Ordinaries, Safeties and Fun is a partial reprint of the original work by Cleo Goff Wilkens. These selected sections are presented with the permission of Mr. William Decker at the Allen County-Fort Wayne Historical Society.

Ordinaries

No doubt many of Mr. Clement W. Edgerton's friends were with him that day in 1879 when he went to the Wabash Railroad Freight Station to claim his new bicycle, the very first one to appear in Fort Wayne. It was also his first glimpse of the wheel since he had ordered it from a manufacturer in Boston, after reading advertisements in Scribner's magazine depicting the virtues of the velocipede.

Mr. Edgerton rode his ordinary about nine years, or until the lower wheeled machines came in. He then sold it to O. L. Perry and in 1913 it was still in Mr. Perry's possession. From recorded purchases of bicycles, it appears that the size of the large wheel of the ordinary decreased gradually through the years until in 1888 the first ad for a safety (lower two wheeler) appeared in a Fort Wayne newspaper in 1887, it can be assumed that up to this time all bicyclers (sic) were riding ordinaries of various diameters. Known early riders of this type bicycle in Fort Wayne were: Will Peltier, John E. Ross, Charles J. McLain, Dr. G. A. Ross, Frank S. Lightfoot, Joe and Louis Corneille, August and Martin Detzer, M. H. Doxhterman, C. Cherry, Harry R. Boving, Perry DeHaven, Louis Ohnhaus and J. M. Kuhns. These gentlemen undoubtedly agreed with the general opinion of high wheel riders of the day, that the ordinary, where one was so nicely balanced on practically a single wheel, exuded and exhilaration through its peculiar charm that was not obtainable when riding a lower wheeled safety, where one must push a wheel, wheelbarrow fashion. On April 9, 1884 several wheelmen met at the County Auditor's office for the purpose of organizing the Fort Wayne Bicycle Club, a group that had much to do with activities during the ordinary wheel period. Dr. George A. Ross was elected President; Clement W. Edgerton, vice-president and Captain; Charles McLain, Secretary and Treasurer and Stephen D. Bond, Lieutenant. Other charter members were John E. Ross, Theodore F. Thieme, Cass Hunter and Louis Ohnhouse. A uniform of navy blue trimmed with red cord and nickel buttons was selected. Plans were immediately made for two all day "runs" and frequent trips to neighboring towns; on these occasions actual riding time only was counted as part of the trips must be walked, due to newly made roads. On June 10, 1884, Edgerton and Bond wheeled to Hicksville and back, 52.8 miles in a little over 6 hours and 37 minutes AND they wore their new club uniforms.

Century Runs (100 mile trips) became a challenge. Riders endeavored to establish a record in the number of such runs completed. One day in 1885 Mr. Edgerton mounted his bicycle before breakfast. In a short time his cyclometer showed he had traveled many miles. By supper time he had run 88 miles, at 10:00 P.M., 102 miles. this was a feat never before accomplished in this section and probably not in the state.

O.L. Perry, a novice of two months, broke Mr. Edgerton's long distance record on July 2, 1887 when he managed to travel 104 3/4 miles in one day. Both rides must have been made on the same ordinary for Mr. Perry was the purchaser of Mr. Edgerton's wheel about this time. Later in 1887, J. S. Evans of the Fort Wayne Bicycle Club lowered the local time for a century run by five hours. The trip was made over the Huntington, Illinois, Yellow River, Maysville, Leo and Parent roads in 9 hours and 36 minutes, 1 hour and 15 minutes was consumed in refreshment stops. Mr. Evans had been riding for three years and held the Northern Indiana Championship of 1886.

This same year, the Club held its final promenade of the series of four, at the Princess Rink. The affair was similar to the grand military ball held the year before, very formal and was patronized almost exclusively by the elite of the city. Twelve numbers were presented and it was thought that the City Band gave the best selections. At the close of the program, a bicycle drill was given by club members, which deserved most favorable comment. Members Charles McLain, Louis Ohnhouse, Sam Hanna, Jesse Evans, Dave Caldwell, Fred Thieme, Al Vogel and F. Lightfoot presented this fifteen minute drill, at the close of which they came to a dead stop, held the position, raised their caps and dismounted amidst deafening applause.

Because of the drama of the incident, the wheelmen themselves remembered most vividly throughout the years, an event of June 1887. It was the Cycling Carnival, a time when they appeared in fancy dress, carrying transparencies. The idea was borrowed from similar parades held in Boston, New Orleans and St. Louis. Elaborate preparations and plans were made for the event. People were asked to keep all horses away from he line of march because of proposed use of fire works and lighted flares. Residents along the way were requested to illuminate their homes and to forgo sprinkling for the evening, that the streets would not become muddy. The committee and the city police failed to provide protection however from the antics of mischievous boys and hoodlums, who thrust sticks between the spokes, threw mud and stones and smashed and extinguished lanterns. As a result of this and the ad condition of the streets, the parade never reached Broadway, disappointing fully 500 people.

An ammunition wagon, scheduled to precede the parade and to plant illumination flares for it, was delayed because the horse hitched to it became sick, lay down and refused to budge. While the horse was being replace, the wheelers had formed at Hanna and Lewis streets, former site of the City Hospital. Mr. Edgerton, dressed as a turbaned Turk, led the procession of seventy wheels past and estimated audience of 15,000 people lined up along the route. The machine of Captain Louis Ohnhouse was entirely enclosed in frame work, representing the outlines of the Scotch racing yacht "The Thistle," from which thirty-six lighted lanterns were swinging. Other participants were interestingly dressed: Dr. George A. Ross as "night"; Charles McLain as a red devil; T. F. Thieme, court jester; Carl P. Swain as Mulcahey; Fred Thieme, an Irishman; Dave Caldwell, Pat Roone; Sam Hanna as a sailor; Herman Sieman, reporter; Harry Keplinger, nobleman; William Barber, Uncle Sam; Will Buckles, a dude; Ed Noll, another yacht "Thistle" with arched frame, many lanterns and other attachments; Thomas Seymeyer as a Scotch highlander and so on.

The fourth Annual Bicycle Club banquet, a seven course repast, was held at the Wayne Hotel and was declared to be the most elegant affair ever served in the city. For the first time guests were invited; Gart Shober, W. P. Cooper, H.E. Fisher and A. J. Moynihan of the city press and P. O. Darrow, editor of the Wheelman's Gazette, Indianapolis who spoke on "The Road Hog--We Despise Him." The club attorney, Charles W. Kuhne gave an address on "The Rights of the Wheelman," from a legal standpoint. August Detzer talked on "The Age of Wheels." Thirty members were present.

By June 1888 it was generally conceded that bicycle parades and club "runs" seemed to have had their day. Practical every day cycling was then being practised (sic), the wheel chosen for business, pleasure and practical use. It was the transition period, ordinary to safety, riders had learned the advantage of having wheels small enough for them.

The Distaff Side

The elite in Boston, New York and Chicago soon took to bicycling as a favorite sport. In 1888, Mrs. W. E. Smith, wife of the inventor of a new safety for women, became the first lady to ride one in public, when she rode down Pennsylvania Avenue in Washington. By 1890 the bloomer was considered an ideal costume for women cyclists, through the promotion of a Mrs. Bloomer who had not actually originated the idea but introduced it, and her name became a natural for the garments.

Certain standard were set by the society people. It was considered good form for grooms on wheels to follow their mistresses as they did when riding horseback. In time the ladies maid, to obtain a position, would need to be an accomplished wheeler. One must maintain an upright position at a moderate pace; a racing pace, as well as the constant ringing of the bell, was frowned upon, that was for the vulgar herd who delighted in noise. The well informed wheelwoman was to keep her eyes and ears alert and touch the bell rarely.

The correct position for a woman on the tandem caused considerable controversy and was discussed at length in the "Wheelmen's Gazette," an Indianapolis monthly magazine, March 1895 issue. Should she be in the front with a better outlook and have the responsibility of steering, or was it not better that she be protected in the second seat, a post of less danger, with the steering in the capable hands of a gentleman? In this position she would appear to be driving the man in front, which should gratify her vanity.

In 1888 the Fort Wayne Bicycle Club extended honorary membership to the ladies, there being some half dozen lady riders in the City, Mrs. E. L. Siver and Miss Bessie Hedekin were the very first ones. A Miss White rode to the old well and back with Mr. Edgerton in 1887; in 1888 Mrs. Mommer (Cecilia Baker) and husband Dr. Benjamin Mommer, rode daily on their safety tandem which was the first one in Fort Wayne. The Misses Bessie Cox, Schlatter, Rose Sine, Roslewson, Bertha Jackson, Mrs. B. F. Shertzer, Mrs. J. E. Ross and Mrs. Enoch Cox appear in an old picture of a bicycling party about the year 1890. Mrs. Manchester and Miss Octavia Stewart with others issued invitations to such a party in 1891. The year 1895 produced a young lady with grit, Miss Edith Martin who purchased a wheel in the morning, took a riding lesson and rode it to her home in the afternoon, home being eight miles north on the Auburn Road. Could any of these ladies have been the cause of the following incident?

"There was an exciting runaway on Hanna Street yesterday P.M., due to the effect of a pair of bloomers on a country horse. Henry Richards, farmer, eleven miles south of the City, hitched his horse in front of a grocer's store on Hanna Street. The horse frequently driven to the City had not become accustomed to the ways of the new woman. While Mr. Richards purchased groceries, a couple of ladies came by on bicycles, clad in bloomers. The horse became frightened, leaped into the air, broke the hitching strap and galloped madly down the street. Mr. Richards was compelled to procure a livery rig to drive home."

A national organization, the L.A.W. or League of American Wheelman was formed in 1880, a group with which local clubs were affiliated. This was the group that set up the qualifications and rules for racing, promoted the sport in general and advocated the wheel as a splendid factor in developing both good health and good citizenship. They fought regulations which barred bicycles from roads and streets and recommended the building of good thoroughfares throughout the country. By 1897 L.A.W. had a membership of 78,527, enough to have considerable influence in pertinent affairs.

The Fort Wayne Bicycle Club with its well established membership and elegant Calhoun Street clubrooms was the first local bicycling club, but others soon followed. The Ideal, Wheelman's Social, Bass Foundry and Triangle Clubs, all local, the Century Riding Club of Northern Indiana and the Indiana Bicycle Club of Indianapolis were all participants in local bicycle activities. Races were promoted separately or in combinations, unfortunately very few detailed race results were published in the newspapers.

Elaborate preparations were made by the Triangle Clubs for the second L.A.W. Bicycle Meet to be held at the Driving Park the 4th and 5th of July 1896. A grand bicycle parade was held at 9:30 A.M. on the 4th with dinner at the Robison Park cafe at 11:00 A.M., then on to the race program at the Driving Park. The attendance at this meet was disappointing and may have been due to the fact that it was the opening day of Robison Park. It seems to have been one of the last big races, if not the last one to be held in Fort Wayne.

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