"Barkers of Branford"--Part II--Women join 1890's Bicycle Craze

The following is an excerpt from the book. It is available for $30 at the Blackstone Library in Branford. Details at www.BarkersOfBranford.com

The "Golden Age of Bicycling "in the 1890's became so popular that it impacted the popular music of the time (see sheet music covers). Llewellyn Barker's wife Dell and their daughters joined this popular trend.

“afternoon we went down on the Avenue for the girls to learn to ride the Bicycle. Dell does well & so does Venia” 9/5/1896

Susan B. Anthony, women’s suffrage pioneer, said the bicycle “has done more to emancipate women than anything else in the world. It gives women a feeling of freedom and self-reliance.”[i] Bustles and petticoats were jettisoned. Women could jetison social convention pedaling wherever they wished without restrictive clothing or boundaries.

THE "DELL & I" ADVENTURES

Dell and LLew often went onbiking adventures together. They echoed the sentiments playing out in the media of the day regarding America’s romance with the bicycle… and each other.

’”Dell & I went up to Gerties to North Guilford on our wheels. I went up to Durham too” 11/18/1896

“It was such a pleasant day Dell & Iroad our wheels up to Durham we stopped in No. Guilford at Gertie’s who gave Dell a cup of tea. The wheeling was very bad mud in the road & brush & water on the side but we managed to get there and back again by ½ past 5" 12/14/1896

MISADVENTURES CLOSE TO HOME

For both Dell and Llew however, bicycling was not without its mishaps; the first occurred only four days after Dell got her bike.

”Dell washed and went down to Annie’s on her wheel. She fell off going down the shop hill” 11/16/1896

“Dell & I started about 1 oclock for North Guilford up to her mother’s found her better and started for home about 3 o'clock. When we were coming through the swamp Dell took a “header” one leg in the swamp, one in the mud of the road. She didn’t break her neck but yelled” 12/10/1896

“The wheel fell down and cut my chin. Dell sewed it up. Quite a gash” 9/19/1896

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Ted Braun's book “The Barkers of Branford: Life in America Through a Local Lens” is available for $30 at the Blackstone Library in Branford. Details at www.BarkersOfBranford.com