruction, you have been more likely to be thrown excessive of the entrance wheel. There was even a reputation for that sort of accident — a header.
The primary one made its native look the summer season of 1881. “Fred Mayer has the one and first bicycle ever delivered to this metropolis,” in line with an August 2, 1881, merchandise within the Henderson Reporter. “He and his brother Walter have realized to handle it effectively.”
Different younger males shortly joined in. “The bicyclists now quantity eight,” in line with an merchandise within the Reporter of Oct. 21, 1881. “They take a experience almost each night.”
Apparently bicycles stopped being information for a couple of years as a result of the subsequent point out I’ve seen within the Reporter appeared Oct. 10, 1884: “A bicycle membership has been fashioned however, as but, there are solely 5 – 6 machines, though a quantity will be part of within the spring.”
The Reporter tried to get ladies within the Nov. 14, 1884, problem: “Let the women type a tricycle membership.” Tricycles, by the best way, have been the primary to start utilizing a series drive.
The Henderson Bicycle Membership carried out an election in January 1885, in line with the Reporter, and named David Banks Jr. president. Different officers have been H.S. Rudy, V.F. Mayer, W.H. Stites and W.F. Redman. “There are about 15 members now, and others anticipate to hitch within the spring. It is vitally possible that plenty of them will attend the grand match at Memphis.”
The problems of the Reporter on microfilm go solely by means of 1885, and it was within the late Eighties that what was then referred to as the “security bicycle” – what we’d acknowledge as a contemporary bicycle — got here onto the scene. That prompted a growth in biking, partially as a result of ladies might simply experience the brand new bicycles.
Henderson newspapers from the Nineties are very spotty, aside from 1898 and 1899, so I can’t say an excessive amount of how the bicycle fared domestically throughout that decade though I do know there was a nationwide growth in utilization. Within the first decade of the twentieth Century, nonetheless, Henderson started a program of laying concrete sidewalks. Bicyclists discovered their smoothness too tempting. That induced issues.
The Gleaner of July 8, 1908, reported that the Henderson Metropolis Council had unanimously handed an ordinance to nice bicyclists in the event that they have been caught driving on sidewalks. “For a while there have been many complaints of individuals driving bicycles on the sidewalks and the adoption of the ordinance was to fulfill a well-liked demand.” That prohibition remains to be on the books, though it applies solely in enterprise districts; bicycles should yield to pedestrians on all different sidewalks.
A few years later, in line with the minutes of April 20, 1910, town council handed an ordinance prohibiting the follow of grabbing onto a streetcar whereas driving a bicycle and permitting it to drag you alongside. The same ordinance prohibiting grabbing onto motor autos is at the moment in place.
I had thought the Henderson Police Division’s adoption of bicycles in 1995 was the primary occasion of that, however upon additional investigation I discovered it dated again to 1910. On Sept. 6 of that 12 months, in line with the minutes, town council permitted shopping for two bicycles for the police division and one for the bailiff who served town police court docket.
The Gleaner of Feb. 29, 1916, reported that Henry F. Pardon had opened a retailer close to the nook of Elm and Second streets promoting Indian bikes and bicycles. He additionally did repairs and bought all types of equipment.
“Mr. Pardon has carried out a retailer of this type for a number of years in Owensboro and has been very profitable.”
A extra important occasion was reported in The Gleaner of July 25, 1916. “Henderson’s first bicycle races have been pulled off in nice form Sunday morning at 11 o’clock. There have been 14 entries and the time made to the Union Station and return was simply six minutes.”
Ulyse Martin was stationed on the railroad depot to take the playing cards of every rider to make sure they’d accomplished all the course. Salem Starling took first place and a prize of $5. Fred Freeman received $2.50, whereas Paul Clark of Owensboro received$1.50. Carl Basham of Owensboro received $1.
By 1920 the Pardon bicycle store was underneath the administration of Oliver Z. Pardon. The photograph that accompanies this column was supplied to The Gleaner by T.R. Holliday and the data that accompanied it says it depicts a six-mile bicycle race Pardon sponsored in June 1920. I’ve not seen The Gleaner take discover of that occasion.
Nevertheless, it wrote a number of tales about races Pardon sponsored Sept. 12 that 12 months. “The characteristic of the occasion would be the gradual race, the final man being the winner,” stated the story of Sept. 8. One other article that appeared Sept. 10 stated the races would start at 2 p.m.
The ultimate article, on Sept. 14, gave the race outcomes and famous a “massive crowd” gathered to observe. The outline of the “gradual race” is as follows: “4 blocks have been coated within the contest and though 21 entered solely 4 succeeded in ending the race. The time was 28 minutes flat.”
Herbert Manion took first place and a gold watch, adopted by Mike Coffey, Eldridge Miller and John Steele.
The second race, masking 35 blocks, was the quick one. The winners, so as, have been Charles Kockritz, John Patterson, Charles Cuttsinger, Mike Coffey and Lawrence Schmidt.
The ultimate race was restricted to Black riders; 10 of them entered. (Sure, the races have been segregated, which was par for neighborhood actions on the time.) The winners, so as, have been John W. White, Lawrence Bibbs and William Henry Rankin.
Different shops have been additionally promoting bicycles in 1920, equivalent to Lambert & Grisham {Hardware} and the Nunn & Kloke bicycle retailer on First Avenue, which opened in November 1920 and lasted for many years. I’m undecided precisely how lengthy Pardon stayed in enterprise; I do know it was till no less than 1925 however the store had closed by 1929.
W.G. Schoepflin, in his Gleaner column of Aug. 13, 1933, had this to say a few resurgence in bicycles through the Despair: “Younger and outdated are starting to straddle the bicycles as of outdated. The younger women particularly are taking to the fad and surprising (Oh Yeah) however in shorts, too. Jogs my memory of the time when my good pal Oliver Pardon was pushing the sport right here. He had some nice races and gave some children some nice coaching on this specific sport.”
The same resurgence happened throughout World Warfare II, when bicycles have been rationed, and in addition through the oil disaster of 1973-74.
75 YEARS AGO
The insecticide DDT, which got here into widespread navy use through the latter half of World Warfare II however was banned in 1972, went on sale in Henderson, in line with commercials in The Gleaner of Sept. 9 and Sept. 23, 1945.
“It’s right here ultimately, that surprise insect killer,” stated the Sept. 23 commercial for Grasty’s Drug Retailer at First and Elm streets. “DDT kills flies, mosquitoes, fleas, roaches, water bugs, mattress bugs, the truth is all types of bugs.” The shop was promoting it in quart and gallon heaps.
50 YEARS AGO
Floyd A. Imboden, 23, of Windfall hit a cow on U.S. 41-Alternate 4 miles south of Henderson and located himself staring it within the face, in line with The Gleaner of Sept. 13, 1970.
“Not in a position to see the black (Angus) in time to cease, the driving force struck the animal together with his automotive. The cow’s head went by means of the windshield. The animal was reduce, but it surely was final seen going off right into a discipline.”
25 YEARS AGO
Federal deregulation of the pure fuel trade prompted town of Henderson to cross an ordinance reducing in half its mark-up worth for purchasers who purchased no less than 1 million cubic toes of fuel monthly, in line with The Gleaner of Sept. 17, 1995.
The ordinance had no impact on residential or small industrial charges, which represented 65 p.c of town’s pure fuel revenues.
Metropolis officers identified, nonetheless, that smaller clients would finally pay extra if the cuts didn’t encourage bigger clients to stick with town as a provider.
Readers of The Gleaner can attain Frank Boyett at YesNews42@yahoo.com or on Twitter at @BoyettFrank.