THE BUSHWICK WHEELMEN CLUBHOUSES (1894)
******************************************************************************************************************************** Brownstone Detectives investigates the history of our clients’ homes. The story you are about to read was composed from research conducted in the course of one of those investigations. Do you know the history of YOUR house? ******************************************************************************************************************************** When the cycling rage began in the early 1890s, Bushwick’s “wheel” enthusiasts joined together under the moniker, the Bushwick Wheelmen. It would not be long before, as with other clubs of the era, that the Wheelmen would find a club house of its own. In 1894, the the club purchased its first Brooklyn clubhouse, No. 841 Lexington Avenue (which still survives), in today’s Bedford-Stuyvesant section. “The Bushwick Wheelmen have fairly settled in their new club house, at 841 Lexington avenue,” noted the Brooklyn Citizen in 1894. “Their membership list numbers about one hundred, and the financial condition of the club is excellent.” “An opening reception was held on Wednesday night and it proved a very enjoyable affair,” reported the Brooklyn Daily Eagle. “The club house was decorated and a large company of women were present. “At 11 P. M. a collation was served.” Throughout the next few years, numerous meetings, parties, and euchres were held in the 2-story wood-frame house. Around 1897, the house was sold to a private family and the club moved its clubhouse to “the corner of Bushwick avenue and Harman street,” No. 897 Bushwick Avenue. “It is situated in one of the choicest residential sections of the city,” said the Times Union. “The building is a three-story […]
THE NAVY BICYCLE SQUAD OF BROOKLYN (1897)
******************************************************************************************************************************** Brownstone Detectives investigates the history of our clients’ homes. The story you are about to read was composed from research conducted in the course of one of those investigations. Do you know the history of YOUR house? ******************************************************************************************************************************** Boy! But the Navy sure knew how to get around back in the day! These “wheelmen” – resplendent in their military uniforms – were organized not just for play, but for work. As bicycling was as much of a past time then as it is today, these men likely rode not only for their enjoyment, but to travel from station to station, as well – also representing the Navy in bicycling races. Headquartered at 56th Street in Brooklyn, the Second Naval Battalion was organized just before this picture was taken in July of 1897. It performed duty for the state during the Spanish-American war on coast signal service, guarding mine fields at Willets Point, in Queens, and on patrol duty in New York harbor aboard various vessels. From the New York Tribune of 4 July 1897, we have pictured above, “the first meet of the Bicycle Squad of the 2nd Naval Battalion at the Memorial Arch (Grand Army Plaza) in Brooklyn.” Follow @BrownstoneDetec Share ———————————————————————————————————————– The Brownstone Detectives Brownstone Detectives is an historic property research agency. Our mission is to document and save the histories of our clients’ homes. From our research, we produce our celebrated House History Books and House History Reports. Contact us today to begin discovering the history […]
ARRESTED FOR SELLING BICYCLE OIL (1896)
******************************************************************************************************************************** Brownstone Detectives investigates the history of our clients’ homes. The story you are about to read was composed from research conducted in the course of one of those investigations. Do you know the history of YOUR house? ******************************************************************************************************************************** In 1896, bicycling was so enormously popular that Brooklynites were being arrested for it. So much so that “wheel” shops made it a practice on Bedford Avenue to stay open on Sundays in open violation of the “Sunday law” which prevented businesses from operating on that day. In April of that year, Detective Brady of the Fourth Precinct was sent on a mission to do something about this infringement upon decent society. Churchgoers living in the Bedford Avenue section – the primary bicycling route back then – were the most vocal complainers, informing the police that, at 1082 Bedford Avenue in particular, not only “are goods disposed of, but that the repairing department of some of these establishments are in full blast all day Sunday, and workmen are kept busy fixing up disabled wheels.” Armed with this information, Brady took a Sunday trip down the busy avenue – perhaps on his bicycle, to ensure he played well the part of the wheelman – to investigate. Arriving at the address in question, he “found the store of H.L. Wilkens & Co., at 1082 Bedford avenue, open and business being carried on.” Approaching a worker at the store, in order to have evidence against the establishment, Brady purchased a bottle of bicycle oil. […]
