First Things In Fort Wayne.

1907 - The First Things in Fort Wayne - The First High Bicycle - Clements W. Edgerton in 1879

Article from Feb 20, 1907 Fort Wayne Daily News (Fort Wayne, Indiana) 1907, First things fort wayne, Bicycle, Request first photographer

1907 - The First Things in Fort Wayne - The First High Bicycle - Clements W. Edgerton in 1879 Fort Wayne Daily News, Fort Wayne, Indiana, Wednesday, February 20, 1907, Page 4.

"The First Things" FORT WAYNE

The First High Bicycle.

The first "high" bicycle to make its appearance in the city was owned by Clement W. Edgerton in 1879. For years the peaceful inhabitants had led a life of quietude until one eventful day a small boy spread the alarm that he had seen a devil wagon made of two wheels flying up the streets. Upon examination the peaceful family heads discovered that it was none other than one of the oft heard of but never-before seen bicycles. Mr. Edgerton had read the advertisements in Scribner's magazine depicting the wonderful powers of velocipedes and decided that it would be what he wanted, so he ordered one from leading manufacturer of Boston. It was one of the large "thunderstorm and lighting affair" wheels, a large wheel in front and a small one in the rear, one of the kind that required the uses of a stepladder to mount. He rode it for nine years or until the new safety machines, came into use when he bought one of the later models. Mr. Edgerton was also the first "kodaker" in the city.

[ The News would like a 150-word contribution on "The First Photographer in Fort Wayne." This may be construed to mean the first daguereotype or tintype maker. ]

1907 - The First Things in Fort Wayne - The First Street Railway

Article from Feb 23, 1907 The Fort Wayne News (Fort Wayne, Indiana) 1907, First things fort wayne, First street railway, First patent washing machine

1907 - The First Things in Fort Wayne - The First Street Railway The Fort Wayne News, Fort Wayne, Indiana, Saturday, February 23, 1907, Page 6

"The First Things" -IN- FORT WAYNE

The First Street Rallway.

After years of irregular and inconvenient stage service the desire for a faster and cheaper service took form with the result that a street car company was organized in 1871 to use the city streets. An organization was formed with John H. Bass, president; Gilbert E. Burgley, secretary, and H. M. Williams, treasurer, and S. B. Bond, the Samuel T. Hanna, John H. Bass and R. S. Taylor as directors. Incorporation papers were filed with the secretary of state for the company, which was known as the Citizens' Street Railway company. On Oct. 10, 1871, the city council passed an ordinance authorizing the company to lay lines of railway on Calhoun, Creighton, Wallace and Lafayette streets. Gilbert E. Bursley was appointed superintendent of the system, and under his able jurisdiction the lines were rapidly rushed to completion, being opened up to traffic in the early spring of 1872. The old corporation was succeeded by the Fort Wayne Street Railroad company in 1888, which was practically an enlargement of the stock issue to gain money for an enlargement of the system, and had practically the same officers and directors.

(The News would like a 150-word article on "The First Patent Washing Machine in Fort Wayne.")

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