By Jo Ann Gardner
This summer marks the 200th anniversary of the invention of the bicycle. It took a few decades for it to make it way to Cecil County and was first it was a curiosity, but eventually it became a popular way to get around.
Baron Karl von Drais of Sauerbrun invented a 2 wheeled vehicle that could be steered by the front wheel. He first displayed his invention in the summer of 1817 in Mannheim Germany and then the following year in Paris. He received a patent for a velocipede which would be changed to the bicycle in 1869.
The first mention of a velocipede in Cecil County newspapers is in July of 1867. In an advertisement in the Cecil Whig by Henry A. Makinson of Port Deposit he offered many goods for sales including velocipedes, carriages and coffins. It is not until 1869 that velocipedes/ bicycles are become a curiosity. “The long talked of brain-turning bicycles have reached Elkton and everybody’s got the mania”, reported the Cecil Whig in May of 1869. The Cecil Democrat published that the “bicycle did not take in Elkton. There was not enough muscle or music or clown about it to make a show”. There were questions on how practical the bicycle was it. The general consensus was it was good for a trip of 10 or 12 miles. By 1881 bicycles were seen all over Elkton. High and North streets were the favorite practice grounds. Provisions were being delivered by bikes. Parents were encouraged to “let your boys learn to be bicycle riders and they will never become drunkards. No drunk man can ride a bicycle, no bicycle rider gets drunk”
The advertisements for bicycles were mostly for stores in the big cities such as Philadelphia and Wilmington. It wasn’t until the late 1880’s that local stores began to carry them. The first local advertisement since the 1867one was in August of 1888 by Hanna, Hanes and Passamore, of Rising Sun who became dealers of bicycle, tricycles and velocipedes. The bicycle was “rapidly taking the place which used to be filled by the saddle horse. In July of 1893 Wells and Torbert of Elkton began selling American Rambler, Victor and Cleveland bicycles. Bicycles were not cheap. A Rambler would cost you $150 in 1893 an equivalent of $4000 today. Much the same of a high end bicycle today. The Reading Flyer was about $80 or about $2000. Just like high end biked today, you could purchase frames and components separately. Ricketts Nelson and William Feehly of Elkton were riding 95 Ramblers and Charles Peacock was riding a 95 Columbia around Elkton. With any new sport come accessories. The Cecil Star in 1887 advertised bicycle gloves for $1.25 and shoes for $1 to $3 and socks for 75 cents. The Appeal advertised bicycle suits $3.50 to $5.00 on sale!
Bicycle racing appears in the newspapers as early as 1881. Many of the races were held at local fairs. Bicycle Clubs from Wilmington and Washington D.C. would compete for cash prizes of $12, $5 and $3. The champion sprinter “Jenks” of Rising Sun won first place in race in Wilmington, DE. 1889. Accidents were frequent. The Whig reported in 1881, “If you see a young man with his nose split open and four front teeth gone. We are unable to tell if he is a baseball player or a bicycle rider”. In 1889 Harvey Boulden and Harry Griest had a head on collision while riding in opposite directions on the sidewalk in Rising Sun. Apparently it started a fight between the 2 riders and the banning of bicycles on sidewalks by Dr. Kirk the town commissioner. It seems that problem still exists today! In 1894 George Shure was practicing riding his bike in Rising Sun after dark when he collided with the Rising Sun team. His bike was crushed and escaped with his life. In London in 1895 it’s estimated that there were 18 bicycle accidents a day!
Professional bike racing came to Cecil County in the 1990’s. May 8 ,1993 Port Deposit was the starting town for a major race. The third stage of the Tour DuPont was a 115-mile stage from Port Deposit to Hagerstown Maryland. Sean Yates, the Irish rider for team Motorola came in first with time of 5.06.46. The route was popular enough that is was stage 2 of the 1994 Tour DuPont. A German armature, Sven Teutenberg won the 115-mile race in 5.56.29. Compare this to the early cyclists who rode from Perryville to Oxford, a 40-mile round trip. It took them 6 hours to complete the journey. Today on a modern bike the same route should take around 3 hours.
Cecil County is still a popular bicycle destination. Fair Hill has great mountain biking trails and the route 273 is a challenge to any road bike rider. Riders can choose from the hills in the north of the county to the flat C and D canal ride. The ride from Chesapeake City to Delaware City is beautiful. So get out and discover Cecil County the was riders have done for the last 130 years!