History of cycling in Syracuse, New York facts for kids
Cycling in Syracuse, New York, has been common on the roads and paths for recreation, commuting, and as a sport since the latter part of the 19th century.
Syracuse had no fewer than 19 local bicycle manufacturers including Barnes Cycle Company (1895–1899), Central City Bicycle Works (1898), Dodge Cycle Company (1896), E. C. Stearns Bicycle Agency (1893–1899), Emory, Empire Cycle Company (1896–1898), Frazier & Jones Company (1898), Frontenace Manufacturing Company (1896), H. R. Olmsted & Company (1896–1898), J. C. Brown & Company (1904), J. W. Gould (1898), Lighton Machine Company (1895–1896), Olive Wheel Company (1897–1901), Ruben Woods, Syracuse Cycle Company (1894–1898), Syracuse Specialty Manufacturing Company (1896), makers of the Frontenac, Tourist Bicycle Company (1896–1898), Wooden Hickory Frame Cycle Works (1893–1898) and Worden Frame Hickory Bicycle Works.
Contents
Context
The bicycle followed the roller-skate in the 1890s as a new mode of transportation. High-wheeler bicycles preceded the "safety bike," however, it was the new, fast "low bikes" that brought about the cycling "craze." The number of bicycle riders in Syracuse during the decade totaled 10,000 and the city was a "hub of bicycle production." Among the most popular bicycles were the Yellow Fellow manufactured by E. C. Stearns Company who employed 2,000 and made 500 bicycles a day. Bicycles were so popular during that period that streetcar earnings declined.
The total number of cyclists in the United States at the close of 1906 was conservatively estimated at 1.5 million and manufacturers throughout the country built 2.25 million bicycles that year.
Cycling as a sport
As early as 1888, bicycling was a popular sport with affluent young men of the city. Some of the early names in racing were John Wilkinson and William Van Wagoner. Professional and amateur racers, using "local" wheels, toured the United States, Europe and Australia to compete in various competitions.
During the 1890s cycle races like the Cicero Plank Road Race in Cicero, New York and the Century run of the Century Road Club to Utica and back were very popular forms of entertainment and drew thousands of spectators.
Many cyclists tried for the "century" mark, making 100 miles (160 km) runs.
Cycling clubs
The League of American Wheelmen was founded in Newport, Rhode Island on May 30, 1880 by Kirk Munroe and Charles Pratt. It soon became the leading national membership organization for cyclists in the United States. The League was also the governing body for amateur bicycle racing in the U.S. during the late 19th century. Membership peaked at 103,000 in 1898.
The Syracuse Athletic Association, formed in 1889 with headquarters in the Lynch block between Salina and Water streets, was an important young men’s club in the city and promoted sports activities including cycling events. By 1893, the eighth annual Labor Day meet was hosted by the group on September 4. Two special features would prove very interesting. William Van Wagoner, a member of the club, rode 1 mile (1.6 km) against time with hands off in an effort to lower the world's record of 2:38. "He succeeded admirably," making the 1 mile (1.6 km) in 2:29. He rode with his arms folded behind him and his wheel was as "straight and accurate as many good men ride with hands on." The performance took place on the .5 miles (0.80 km) track at the New York State Fair grounds which "was in excellent shape" and was loudly applauded by a crowd of 5,000.
The Syracuse Bicycle Club (SBC) was formed in the early 1890s followed by the Century Bicycle Club and Pastime Club. Both the Syracuse Athletic Association and the Syracuse Bicycle Club were merged through the efforts of Frederick B. Hazard and moved to the old Getman Hotel on East Jefferson Street. The building burned down in 1896 and they built a new clubhouse on the corner of State and Washington streets.
Market saturation
By 1896, the bicycle industry reached a "bitterly" competitive crisis. The market was clearly flooded by too many manufacturers.
Prices for the top name brands were expensive. The price for a standard model was $100. As the market heated up, large manufacturers began offering models under "other names" for $75. They were soon undercut by department stores that had models for as low as $50. One could also purchase a bicycle at a so-called "auction" store for $40; however, the less expensive bicycles broke down quickly.
On March 1, 1897, the industry peaked in Syracuse with the annual bicycle show at the Alhambra hall when hundreds of different makes and models were on display and Tom Eck posted advertisements for his famed cyclist school at the State Fair Grounds.
Within three years time, in 1900, the blow fell. In an attempt to control supply and limit competition, 42 manufacturers (later over 75 companies) formed the American Bicycle Company (A.B.C.), known familiarly as "the trust." The concern bought up one company after another and eventually had formed into a monopoly. Even strong, profitable companies such as E. C. Stearns Bicycle Agency sold out their rights to the new conglomerate. In a few years, the center of bicycle manufacturing shifted to Westfield, Massachusetts and Hartford, Connecticut and Syracuse manufacturers were forced to produce other products.
A.B.C. soon announced plans to open a branch plant in Canada called the National Cycle Company located in Hamilton, Ontario. Some of the other companies that merged in 1900 were E. C. Stearns Company of Toronto, Ontario, Evans & Dodge Bicycle Company and The Dodge Brothers.
Wholesale and retail dealers
The W. A. Doubleday Company, wholesale and retail dealers in bicycles and sundries, purchased the Frontenac Bicycle Company in January 1901. George M. Barnes and Austin M. Dickinson were affiliated with the company and decided at the end of 1900 to retire from the bicycle trade and the business was offered for sale. The hardware department of the company works was sold to Phoenix parties and the factory was extensively remodeled for the Stearns Steam Carriage Company. There was a Frontenac wheel produced in 1901 under the control of the Doubleday company.
Syracuse racers
Most raced for local bicycle manufacturers nationally and even worldwide. A few were native Syracusans;
- E. E. Anderson - Professional racer from St. Louis, Missouri, of "mile a minute fame," rode a Stearns bicycle during the 1897 season.
- Eddie Bald (1874–1946) - Professional racer rode the Cannon Ball and carried the name of Syracuse-made machines into the national cycling field.
- Carroll B. Jack - Raced for Stearns in 1896.
- John S. Johnson (1873–1934) - Rode a Stearns wheel when he made a "remarkable mile" in 1:35 in 1895.
- Earl Kiser (1875–1936) - Member of team of Round-the-World Yellow Fellows in 1896. He was nicknamed the "Little Dayton Demon".
- William Martin - Member of team of Round-the-World Yellow Fellows in 1896.
- John J. McLaughlin - Raced on a Stearns Yellow Fellow and broke the record on December 18, 1894.
- C. M. Murphy - Professional bicyclist and winner of the Madison Square Garden races. Later hired by E. C. Stearns & Company in 1896 to ride the Stearns bicycle in Paris, France.
- Marshall Taylor (1878–1932) - Raced for E. C. Stearns Bicycle Agency in 1899.
- William Van Wagoner (1870-) - Competitive bicycle racer in the Northeast from 1888 to mid-1890s. Went on to design Barnes bicycles and later automobiles.
- Harry Wheeler - Member of team of Round-the-World Yellow Fellows in 1896.
- John Wilkinson (1868–1951) - By 1880, he was one of the country's leading bicycle racers and later worked for Syracuse Cycle Company where he designed the Crimson Rim. By his mid 20s he went on to design the Franklin automobile air-cooled engine.
- Frank W. Knowland (1877-1952) - In 1895 he held the one-mile and 10-mile road championships of New York State. He began work lor the Syracuse Cycle Co. in the winter of 1895-96 and later switched to William Spaulding & Co., where he built up the sporting goods department. He bought an interest in Doubleday & Co., changing the name to Doubleday-Knowland Co., after having spent several years with the A. G. Spalding store and the Wright Ditson Co.
