Morristown learns to ride: A history of local cycling
Morristown Green, at the Civil War Soldiers Monument. The Bugler is seated, second from right. Collections of the North Jersey History and Genealogy Center.
Morristown: 1865-2015 The North Jersey History & Genealogy Center is proud to present a series of articles celebrating Morristown’s 150th anniversary. The exhibit, Morristown, 1865-2015: Identity, Tradition, & Enterprise, is on display in the F.M. Kirby Gallery of the Morristown & Morris Township Library through December 31, 2015.
By Cynthia Muszala, Morrristown and Morris Township Library
THE WASHINGTON HALL BUILDING Double doors provided access to a flight of wide straight stairs, which extended up to a large room with a level floor – the location of the velocipede school. Collections of the North Jersey History and Genealogy Center.
On March 25, 1869, Morristown’s newspaper, The True Democratic Banner, announced the “Grand Opening of a Velocipede School.”
It opened in Washington Hall, a large third-story community space used for dancing, theater, and public speaking. Some of the best New York City instructors came to exhibit their skills; five velocipedes of various sizes were available for students.
William N. Tunis, the local organizer, declared : ”This is one of the most popular, fashionable and healthful recreations of the day.”1 The admission price was 20 cents; ladies were invited — gratuitously — as spectators.
SCENE IN A VELOCIPEDE RIDING-SCHOOL NEW YORK CITY Harper’s Weekly, February 13, 1869. Collections of the North Jersey History and Genealogy Center.
As skills improved, so did speed, and riders began competing in timed indoor races.
Thirteen revolutions around Washington Hall equaled a half mile; the winning speed was 2.08 minutes; the prize was a pair of sleeve buttons.
The first outdoor race took place on June 7, 1869, at the Agricultural Fair Grounds. The prizes were generous and the Morris Brass Band provided entertainment. However, since few spectators came, the newspaper reported:
“…we were a little astonished to find that but few of our citizens attended this sport, for certainly it is as harmless as their morning beverage.” 2
“Velocipede mania”gripped the east coast soon after the Frenchman Lallement arrived in America and patented his design for a pedal-propelled vehicle, but it would not last.
Popularly called the “boneshaker,” its heavy wooden frame and iron-rimmed wheels guaranteed an uncomfortable ride on 19th century roads. In spite of these drawbacks, it appeared that Morristown had enough velocipedists interfering with horse-drawn wagons and pedestrians, because on July 21, 1869, an ordinance was passed, stating that:
“… it shall be unlawful for any person or persons to run any velocipede upon any sidewalk or in any of the streets of Morristown and any person so offending shall be subject to a fine of five dollars for every such offence.” 3
The high wheeler was also called an ordinary or a penny farthing. Mr. Muchmore sold bicycles at his stationary store and later started a cycling academy. He was Captain of the Morristown Bicycle Club. Collections of the History and Genealogy Center.
The following years saw the development of the high wheel bicycle, also called the “ordinary” with a front wheel much larger than the back.
This enabled the rider to cover distances faster, but also made him more likely to “take a header” and fly over the handlebars. It was difficult to climb upon, weighed about 50-70 pounds, and the wheels ranged between 50- to 60 inches in diameter.
However, this did not discourage Morristown’s athletic young men from riding. The problems they faced were complaints about frightened horses, and the horsemen who regarded the wheelmen as a nuisance to be controlled. Another ordinance was passed in 1882, making it:
“…unlawful for any person or persons to run any bicycle upon any sidewalk in Morristown and any person so offending shall be subject to a fine ofTen Dollars…”4
Morristown’s cyclists took to the streets, and some, such as the pastor of the First Presbyterian Church, favored the tricycle, a safer alternative to the high-wheeler.
“The tricycle has come into favor as a means of locomotion with those who do not care to trust themselves with the more treacherous bicycle. Its ways are more easily learned and headers are well nigh impossible. At the same time it requires more labor to drive it and its appearance is not so graceful as that of the bicycle, and those who have learned the latter will not be apt to take counsel of the former. Rev. William Durant has purchased a tricycle and takes daily exercise on it.” 5
Finally the “safety,” a bicycle with two wheels of equal size, and a hollow steel tubing frame was introduced in the 1880s. It was easy to ride, and combined with the newly developed pneumatic tire, “bone-shaking” rides on rough roads were diminished. Similar in design to today’s bicycle, it was the model the public embraced and fueled the “bicycle craze.”
South Street, looking west, toward the Morristown Green, ca.1890s. A “safety” is: left-curbside, and center-back. The “American Star”, in the foreground, had the small wheel in front, it prevented headers, but threw the rider backwards on steep hills. Collections of the North Jersey History and Genealogy Center.
Bicycle Clubs Ride Through Town
The establishment of national and local bicycling clubs accompanied the increased popularity of cycling. The early clubs were the domain of well-to-do young men and merchants, interested in promoting the bicycle and related businesses. Club activism helped improve local roads, as the following comments from a 1895 Morristown Wheelmen’s banquet demonstrate:
“Mr. M.B. Lum, Director of the Board of Freeholders, responded to the toast “Good Roads,” dealing with the question of roads in Morris County and promising a stone road from Chatham to Lake Hopatcong by fall. …. Mr. Paul Revere emphasized the necessity of maintaining good roads after they were built…” 6
Unidentified bicycle club at the Civil War Soldiers Monument, Morristown Green, c. 1890s. Bugler is seated, second from right. Collections of the North Jersey History and Genealogy Center.
Morristown’s clubs were organized according to military guidelines with a captain, lieutenant, secretary, treasurer, and bugler.
The “Captain” issued riding instructions to a “Bugler” who, in military fashion, blew the appropriate signal command. Uniformed cyclists were public attractions at town parades and racing events.7
The Morristown Bicycle Club was one of the first group of town cyclists to organize a club. In 1891 the design of their blue uniforms was considered newsworthy.
“P. H. Hoffman & Son are making thirty suits for the Morristown Bicycle Club. They are of fine cloth with silver lace trimmings and are very neat and pretty.” 8
One of the club’s first 1891 lantern parades had 40- to 50 decorated and illuminated wheels riding through Morristown’s streets. The following year, with double the participants, a cyclist had the unfortunate experience of having the paper decoration on his machine catch fire and burn. At the time, bicycle lanterns used kerosene and were ignited with matches. 9
Unidentified club with decorated bicycles, in front of the old Y.M.C.A., South Street, ca. late 19th century. Collections of the North Jersey History and Genealogy Center
The Sahodalica Wheelmenwas organized by 10 Morristown men in September, 1894; the following year there were 50 members. The name was a combination of the first two initials of five members’ surnames ; grey was the club color. In the first year they had three successful races and The New York Times, described the club as:
“An Enterprising Organization of Wheelmen at Morristown – Now in a Flourishing Condition and Growing Rapidly – The Sahodalica is the onlywheel club in town, and numbers among its members only the “good people” as they say out West.”10
A 25-mile bicycle run closed the first season. The course ran from Madison to Morristown, back to Madison, through Chatham, Summit, and New Providence, and ended in Madison, on Nov. 6, 1894. 11
November 6, 1894, Club Run, Morristown. Some members sport the League of American Wheelmen logo on sweaters: bottom, second, left; second row right. Collections of the North Jersey History and Genealogy Center.
League of American Wheelmen(L.A.W.) was a national organization founded in 1890. It advocated for better roads and safer cycling conditions. Guidelines for sharing the roads with horse and carriage drivers were also needed.
Title page. Collections of the North Jersey History and Genealogy Center.
In 1884 the New Jersey Division-League of American Wheelmenwas created. It promoted cycling by putting sign posts up at road corners to identify the best roads for cycling. Their Road Book included maps describing road conditions and the best routes. Morristown was a recommended destination.
“This beautiful city offers the itinerant wheelman abundant shade and good streets.”12
League of American Wheelmen, Road Book of New Jersey, 1897. Collections of the North Jersey History and Genealogy Center.
Morrristown Rides
Morristown’s newspapers wrote about the rapid changes occurring due to increased bicycle use. More segments of the population were riding. An article in the Jerseyman reported that in June 1895 four local physicians each purchased a bicycle on the same day.
Boyd’s Morristown Directory, 1897 – 1898. Additional bicycle dealers were Bernard Friedman, furrier and taxidermist on Speedwell Avenue and Charles Parker, photographer, 25 South St. Collections of the North Jersey History and Genealogy Center.
“Already the ladies bicycle fad has reached Morristown although we have only a touch of it as yet, but every now and then in the quieter parts of the town a novice may be seen flitting by on her wheel and even in South street the sight of a feminine rider is ceasing to cause surprise. Good luck go with them, say we and be sure that all must echo the sentiment, especially those in the trade.”13
The increase in the number of bicycle dealers reflected the growth of bicycle use, as did the local gunsmiths and locksmiths who started repairing bicycles. Some dealers opened cycling schools. Bicycle accidents, falls, and collisions between bicyclists and wagons made news. Even the New York Tribune wrote, “Wheelwomen in Morristown Meet with Various Kinds of Mishaps.” 14 An 1893 ordinancerequired cyclists to use lights and alarm bells.
Morristown had learned to ride:
“The bicycle fever still rages and doubtless will continue, and is already an established mode of traveling. It has obtained a place as an amusement in a wonderfully short time, while thousands make use of the wheel in the way of business and also as a means of healthy exercise.”15
In the ensuing years the bicycle brought economic, social, and political changes to the residents of Morristown; some changes were embraced while others were criticized. The bicycle rider continued to evolve, and today along Morristown’s streets signs declare:
BIKES MAY USE FULL LANE.
Notes:
1. “Velocipede School”, True Democratic Banner, March 25, 1869, pg. 2; April 1, 1869, pg. 2.
2. True Democratic Banner, June 10, 1869, pg. 2.
3. Board of Aldermen, The Charter of The Town of Morristown and the Several Supplements Thereto and the By-Laws and Ordinances with Titles of Ordinances Relating to Streets. Morristown, NJ, the Board of Aldermen, 1908, pg. 118.
4. Ibid.
5. Jerseyman, June 20, 1884, pg. 3.
6. Jerseyman, July 19, 1895, pg. 6.
7. Jerseyman, June 19, 1891, pg. 3; “Introduction of “Safety” Bicycle Brought Changes”, Daily Record, October 21, 1944, pg. 8.
8.Jerseyman, June 19, 1891, pg. 3.
9. Jerseyman, September 9, 1892, pg. 3.
10. “Sahodalica Cycle Club“, New York Times, May 23, 1895, pg. 6.
11. Ibid.
12. League of American Wheelmen (1897). Notes Upon Maps. In Road Book of New Jersey.
13.Jerseyman, September 28, 1984, pg. 3.
14. “A Series of Bicycle Accidents”, New York Daily Tribune, April 30, 1896, pg. 16, chroniclingamerica.loc.gov
