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| Schoverling, Daly and Gales card, 1903 Diary of Charles W. Stratton II |
Other than the bicycles, this card sums up Dr. Charles 'Charlie' W. Stratton II's favorite leisure activities. The card was found in Charlie's 1903 Diary. An avid hunter and fisherman, Charlie wrote of his adventures in his diaries. In 1903, his hunting and fishing trips were few in number as the bulk of his attention was on his studies at Albany Medical School:
Home to night at eleven Sweet with me. Find things in partly good shape at home. Am glad to get here. Hate to go to bed but must if I am going shooting. [Friday, October 30, 1903, Charles W. Stratton II (1876-1945) diary.]
An avid outdoorsman, why wasn't Charlie part of the bicycling craze of the early 1900s? The bicycle photographed below was Charlie's Christmas present in 1885. Before the snow could melt, Charlie's father passed away. He never rode the bike, retiring it to a shed that ever-after was memorialized as the 'bike barn.' Nearly 100 years later, Dr. Charles 'Jim' Stratton III (1918-1996) ensured the bike's pedals turned, giving it to a performing troop in the late 1900s.
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| Charles W. Stratton III with a Child's Penny-Farthing Bicycle, photograph by Marita Stratton |
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| Bike Barn, ca 1997, being painted by Charlie's (II) great grand-daughter (Emma) and grandson (Jim), photograph by Dick Stratton |
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| Unknown Gentleman with a Bicycle |
This photograph prominently displays a more modern bike complete with a chain drive and, it appears, tube tires. Could this bicycle be related to the Schoverling, Daly & Gales card? Perhaps the bicycle was a Christmas gift for a relative purchased from Schoverling? There were bikes of this design in 1903.... Sadly no mention is made of the bicycle or Schoverling in Charlie's diary.
A gun, two bicycles and true mystery men (undercover police?) have prompted this spin back in time. For more, see Sepia Saturday 148. Any help identifying my mystery man or dating the photograph is appreciated!
Sources:
"Unknown Gentleman with a Bicycle." Cabinet Card. 7 1/4 x 5 1/8. Stratton Family Papers. Privately held by Liz Stratton [ADDRESS FOR PRIVATE USE,] Cincinnati, Ohio, 2012. Liz Stratton is the wife of Charles' grandson.
Schoverling, Daly and Gales card. MS. New York, New York. Stratton Family Papers. Privately held by Liz Stratton [ADDRESS FOR PRIVATE USE,] Cincinnati, Ohio, 2012. The card was located the pocket of Charles W. Stratton II's 1903 diary. Liz Stratton is the wife of Charles' grandson.
Stratton, Charles 'Charlie' W., II. "The Standard Diary, 1903." MS. Lee, Massachusetts. Stratton Family Papers. Privately held by Liz Stratton [ADDRESS FOR PRIVATE USE,] Cincinnati, Ohio, 2012. Liz Stratton is the wife of Charles' grandson.
Stratton, Charles 'Charlie or Jim' W., III (Lee, Massachusetts). Photograph. Ca 1995. Digital image. Privately held by Liz Stratton, [ADDRESS FOR PERSONAL USE,] Cincinnati, Ohio. 2012.
Stratton, Emma and James 'Jim' W. Stratton (Lee, Massachusetts). Photograph. Ca 1995. Digital image. Privately held by Liz Stratton, [ADDRESS FOR PERSONAL USE,] Cincinnati, Ohio. 2012.
Stratton Family Traditions. Stratton family traditions regarding the 'big wheel bike' as related by Charles W. Stratton III in 1991. MS notes, ca 1991-2012. Cincinnati, Ohio. Stratton Family Papers. Privately held by Liz Stratton [ADDRESS FOR PRIVATE USE,] Cincinnati, Ohio, 2012. Liz Stratton is the wife of Charles' grandson.
I sure had fun with these toys! I like the direction you went with the theme!
ReplyDeleteThe early 1900s version of Dick's Sporting Goods! I wonder how long Cabelas and LL Bean have been around. :)
DeleteExactly, and I'm thinking Cabelas, LL Bean and our own Gander Mountain Stores are a wishing and a praying they'll last that long!
DeleteNow that Penny Farthing Bicycle is really cool! Very nice post!
ReplyDeleteIt strikes me that the bicycle in the last picture is absolutely spotless. So it could very well be a (Christmas) gift.
ReplyDeletePeter, you are right! It is spotless. I'll be digging through my reference books to try to get a better date on the photo. I may simply be in the wrong diary.
DeleteCan you IMAGINE riding on that penny-farthing? You'd have to have a spine of steel (not to mention other exceptionally sturdy body parts) to take a spin on that thing! Very entertaining post, Liz!
ReplyDeleteI love riding and soooo want to try out a Penny farthing! The one in the photograph is sized for a child. I can't imagine what it must have been like to be on the high wheel versions.
DeleteThat penny farthing just makes you want to own it.
ReplyDeleteJust read your entry and followed the link to your earlier bicycle entry. I almost used that same shot of the two men in bowlers on their penny farthings! Glad I ended up going a different direction with the theme. :)
DeleteA great pickup on the theme photo, Liz. Cycling was such an important part of late 19th early 20th century life, faster and more convenient than a horse or even an automobile. That last photo is a prizewinner, but why did the photographer insist on including the traditional fur rug?
ReplyDeleteThe rug is definitely a mystery as is the rather rough wall in the background. Do you suppose they just took out back behind the bike shop?!
DeleteA nice set of pictures Liz, but strangely I find the one of the grandchildren painting the bike barn the most interesting. Such industry! I'm assuming the grandson survived perching precariously on that picnic chair to do his painting?
ReplyDeleteBTW you may not be aware but you stil have word verification switched on and it can put people off commenting. Most of us have done away with it now with no ill effects.
Thanks Nell. I thought I had that word verification switched off! I hate doing those things.
DeleteYes, I see the resemblance between grandson and Unknown. I'm forever seeing my family in photos of family several generations back. It could make you a believer in reincarnation.
ReplyDeleteI love how the bike barn name has come down through the generations, it certainly being kept tip top condition. I wonder if the man with the bike (and rug) is a member of a bicycling club, he looks the part and has something in his lapel, badge or ribbon.
ReplyDeleteGreat thought Joy! Another avenue to explore.
DeleteThat penny-farthing is remarkable. Would have made a nice collectible. Interesting journey in your ancestor's life.
ReplyDelete:)~
HUGZ
Sorry to be so late in responding, Liz.
ReplyDeleteThis was a lovely post. Perhaps, young Charles associated the bicycle with his father and couldn't bring himself to use it?
The more recent photo of the painting of the house I found most interesting, since "Jim's" hat would not have been out of place decades earlier, don't you think?
@Kat,
ReplyDeleteI think both the association and young Charles schedule must have kept him away from the bike. On the death of his father, the house was converted to a Boarding House and Charles took on many new chores.
Maybe Charlie's father said he would help him with the bike in the Spring, and there was nobody else that could help him.
ReplyDelete