MUSEUM CORNER MArch 2021

Singin’ a little sunshine song and bicycling

By Becky Buher

At this writing, I am looking at the sunshine through a window at home. After all the snow we have experienced these past weeks, the sun is a welcome sight. The snow has melted, and I can finally get my car out of the garage.

In thinking back, I remember that every March seemed to have one big snowstorm that came during the boys’ basketball sectional tourneys. Somehow, though, we were able to get to the ballgames. Before consolidation in Lawrence County, north of White River there were high schools in Bedford, Fayettville, Heltonville, Oolitic, Needmore, Shawswick, Tunnelton, and Williams. South of White River were Mitchell and Huron high schools. What fun it was to try to win basketball games against the rival teams.

With the small schools, the girls didn’t have organized school sports teams. With consolidation, came more opportunities for girls. Of course, the 1972 federal law, Title IX, helped by prohibiting sex-based discrimination in schools that received federal money.

Back then, I was living on a farm, and I also remember during those late snowstorms, the early spring calves began to be born.  Snows were not as bad as the icy rains. We had a small basement at the farmhouse with a coal bin and a coal furnace. Often, we would carry the cold, wet newborn calves into the hot basement to get the ice off, dry them off and give them a chance to warm up before they were carried out again into the cold to rejoin the mama cows.

Remembering those things makes me look even more forward to spring and summer. After being cooped up for almost a year, and after receiving my COVID19 vaccination, I’m really looking forward to feeling the sunshine on my face and safely enjoying activities with friends.

In thinking of activities, one historical activity people have enjoyed here for over one hundred years is bicycling.

Bedford had a “Wheelist” bicycle club. The members were mostly men, but several women joined the ranks. As early as 1895 Ben Sykes (aka local Bedford dentist and wheelman, Dr. C. E. Nary) was writing a column in “The Bedford Daily Mail” newspaper, entitled “On Two Wheels.”

I thought you might enjoy a part of an article from the Aug. 9, 1895 column on biking etiquette.

“Men and women ride side by side for miles, and while women ostensibly and voluntarily puts herself on the same footing as her escort, by accepting the same conditions, she is still the weak member of the “firm,” and needs a certain amount of helping to enjoyment and forbearance on hills. One should never let his selfish desire to “plug” up a hill, for instance, pull him away from the side of a lady companion whose weaker muscles (as well as a heavier wheel) make it necessary to dismount humbly and also meekly at the foot and walk up. Of course, you show her how easy it is, and what a strong rider you are, and you can dismount at the top and wait for her, but it is not kind in you by any means, and rather shows you up as one “stuck” on yourself, and besides, it’s a tough lonesome job walking up hills alone.”

He continues: “Always ride on the left side of a lady, and in case of an accident you have your “strong right arm” to assist her with, and in case you’re left handed you had better ride on the right side, this for several reasons: in case you meet a vehicle you have it on your left and the lady runs no risk. In passing a wagon you always take the lead and your companion follows.…”

At that time, bicycle riders also liked to use the horse track that was located at the Agricultural Fairground. I understand the fairgrounds were located near the current location of the Church of Christ on 12th street. The horsemen at the track started asking for a 25 cent subscription from the cyclers (most didn’t pay). The horsemen said the bicycle wheel did more damage to the track than the horse’s tracks did. But as you might guess, the cyclers came back with the idea that if the horses were kept off the track for a few weeks, the cyclers would have the track in fine shape.

Back in the present, I’m still looking for fun ideas; maybe tomorrow I’ll take a walk in the sunshine.