(Updated 12/7/24) The Wright Brother's Cycle shops occupied multiple (1) locations from the years 1892 through 1907. The addresses identified by previous historians, listed in order by date include 1005 West Third Street (December 1892-1893), 1015 West Third Street (1893), 1034 West Third Street (1893-October 1894), 22 South Williams Street (Spring of 1895-1897), 23 West Second Street (1895), and 1127 West Third Street (1897-1907). The Wright's printing business was also conducted at two of these addresses, 22 South Williams, and 1127 West Third Street. Prior to selling bicycles, the Wright's printing activities occurred at 15 Hawthorn Street (Sines & Wright, 1884), at 7 Hawthorn Street (Sines & Wright 1886 and Wright Bros Job Printers 1888/89), 1210 West Third Street (April 1889- October 1890), and the second floor level of the Hoover Block (October 1890- Spring of 1895). The Cycle repair business was briefly located at the second floor of the Hoover Block between the time of vacating 1034 West Third, and occupying 22 South Williams (October 1894-Spring 1895).
This author has found through the careful examination of the 1887-1950 Sanborn Fire Insurance maps, the Williams' Dayton City Directories of the period, the Montgomery County Records and Archives, and other historical documents, that long accepted locations and details of a number of the buildings utilized by Wilbur and Orville Wright for their printing and cycle businesses have been in error due to previous historian's misinterpretations of the evidence. A number of factors responsible for the confusion will be explained as each early location is discussed.
- The precise location of the Wright's first print shop at 1210 West Third Street historically has been incorrectly associated with a multi-tenant two-story structure that did not exist in 1889/1890 when the Wright's occupied this address.
- The correct address for the first Wright Cycle Exchange is 1015 West Third in lieu of 1005 West Third Street. The Wright Cycle Exchange never occupied 1005. The building at 1005 available in 1892/1893 was a small single-story structure, in lieu of the two-story tenant space, with basement, associated with the 1005 eastern section of the Gem City Ice Cream Building. There is no record of any business occupying this small single-story structure.
- The location of the 1034 West Third Street Wright Cycle Exchange/Wright Cycle Company has been incorrectly identified as within a building (no longer standing) several lots east from its actual 1893/1894 location.
1210 West Third- West Side News/The Evening Item/Job Printing (April 1889-October 1890)
The Wright's first rented shop location for publication of their papers and job printing services from April of 1889 through October of 1890 was within a small single story building at 1210 West Third Street. This location has been misidentified by previous historians as the same store front occupied by The Busy Bee Lunch, as shown in Carillon Park Dayton History photograph P.2005.33.1146A, dated to 1952. The confusion was partly due to building address changes that have occurred along West Third Street over time. Further confusion was due to older buildings being replaced by newer structures with the same address, and then assumed to be the same building the Wright's occupied. The address number for The Busy Bee Lunch was 1210 in 1952, but prior to 1939, this address was 1206.(2) If the building had existed in 1889/90, the Wright's would have been located in this building two doors to the west. However, this structure wasn't in place in 1889/90 as can be seen by comparing the Sanborn Fire Insurance maps of 1887, 1897, 1919, and 1950 below.
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| The Wright's West Side News / The Evening Item Printing location at 1210 West Third Street in 1889/90 occupied a small single-story building as shown in the 1887 and 1897 Sanborn Fire Insurance maps. Prior to 1919, this single-story building had been demolished and replaced by the 1200-1210 two-story structure shown on the 1919 Sanborn map and in the 1952 photograph. This newer structure was never occupied by the Wright's printing business. |
The first edition of Orville's weekly paper was printed at 7 Hawthorn Street, dated March 1, 1889. Orville reported in the April 13, 1889 issue of West Side News, "We are glad to inform the friends of the News that we have secured a neat little office on Third Street, near the corner of Third and Broadway, where our business will be conducted hereafter. Persons wishing to subscribe for the paper or to insert advertisements will find us in the new building at 1210 West Third Street."
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| The October 12, 1889 issue of West Side News included an ad for Pearl Steam Laundry, and indicated customers could leave their work at the West Side News Office, apparently for pick up by Pearl Steam Laundry, for convenience of those living in West Dayton. Courtesy of Wright State University Special Collections and Archives, Core Scholar. |
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| The May 1890 issues of The Evening Item included an advertisement for J. Champion's The Sandusky Fish Market. Note the address, 1210 W. Third Street. Orville and Wilbur shared this small store front with this fish market during 1890. The Fish Market was also listed in the 1890/91 William's Dayton City Directory, as was The Evening Item, both at 1210 West Third. Wilbur did like his Oysters, often on the menu for the dinner of the Annual Club of the Ten Dayton Boys. Courtesy of Wright State University Special Collections and Archives, Core Scholar. |
Here at 1210 West Third Street, the Wright's published their weekly paper, West Side News, followed by their daily paper, The Evening Item, with the last issue dated July 30, 1890. Their mother Susan Wright died July 4, 1889 after a long battle with tuberculosis. Wilbur was praised by his father concerning his son's care for his mother in her final years, with Milton saying, "His mother being a declining, rather than a suffering invalid, he devoted himself to taking all care of her, and watching and serving her with a faithfulness and tenderness that can not but shed happiness on him in life, and comfort him in his last moments. Such devotion of a son has been rarely equaled."(3) Wilbur and Orville delayed the printing of the July 3, 1889 issue of West Side News to include the eulogy for their mother, stating, "We children learned to look upon mother as almost perfection itself. No
kinder mother ever lived than ours; none who loved her children more;
none who more unselfishly sacrificed her own comforts and joys to give
pleasure and happiness to those she loved....For nearly eight years, she
has been afflicted with lung disease and has gradually declined in
health, but in that time no one ever heard one word of murmur or
complaint pass her lips.....A Christian since a child, she died
like a babe falling asleep, the beloved wife and almost idolized
mother...Upon father, weighed down as he is by both years and cares,
this loss will fall heaviest. May Heaven sustain him. In the hearts of her children, Mother will ever live as the truest Christian, the noblest woman and the dearest mother, this world has ever produced... Our mother has gone, but her spirit will ever be with us."
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| July 3, 1889 West Side News Vol 1, No 17, printed at 1210 West Third Street, author's copy. |
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| The Wright's first rented print shop location, 1210 West Third Street, 1887 Sanborn Fire Insurance map superimposed on modern day aerial view of West Third Street and South Broadway. The site of the 1210 1889/90 building in 2021 is an empty lot. Today, just north of this location is the reproduction facade of the Wright Aeronautical Laboratory at 15 North Broadway (the Lab originally built in 1916). Orville's 3-story commercial/residential Boyd Building, constructed in 1912, was located at the northwest corner of West Third and North Broadway. |
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| Standing by statue of Orville Wright at 15 North Broadway looking south toward West Third Street, the yellow arrow marks the location (in the parking lot south of West Third) of the 1210 West Third Street Wright's West Side News/The Evening Item Print Shop. Photo by author, June, 2021. |
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| Location of 1210 Wright Print Shop coincidentally is centered at location of painted arrow pointing south into lot entry from West Third Street. Photo by author, June, 2021. Sign at southwest corner of Broadway and West Third identifies the area as Wright Printers Site (1889-1890). |
The
interview notes and research performed in 1936 by the Henry Ford team at the time the 1127 West Third Street Wright Cycle Shop was relocated to Dearborn Michigan
is not without errors. From an interview with Orville 11-11-36,
discussing the West Side News, the team wrote, "The weekly was
devoted to the interests of the Dayton West Side. It carried
advertising. Job work was also solicited from the local merchants.
Orville Wright started this alone and Wilbur never had any financial
interest in it. According to Mr. Wright, Wilbur's name was put on the
masthead as editor since Wilbur, who wrote very easily, produced some of
the editorials. Orville wrote the early ones. He was still in school
when he started the business. Dunbar, the colored poet, who was a
resident of Dayton, wrote a selection for the West Side News for the
"April Bust" (1889 or 1890). Ed Sines had no part in West Side News." This
is in error, as Ed Sines most definitely had a part in West Side News.
He was the solicitor for advertisements. Orville was likely
misunderstood, intending to communicate that Ed Sines had no written
editorials in West Side News. The issue for "April Bust" by Paul Laurence Dunbar was April 5, 1890.
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| April 5, 1890 issue of West Side News with poem written by Paul Laurence Dunbar. Courtesy of Wright State University Special Collections and Archives, Core Scholar. |
Hoover Block 2nd Fl- Wright & Wright Job Printers (November 1890-Spring 1895)
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| Hoover Block, southeast corner of West Third and Williams Streets. Photo by Author, March 2012. |
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| West Side notes in the October 21, 1890 issue of The Dayton Herald, move from 1210 West Third to Second floor of Hoover Block. |
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| West Side notes in the November 25, 1890 issue of The Dayton Herald, "Tid Bits" printed at the second floor level of the Hoover Block. |
The second rented Wright & Wright Job Printers location was at the second floor level of the Hoover Block at the southeast corner of West Third and Williams streets, October 1890- Spring of 1895. Construction of the building had just recently been completed. Just two months prior, exterior brick work was ongoing, at that time just above the first floor story, and interior plastering and painting was underway.(4) Paul Laurence Dunbar's weekly newspaper "Dayton Tattler" was printed here in December of 1890. Just three issues were published- December 13, 20, and 27.
On May 2, 1891, Wright & Wright Job Printers issued an encore West Side News. This issue has been identified in the Wright State Special Collections and Archives Core Scholar website as published May 2, 1890, in lieu of 1891. "This issue of West Side News is believed to have been published in May of 1890 rather than 1891." The archived issue has the date 1891 crossed out in pencil with 1890 written above. This is in error. This can be clearly shown as not published in May of 1890 as on the second page of the issue, the printing location is given as the Hoover Block. The issue has no identification as to Volume 2, Issue 3, which it would have if printed in 1890 following the last printed issue Volume 2, Issue 2 April 5, 1890. Further, the first page includes an announcement from J. A. Gilbert that due to loses extending credit, after the date of May 1, 1891, he would only sell on the cash system. The news of the day could also easily be verified to that of 1891 in lieu of 1890.
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| May 2, 1891 West Side News published by Wright & Wright Printers, Hoover Block. Courtesy of Wright State University Special Collections and Archives, Core Scholar. |
Three years later, the Wright's published another weekly called "Snap Shots at Current Events" with the first issue dated October 20, 1894. The 1894 issues of the Snap Shots up to the last issue of the year December 29, listed the location printed as Cor. Third & Williams. The January 19, 1895 issue lists no specific location for either the print shop or the Wright Cycle Shop, perhaps because the businesses were in transition, preparing to move to 22 South Williams.
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| Snap-Shots, December 29, 1894, Vol 1, No 11, Published weekly by Wright &Wright, Printers, Cor. Third & Williams, Hoover Block, second floor, courtesy of Library of Congress Archives. |
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| Looking out from second floor window of Hoover Block toward northwest corner of West Third and Williams. Recreation of Wright & Wright Job Printers, photo by Author, 2014. |
1015 West Third Street- Wright Cycle Exchange (December 1892-1893)
The first location for the Wright's bicycle business has traditionally been identified as 1005 West Third Street, occupied in December of 1892. Wright historians (including this author) have written that the 1892 Wright Cycle Exchange was located in the same building later occupied and expanded by the Gem City Ice Cream Company. This "fact" has been repeated by many Wright historians, printed in numerous Wright biographies over the past 30+ years, and accepted as indisputable truth. This author however has determined through further study, that this piece of history is indeed incorrect, as can be ascertained through examination of the Sanborn Fire Insurance maps of 1887, 1897, 1919, and 1950, the Williams' Dayton City Directories of this time period, the Montgomery County Auditor GIS Document Archives, and the Montgomery County Records Center and Archives. The facts are straightforward and evident, and will be clearly stated here, as there is much in print that states otherwise.
The 1005 West Third Street building available in 1892 was a small single story structure as indicated on the 1897 Sanborn Fire Insurance map shown below, not much larger than the Wright's first printing shop location at 1210 West Third. Unlikely as a candidate for a Cycle Shop due to its small size, this 1005 building was necessarily later demolished for the construction of the 1005/07 two-story building eventually occupied by the Gem City Ice Cream Company in 1901/2. (Later expansions of the Gem City Ice Cream building attached to, and maintained much of the two-story original structure, including it's addresses of 1005/1007, and adding 1009/1011.) This building was originally known as The Nicholas Block, having been financed for construction by the owner, Abraham Nicholas. Abraham did not obtain this property (lot 6308) from the owners Henry and Elizabeth Kelly until January 18th of 1894.(5)
The Kellys lived at the residence of 1003 West Third on this lot 6308 from 1892 through 1894. (Prior to the Kellys, 1003 West Third was occupied by James Heffron from 1884 through 1891.) (6) Before construction of the Nicholas Block could proceed, the residence at 1003 West Third, and the small single story 1005 structure would require removal.
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| Comparison of the 1887, 1897, 1919, and 1950 Sanborn Fire Insurance Maps
shows the original single- story 1005 structure available to be
occupied by the Wright Cycle Exchange in 1892 later replaced by the 1896
two-story 1005/1007 Nicholas Block structure, later occupied and
expanded by The Gem City Ice Cream Company. The residence at 1003 West Third can be seen in the 1887 and 1897 maps, existing up through 1894. It is the belief of this author, however, that the evidence shows the Wright's never occupied 1005 West Third, but rather 1015 West Third. |
The construction of the Nicholas Block began no earlier than February of 1894, and completion was no later than September of 1896. As the Nicholas Block does not appear on the 1897 Sanborn map, construction likely occurred in 1896 with completion by September, late enough that it was missed in the 1897 Sanborn publication. Laura V. Nicholas advertised the opening of her Millinery in September of 1896, at 1007 West Third. Miss Nicholas ran a Millinery in 1007 of this building from 1896 (7) through 1900, the year her business ended due to bankruptcy.(8) The east half of the building, 1005, was occupied by Frost, Tillie, and Ray Benham, in 1899, Frost a merchant tailor, with residence at the second level. In 1900 and 1901, Frank Bayless, barber, and wife Ella utilized 1005, again with residence at the second floor.(9) In 1902, The Gem City Ice Cream Company moved into 1005.
The Montgomery County Auditor GIS
website incorrectly lists the Nicholas Block as being constructed in 1890. Listing an incorrect construction date is not unusual for buildings of this period, the
construction dates apparently often approximated. For example, the
Montgomery County Auditor GIS website lists the Midget Theater at 1019
West Third as constructed in 1900, but it is well known historically
that this building was constructed in 1912/13. The Montgomery County GIS
Auditor website lists the Hoover Block at West Third and Williams
streets as constructed in 1900, but it is well known historically that
this building was constructed in 1890. The National Park Services July 2014 West Third Street Historic District Cultural Landscapes Inventory, incorrectly indicates 1886 as the construction date for The Nicholas Block, later to
become the Gem City Ice Cream Building. The Nicholas Block was not in existence in 1886, nor was it in existence in 1892/3
and therefore had nothing to do with the first Wright Cycle Exchange
building, except to displace a small single-story building at that location and to take it's address of 1005.
Examination of the Williams Dayton City Directories indicate no evidence of the 1005/1007 addresses of the Nicholas Block prior to 1896. Further, this author has found no listing in the William's Dayton City Directories for any business occupying the small single-story 1005 structure that existed for an unknown number of years between 1886 and 1895.
Some historians have suggested the Wright's initially located in 1005 West Third, but the store proved to be too small, so they relocated to 1015 West Third. This would only make sense if 1005 was indeed a smaller single story building, and not the larger space in the Nicholas Block (which the archives clearly show did not exist in 1892/3). Or, perhaps in lieu of relocating, both 1005 and 1015 were occupied, with 1005 the repair shop, and 1015 the sales location. However, if 1005 was the repair shop, it would seem likely any advertisements for the business would have listed both addresses, but this was not the case (more on this later)(10). The small single story 1005 structure that existed in 1892/3 had less square footage than the 1015 structure as is evident in the Sanborn maps below. The 1896 Nicholas Block east side 1005 had greater square footage than 1015, and so the Wrights would not have moved from the Nicholas Block in 1892 (if this building existed in 1892, which it did not) over to 1015 in 1893 for more space, as 1015 did not have more space than the Nicholas Block. The Wright Cycle Exchange 1034 location is shown for size comparison.
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| 1897 Sanborn Fire Insurance map, West Third Street, with Nicholas Block 1005/1007 building superimposed from the 1919 Sanborn map for size comparison. Had the first Wright Cycle Exchange been located in the Nicholas Block, the Wright's would not have relocated to 1015 as the Nicholas Block had sufficient room, including a full basement. There is no evidence the Nicholas Block existed prior to 1896. |
The competition in 1892 included Bicycle Repairer William F. Haas located at 115 E. Third Street, and D. Clinton Herby, located at 43 W. Fourth Street, with Herby also selling bicycles at that location. A. W. Gump & Company Bicycle Shop was also located at 115 E. Third Street, and James Dodds Bicycle Shop was located at 11 S. Main Street. Wilbur and Orville would have been familiar with these locations, and certainty would have taken into consideration the amount of space each utilized to successfully perform their repair tasks, and space required to sufficiently stock and display their bicycles and products of the trade. With this knowledge, does it make sense that the small store front at 1005 would have been chosen to accommodate both repair and sales?
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| Comparison of sizes of competitor's Cycle Shop locations to the Wright Cycle Shops utilizing 1897 Sanborn Fire Insurance maps. A.W. Gump Co also sold guns, hunting coats, and typewriters, their store being the largest. Assumption is made that competitor's spaces utilize one story. More research is required to determine total square footage available at each location. 23 West Second street appears to have more square footage than 1005, but less than 1015. 23 West Second was utilized for bicycle sales only, and not repair work. |
As depicted in the 1887 and 1897 Sanborn maps, 1013/1015 was a combination commercial/residential building. The Fouts family occupied 1013 from 1871 through 1904. Josiah Fouts operated a grocer/feed store here from 1871 through 1879, then switching to manufacturing yeast here from 1879 until his death in 1895. (Orville mentioned Fouts in the March 16, 1889 issue of West Side News, "The Society of Christian Endeavor of the Broadway M. E. Church held a supper at the residence of Mr. Fouts, on West Third Street....".) His wife continued the business until 1904.(11) Prior to around 1884, the address of this structure was 1011/1013. After that date, the address changed to 1013/1015. In 1889, J. H. Casler and eventually successor William U. Shoup occupied 1015 for his natural gas and steam pipe fitting business. Both advertised in Orville's West Side News, August through December of that year. Casler retired and Shoup relocated to 1034 West Third in 1890 and remained there through 1891. After Shoup vacated 1015, Chas. Benz Shoe Store moved in, advertising in the March issues of West Side News, 1890.(12) The Wright Cycle Exchange was advertised in the Dayton Evening Press as located at 1015 West Third in March of 1893 through at least May of that year. After Wright Cycle Exchange vacated to 1034 West Third, 1015 was occupied by Fouts' The Owl Drug Company from 1895 through 1898, run by Josiah and Ellen's son William. William was born the same year as Wilbur Wright (1867), and in 1904, was one of the witnesses to the Wright's flights at Huffman Prairie. The Owl Drug Company moved to the north west side of 3rd and Williams in 1899.(13)
The 1893 1015 West Third Street location for the Wright Cycle Exchange was discovered by Fred C. Fisk, co-author of The Wright Brothers from Bicycle to Biplane, with co-author Marlin W. Todd. Fred purchased a picture frame from a friend Rice Kendall at the Montgomery County Fairgrounds antique show in 1985. Within the frame was mounted an 1893 newspaper page, and on the bottom center of the page was an ad for the Wright Cycle Exchange. Upon closer examination, the address of 1015 West Third was seen, an address which was unknown as a Wright Cycle location up to that time. Fred contacted Nancy Horlacher at the Dayton Montgomery County Library, and requested that she search for the ad in the newspaper archives for 1893. Nancy determined the ads had been printed in the Dayton Evening Press for the dates March 25, 27-31, April 1, 3-8, and 10 for a total of 14 ads. The ad was revised for printing on April 11th, and another 25 ads were placed through May 16th.(14) The finding was questioned by some as possibly a typo of the address, which is beyond unlikely, as the Wright's would certainly of become aware of the typo after so many repeated printings. In fact, there is more evidence confirming the 1015 location, due to 39 printed ads carrying the 1015 address, as opposed to confirmation of the 1005 address with no ads at all.
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| Wright Cycle Exchange, 1015 West Third Street Between Williams and Baxter, 1893. |
If 1015 is indeed the correct historical address of the first Wright Cycle Exchange, where did the information originate providing the 1005 address? It appears to have its origin back in 1936. Orville Wright was interviewed in 1936 when Henry Ford purchased and relocated the 1127 Wright Cycle Company and 7 Hawthorn structures to Dearborn Michigan. Amongst various subjects, Orville was asked about the early cycle shop locations. From notes in the Benson Ford Library Archives, the initial typed interview account exists, as do multiple revised copies with additional information noted on each copy in pencil. In the original version, Orville did not indicate specific building numbers of the Wright Cycle business, but rather, general locations. The original version reads,
"Mr. Wright stated (11-20-36) that their first bicycle shop was located in the middle of the one thousand block on the north side of Third Street, that they were in this location only four or five months- November or December, 1892 to May 1893. They moved because there wasn't sufficient room. Their next location was on the south side of Third street in the same block. In the early part of 1895 they moved again, this time to Williams Street...."
Orville Wright stated that the first bicycle shop was located in the middle of the one thousand block on the north side. 1005 was not in the middle, it was to the extreme far east end of the 1000 block. 1015, however, is more to the middle, as described by Orville Wright. Orville made no mention of two locations, one a repair shop and the other for sales.(15)
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"Mr. Wright stated that their first bicycle shop was located in the middle of the 1000 block on the north side of Third Street, that they were in this location only four or five months..." The single story 1005 structure of 1892 was located in the area of the later constructed 1007 section of the Gem City Ice Cream building. 1015 Wright Cycle Exchange was located in current day empty lot behind the brick wall. Panoramic compiled of photos by author, 2021. Click on image for larger view. |
Milton's diary entry for December 21, 1892, "...Wilbur sick in evening; Appendicitis."
At the eighth annual meeting of the Annual Club of Ten Dayton Boys (October 14, 1893), Wilbur shared "Soon after our last meeting I was taken very ill and was confined to the house for nearly a month. At length I was well enough to go about again; but a few days before Christmas I had another attack much more severe than the other, from which I did not recover for for nearly two months. Indeed I am not sure that I am entirely rid of it yet. About the beginning of April I embarked in the bicycle business and though times have been very hard and prices very unsteady, I have escaped bankruptcy. I spent a few days in August attending bicycle races at Columbus and Springfield, and in September spent a month at the 'Columbian Exposition'. The rest of the year has been spent at home." It is curious he felt he hadn't really begun in the business until April 1893, during the time he clearly occupied 1015 West Third, a week after the ads began to appear in The Dayton Evening Press, with his first customers perhaps dropping by at that time (customers never to step foot in 1005 West Third). Fred Kelly wrote, "Their first interest in bicycles was racing; but as their interest grew, they arranged in December, 1892, to start the Wright Cycle Co., to sell, repair, and manufacture bicycles. They opened for business in the Spring of 1893." (22)
1015 was occupied by George W. M. Bookwalter, Real Estate, from 1901-1908, and by S.E. Bookwalter Electric Company from 1912-1918. Louis F Korte Lighting Fixtures moved in late 1918 and stayed through 1932. Liberty Electric is listed at this address from 1934 through 1937. In 1937, the adjacent 1017 building was demolished and a new building constructed in its place, financed by the Gem City Ice Cream Company and leased to Liberty Electric. H.P. Morris & Co moved in to 1015 to take Liberty's place in 1937. Ed John's Appliance Shop was located in 1015 from 1940 through 1942. 1015 was listed as vacant in 1944 and 1946. The Hagar family lived at 1015 1/2 from 1944 through at least 1948. The Gem City Ice Cream Company was using 1015 as warehouse space in 1948. 1015 was demolished prior to 1951, no longer listed as an address in that year's directory, and no longer depicted on the 1950 Sanborn Fire Insurance map. Perhaps an archeological dig at the site would yield a portion of the basement foundation preserved below grade where this building stood until 70 years ago.(21)
Update- The Gem City Ice Cream Building no longer exists, as it was demolished the fall of 2022. The empty lot of 1015 has been somewhat disturbed during the demolition, but remains for a potential archeological dig and preservation as green space if there is any interest (of which there doesn't appear to be).
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| Former site of the Gem City Ice Cream Building, photo by Author October 11, 2022. Space between building to left and utility pole is location of Wright's first Cycle Shop, 1015 structure demolished around 1950. This small lot, if preserved as green space, could mark the Wright's first Cycle Shop location. |
1034 West Third Street- Wright Cycle Exchange (1893), Wright Cycle Company (1894)
The Wright Cycle Exchange relocated to 1034 West Third Street in 1893. The correct location of 1034 can be determined by examination of the Sanborn maps of 1887, 1897, 1919, and 1950. Address changes occurring in 1939 have confused previous historians, resulting in misidentifying the Orth Building as the location for the Wright Cycle Exchange. This building carried the address of 1022/1024 originally. After 1939, the address was changed to 1030/1034. The correct location of 1034 is identified by the yellow stars in this author's compilation of the Sanborn maps below.
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| Compilation of Sanborn maps from 1887, 1897, 1919, and 1950 is shown here, assembled by this author. The location of 1034 West Third is identified in each with a yellow star. This marks the building where the Wright Cycle Exchange/Wright Cycle Company was located in 1893-1894. The numbering of the addresses changed in 1939, with old and new numbering depicted on the 1950 plan. 1034 was changed to 1048. Also note that 1022/1024 was changed to 1030/1034, leading previous historians to mistakenly identify this building as the location of the 1893/94 Wright Cycle Company. |
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| The Moose Cafe, located at 1022 West Third Street, as pictured in the May 15, 1915 issue, courtesy of the Dayton Daily News. |
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| The
Orth building, 1960's photo. The Moose
Cafe occupied 1022 for decades, closing in the early 1960's. The address
for this building and others on West Third had changed in 1939.
1022/1024 was changed to 1030/1034. Due to the address change, this
photo has mistakenly been attributed to the 1034 Wright Cycle Company
location of 1893/94. The actual location of 1034 was further to the
west. In 1893/4, the front commercial addition pictured here did not exist, the address was 1024, and the structure was a residence. |
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| Current day empty lot of former location of Orth building and Moose Cafe. Note the short concrete wall along the right (west) side of the property. This wall can be seen in the 1960's picture of the Orth building previously shown. Photo by Author. |
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| Panoramic view of present day structures along south side of West Third
street showing empty lot at center of former location of Orth Building
(Moose Cafe). Photos by Author, 2021. Click on image for larger view. |
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| Panoramic view with Orth Building inserted in empty lot where it used to stand. The address prior to 1939 was 1022/24. The Orth Building address changed to 1032/34 after 1939, confusing later historians. The actual location of the Wright Brother's Wright Cycle Exchange was further to the west at the east most storefront of the Setzer Building location, just west of the Fish Market. Click on image for larger view. |
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| 2021
Photo by author of West Third Street Setzer Building and Hoover Block,
with historical pre-1939 address of 1034 West
Third Street, former Wright Cycle Exchange/Wright Cycle Company location
1893/94. Also shown are the adjacent businesses and addresses of
1893/94. Chas Chaffee Ice Cream was located at 1044 in the Hoover
Building. Above 1046, at the second floor level of the Hoover Block, Wright & Wright Job Printers operated from 1890-1895. Also at second floor level, Cincinnati Grocery Company. |
When Wright Cycle Exchange occupied 1034 West Third, the building was a single story structure as indicated in the 1887 and 1897 Sanborn maps. After the Wright's vacated 1034 in 1894, George Winder's Feed Store occupied 1034 from 1896 through George Winder's death in March of 1903. John Wagner's Feed Store was located here from 1905 through 1907. Likely in 1906, 1034 was converted to a two-story building.(16) Photos from 1912, 1920, and 1921 show 1034 tight against the adjacent 1036/1038/1040 building, with similar clapboard facade. By 1925, the clapboard had been replaced with a brick facade that exists to this day. This building historically has been called The Setzer Building. From 1905 through 1914, The Setzer Brothers Bakery occupied 1036, briefly also occupying 1038 in 1906. In 1925, The Purple Delight was located in 1034, and DeWeese Hardware Company was at 1036. Photos of each appeared at separate times and are compiled below merged with modern photo of the Setzer brick facade.
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| The Purple Delight 1034 store front was pictured in the September 5, 1925 Dayton Herald. The DeWeese Hardware Company store front at 1036 was pictured in the April 16, 1925 Dayton Daily News.The doors in between the storefronts led to the second floor residential level. |
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| In August of 1925, The Purple Delight opened at 1034 West Third Street. It has not been determined if the storefront of the Wright's 1893 Wright Cycle Exchange and 1894 Wright Cycle Company at this location was similar in appearance, but it was located at this exact position. |
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| 2021 photo showing east edge of front facade above historical tenant space 1034 preserved from original Setzer building with newer structure extended to the south (behind the facade). This brick facade replaced the original clapboard facade sometime between 1922 and 1925. |
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| View of the Setzer building basement east foundation wall supporting the remnant of the original facade. This section of wall may well represent the original east basement wall of the Wright's 1034 West Third street Wright Cycle Exchange. The framed single-story 1034 building occupied by the Wright's in 1893/4 was converted to a two-story building likely in 1906. If the construction was a total replacement from basement upward, then the basement wall pictured here does not date back to the Wright's occupation. However, if the basement was maintained, then this wall may represent a remnant of the Wright's 1034 Wright Cycle Exchange/ Wright Cycle Company. |
From the Benson Ford Archives, Orville Wright, when interviewed in November of 1936, the interviewer wrote, "The printing business was continued along with the bicycle shop. Mr.
Wright stated (11-11-36) that the printing press, which was made mostly
of wood, had a metal bed and steel cylinders and that it was such a
freak thing that people came to see it. He said that it was stored in a
cellar at 1034 Third Street where they had located in 1894-95 (actually 1893-94) and just
left there." It is curious that this printer would be stored in the basement of the 1034 West Third Street Wright Cycle Company, as printing at that time was being performed at the Hoover Block next door. This 1936 account is in conflict with the 1909 account of Edwin Sines. From the June 15, 1909 issue of The Dayton Herald, Disagreement of Boys is Cause of Success, the following account was provided, "The Wright boys invented a printing press of their own, made of wood, which did an excellent work, and which caused considerable comment, and drew a great deal of attention from publishers and pressmen in all parts of the country....not the least of these being...E. C. James. Sines describes one of his visits to the print shop of the Wright Brothers as follows....'E. C. James, I think he was agent for a Chicago house at the time, came to the printing shop almost every time he visited the city. One day he walked into the front office and asked if 'that Wright press is running today'. When we told him it was running at the time he said he would like to see it. Well, he went back into the press room, stood by the machine, looked at it, then sat down beside it and finally crawled underneath it. After he had been under the machine some little time he got up and said, 'well, it works, but I certainly can't see how it does the work', and he was like many others', continued Sines, who admitted that hardly anyone but the Wrights could figure out the machine. When the Wrights quit the printing business, the machine was taken apart, the bed sold to a man who used it for an entirely different purpose than a printing press, and the balance of the machine remained in the cellar under the workshop for a long time. This type of machine was never duplicated by any other inventor, although its existence and its work had been heralded to practically all printing press offices in this part of the country." From this account, the location Sines describes for the final resting place of the printer is 1127 West Third, not 1034 West Third. He mentioned the press wasn't dismantled until the Wright's quit the printing business, and the balance of the machine was stored in the cellar under the workshop. This didn't occur until 1899, when the Wrights occupied 1127 West Third.
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| Stationary letterhead for 1034 West Third Street Wright Cycle Company, letter from Wilbur to father Milton, courtesy of the Library of Congress Archives. |
Wilbur wrote to his father Milton Wright on October 2, 1894, and shared, "We will give up our bicycle store in about a week and will probably move our repair shop up stairs in the printing office. There is hardly enough business to justify us in keeping so expensive a room any longer." Assuming this plan was implemented, the 1034 West Third location was abandoned, and the bicycle repair business was temporarily moved to the second floor of the Hoover Block, joined with Wright & Wright Job Printers.
23 West Second Street- Wright Cycle Company (1895)
Announcements under the heading of "The Bicycle Industry" in the February 13, 1895 issue of The Dayton Evening Herald, stated, " Probably no branch of business in Dayton will be so brisk this year as the bicycle industry. Dayton is the center of activity here-abouts in the bicycling trade. With a manufactory and about a dozen stores, some of them branch offices, and among the largest in the country, Dayton will go ahead with a boom, the coming season. A list of the dealers, and the wheels they will handle follows: The Indiana Bicycle Company, of Indianapolis, has established a branch here for the sale of their wheel, the Waverly.....Walter E. Haas & Co. will handle Tribunes and Eagles for high grade wheels, and Crescents for a medium priced machine. The Dayton Cycle Company, Frank Rudy, manager, will continue to sell E.C. Stearns & Co.'s output, the Yellow Fellows, the coming season. They will also handle the Munger, a high grade wheel, and the Outing and Cornell for cheaper grade bicycles. A.W. Gump & Co. will sell the Rambler bicycle, strictly high grade. They will also handle the U.S. wheel, a bicycle made especially for them. They have besides the agency for the Crescent and Admiral. William Hall has the Columbia agency, and will sell Columbias and Hartfords exclusively.....Mr. T. M. Harley will work up the interests of the Eclipse, the Ide and the Elmore. The Wright Cycle Company will continue to handle the Halliday-Temple Scorcher, and have beside the Wright special, New Reading and the Featherstone wheels......
G. W. Shroyer & Co., are on hand with the Victor wheels. They have opened a new store and will sell Victors, Falcons, Shroyer's Special and the Featherstone line of machines. A number of the bicycle dealers who were in the business last year will not handle wheels the coming season."
Indiana Bicycle was located at 12 West Second street. William Hall sold the Hartford's and Columbia's at 14 West Second. The Dayton Cycle Company was located at 20 West Second Street, manager Frank S. Rudy. On April 12th of 1895, an ad appeared in The Dayton Evening Herald, announcing a New Bicycle Store, located across the street from Dayton Cycle, "Frank S. Rudy, 23 W. Second St.", dealer of Barnes Bicycles, "Highest Grade and listed at $100.00- sells for $85.00 on account of our late opening." The ads continued through that week. Rudy "severed his relationship with the Dayton Cycle Company, and is now in business for himself."(17) However, by May of 1895, the store front at 23 W. Second St was vacated, and Frank S. Rudy had left the Dayton area for Syracuse NY to work for the Stearns Manufacturing Company.(18) In short order, 23 W. Second St was occupied by yet another Bicycle dealer, The Wright Cycle Company. The Dayton Cycle Company would advertise by June of 1895 that they were distributors of Barnes bicycles.
Milton Wright records in his diary entry of May 24, 1895, "At home writing. In afternoon called at Best's & got my watch, $3.00 charges; at Young's 15 minutes; and at Wilbur's bicycle store, 23 W. Second Street." Interesting that Milton refers to the location as Wilbur's; perhaps Orville ran the 22 South Williams store.
The July 10, 1895 "Cycle Notes" printed in the Evening Herald shared, "The Wright Cycle Co. has removed from the West Side to 2nd St., a few doors west of Main." Misleading, in that Wright Cycle did not leave the West Side, but rather, opened a location in downtown Dayton, while maintaining their new shop location at 22 South Williams Street. The Wright's would operate the 23 West Second street location for less than a year.(19)
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| Advertisement for Wright Cycle Company, two locations, 23 West Second, and 22 South Williams. Ads appeared in The Dayton Herald, month of July 1895. |
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| 25/23 West 2nd Street during the March 1913 flood. 25/23 West 2nd is the building with the 2nd floor railing, sandwiched between The Inn to the left, and Rike-Kumler to the right. Frank Beh "Artistic Picture Frame Maker and Gilder" was located at 25 West 2nd. |
 |
| Panoramic
formed by author by joining two postcard views, West 2nd Street looking east
toward Main street. These buildings no longer stand, now location of the
Benjamin & Marian Schuster Performing Arts Center. Click on image for larger view. |
The February 13, 1895 article quoted earlier made mention the Wright Cycle Company was engaged in production of "The Wright Special" in February of 1895, or at least planning for production before the opening of the 23 West Second location in May of 1895. This is one year earlier than has been noted by other sources. Orville wrote to his father on October 8th of 1895, saying, "Our bicycle business is beginning to be a little slack, though we sell a wheel now and then. Repairing is pretty good. We expect to build our wheels for next year. I think it will pay us, and give us employment during the winter."(20) Perhaps a number of Wright Specials were produced and sold during the 1895 season, showing promise for beginning the production of other Wright brands in 1896. In the March 28th, 1902 issue of The Dayton Herald, an article likely written by the Wrights promoting The Wright Cycle Company indicated, "The Wright Cycle Company began business on West Third street in 1893, and is now the oldest bicycle firm in Dayton. For several years it acted as agent for several well known English and American factories, but in 1896, after some experimenting, it began the manufacture of bicycles in its own shop. Van Cleve bicycles have now been on the market for six years...." It is possible the "some experimenting" mentioned here, had occurred during the 1895 season at the 22 South Williams location, with sales of these experimental bicycles offered at 23 West Second.
22 South Williams Street- Wright Cycle Company/Wright & Wright Printers (1895-1897)
The Wright's moved both the printing and bicycle businesses to 22 South Williams Street in early 1895. They would remain at this location into 1897. The Benson Ford Library Archives include information shared by Orville Wright in November 30, 1936, "In the early part of 1895 they moved again, this time to Williams Street where they began building the Van Cleve bicycle in 1896, making about fifteen the first year. In addition to this they continued to sell other makes of bicycles which bore the trade name 'Redding'.......After starting the manufacture of the Van Cleve bicycle....A couple years later they started the manufacture of the St. Clair, a medium priced bicycle and then added the Wright Special which sold at $18.00 each. This was of seamless tubing and was equipped with Morgan & Wright tires. The Wright Special was made to meet competition and they did not make so many of them."
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| Restored 22 South Williams Wright Cycle Company. Photo by author, 2020. |
On May 16, 1896, Milton Wright wrote in his diary, "....The boys got the first 'Wright Special' bicycle ready for sale, and a ladies' wheel about so- both their own manufacture."
The Oberlin Review reported in the September 30th issue that "Miss Wright went home after summer school to nurse her brother through typhoid fever."
Milton wrote his daughter Katharine on August 31, 1896, "I am sorry that Orville is sick, and sorry that I am away when he is sick. While I hope it may prove but a mild attack, I have grave apprehensions that it may prove a severe siege. Inform me by mail, and by telegraph, if the latter is necessary. Put him in the best room for air and comfort. Sponge him off gently & quickly with the least exposure & follow with mild friction. Let no one use the well water at the store henceforth. Boil the water you all drink, and set it in ice water to cool. Use the best economy about rest. Be temperate in articles eaten. Be regular." Milton and Katharine assumed the source of Orville's typhoid was the well water at 22 South Williams.
September 4, 1896, Milton wrote, "....Found Orville very sick with typhoid fever. The temperature at one time, days ago, ran to 105.5 degrees. Temperature is now about 102 or 103 degrees." Over the next several weeks, Orville slowly recovered.
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| Stationary letterhead for 22 South Williams Street Wright Cycle Company, letter from Wilbur to father Milton, courtesy of the Library of Congress Archives. |
1127 West Third Street- Wright Cycle Company (1897-07), Wright & Wright Printers (1897-99)
The Wright Brothers Cycle Shop previously located at 1127 West Third Street in Dayton Ohio is currently preserved at the Henry Ford Museum
Greenfield Village in Dearborn Michigan, purchased by Henry Ford in
1936, relocated there in 1937, and opened to the public in 1938 with the
blessing of Orville Wright. This location is of major significance as
this was where their aviation experiments took place; where
they performed their wind tunnel experiments, where Charlie Taylor
constructed the engine, where the gliders and flyers were constructed.
Prior
to 1896, this structure was a residence. The owner, Charles W. Webbert,
remodeled the home during the winter of 1896/97, constructing the
addition to the front for conversion of the residential structure to a
commercial building. When the remodeling was completed, the Wright
Brothers moved the Wright Cycle Company, and their
printing business Wright & Wright from 22 South Williams to the west
half of this building (1127) in the Spring of 1897. Brandenburg Interior Screen Company had moved in to 22 South Williams by
May 8th, so the Wrights had vacated at least by that date.
Fetters & Shank Undertakers had moved in to 1125 at the newly
modified Webbert building by May 29th, the Wright's new neighbors once
they occupied 1127.
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| May 29, 1897 The Dayton Herald, 1125 West Third, Fetters & Shank Undertakers- neighboring business to the Wright Cycle Company at 1127 West Third. |
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| Wright Cycle Company and Wright & Wright at 1127 West Third, in 1897. Shop is inserted into modern day panoramic view of north side of 1100 block of West Third Street, Dayton, Ohio. Adjacent businesses of 1897 are labeled. Photos by author, 2016. Click on image for expanded view. |
Business neighbors of Wright Cycle Company north side of 1100 block West Third Street in 1897-
1101- Richard Barrett, China, Glass, Queensware
1103- Hoffman & Kelly Grocery
NW corner West Third and Williams- Fouts' The Owl and Drug Company (1899-)
1105- Frank Hamburger Hardware (1899)
1107- Kepler Brothers Sundries, Second Hand Bicycles (1898)
1105/07- Frank Hamburger Hardware (1899-1936)
1105/07- Hamburger Hardware (1937-)
1109- William Tompert Daily Market
1111- Bruno Williams Boot and Shoe Maker
1117- James T. Wallace Confectioners, Window Springs
1121- Charles Webbert Gas Fitters & Fixtures, Well Drivers
1123- Vacated by Fetters & Shank when 1125 became available
1125- Fetters & Shank Undertakers
1127- Wright Cycle Company / Wright & Wright Printers
1129- Z. T. Hoover residence (1897) Hoover/Hale residence (1899)
1133- Benjamin F. Arnold Carpenter & Builder, Washing Machines
1133- Edmund B. Emery China, Glass, Queensware, News Depot
1139- Perry E. Meredith Tailor, Merchant
1139 1/2- Charles F. Johnson Cigars, Wholesale Dealer, Confectioners
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| Wright Cycle Company news clips and ads from neighboring businesses as printed in The Dayton Herald. |
And 1100 block south side of West Third Street across from Wright Cycle Shop in 1897-
1114- Frank Stutebeak Clothing Renovator (1897)
1114- William Weckerly Bicycles (1898/9)
1116- Domestic West Side Laundry
1118- Frank J. Bayless Barber
1124- Frank Hamburger Hardware & Cutlery, Stoves (1897/8)
1126- Eliza Rapp Dress Maker
1128- Gottlab Gaessler Boots & Shoe Maker
1130- Irwin & Haeselar Dry Goods
1134- Gem City Buggy Works
1140- Clark E. Sealey Boots & Shoes Maker
1142- Henry C. Truel Dry Goods
1144- Welthie M. Crow Dress Maker
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| Van Cleve and Wright Special Bicycles manufactured at Wright Cycle Company, May 1897. Stationary letterhead for 1127 West Third Street Wright Cycle Company, letter from
Wilbur to father Milton, courtesy of the Library of Congress Archives. |
 |
| May 4, 1898 The Dayton Herald "West Side". In addition to the Van Cleve and St. Clair, the "Wright Specials" were a brand name of bicycles manufactured by Wilbur and Orville, first mentioned in the February 13, 1895 Dayton Evening Herald. None of the "Wright Special's" are known to exist today. |
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| Stationary letterhead for 1127 West Third Street Wright Cycle Company, letter from Orville to father Milton, courtesy of the Library of Congress Archives. |
From the Benson Ford Library Archives interview with Orville Wright in 1936, "1897-99- Printing plant located in the Webbert Building at 1123
1/2-25-27 Third Street. It was in the southeast corner room up on the
second floor. After 1899 this room was used by the Wrights for a
drafting room. In it they laid out the drawings for their engines and
airplane inventions. Orville Wright let Ed Sines use the printing
plant....In 1910, the Wright Brothers gave up the lower floor and took
three rooms upstairs for their personal offices which they occupied
until 1916 when the 15 North Broadway Building was erected."
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| 1897 Sanborn Fire Insurance maps indicating the Wright's printing and bicycle shop locations by year. Click on the image for expanded view. 23 West Second Street location not shown. |
The original pitched roof of the
residence is visible on the west side as seen in the photo below. The vertical brick line bisecting the west (left) face of
the building provides reference of the extent of the addition to the
front of the original home.
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| 1127/1125 West Third Street, around 1910, courtesy of the Collections of The Henry Ford, Benson Ford Research Center Wright Brothers Collection. The original pitched roof of the residence dating to before 1896 is visible at the west (left) side of the building. |
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| March 30, 1901 Dayton Daily News. |
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| March 2, 1902 Dayton Daily News. |
For the full account of the 1127 West Third Street Wright Cycle Company location, please see the post-
1127 West Third Street- The Wright Cycle Company
Copyright 2021-Getting the Story Wright (Revisions through 2023)
Recommended Reading-
The Other Career of Wilbur and Orville- Wright & Wright Printers by Charlotte K. and August E. Brunsman, 1989.
The Wright Brothers from Bicycle to Biplane by Fred C. Fisk and Marlin W. Todd, 1990/2000.
A Field Guide To Flight, On The Aviation Trail in Dayton, Ohio, by Mary Ann Johnson, 1986.
Notes:
1. Seven locations if count the temporary move to the second floor of the Hoover Block in 1894 after leaving 1034 West Third, and prior to occupying 22 South Williams. Further, if either 1005 or 1015 is discounted, then the total would be six locations.
2.Address changes are shown on the 1950 Sanborn Fire Insurance Maps, both older and newer addresses listed. To determine exact year of change, I followed a number of known businesses through the years in the Williams Dayton City Directories from 1919 forward until address changes were noted in the year 1939.
3. The Dayton Herald, June 16, 1909, "Bishop Wright tells of the Early Work of Celebrated Sons, Their Ambitions".
4.The Dayton Herald, August 4, Brick work above 1st story, August 30, painters and plasterers working, October 9, Barber Shop to east room of Hoover Block next week. Issues from 1890.
5. Montgomery County Auditor GIS Documents & Montgomery County Records Center & Archives, Abstract Books by City- Dayton 25, Plot 6308. Grantor A.R. Nicholas / Elizabeth Kelly Grantee, Mortgage, Book 167, page 560 & Grantor Elizabeth Kelly / A.R. Nicholas Grantee, Deed, Book 196, page 41. Abraham Nicholas did not own this property until January of 1894.
6. Williams Dayton City Directories years 1884-1894.
7. The Dayton Herald, September 26, 1896, West Side Millinery Opening. "Miss L. V. Nicholas will have her fall millinery opening ....No. 1007 West Third St."
8. The Dayton Daily News, June 11, 1900, Order of Injunction From United States Court Served On Squire Markey. "...cases that have been brought against Laura V. Nicholas, formerly a West-Side milliner. The proceeding was brought about by the involuntary bankruptcy case of Abraham R. Nicolas against Laura V. Nicholas. There is a suit pending in Squire Markey's court brought by May Rowland to attach the millinery stock of Miss Nicholas. The constable closed the store several weeks ago....."
9. Williams Dayton City Directories 1899/1900, 1900/01, 1901/02.
10. The suggestion that Wilbur selected 1005 West Third in December of 1892, and determined it was too small prior
to the busy Spring season, and decided to move to 1015 West Third for
several months is problematic. How could Wilbur have so misjudged the
needed space in which to operate a bicycle business? Would he not have
observed his several competitor cycle shops in Dayton at the time, to
determine the space he would require? Orville Wright indicated the first
cycle shop was located in the middle of the north side of the
1000 block on West Third. This corresponds with 1015 West Third, not
1005. The 1015 address is supported by 39 printed advertisements in the
months of March, April, and May of 1893. The evidence and logic points
to 1015 as being the correct historical address of the first Wright
Cycle Exchange. This author believes if the trail can be followed back,
it could be found that the 1005 address was mistakenly given in lieu of
the 1015 address, and then innocently repeated by Fred Kelly and others
until it became indisputable fact.
 | ||||
| Initial typed version of interview of 11/20/1936 with Orville Wright concerning Cycle Shop locations, with marks and revisions leading to final version including specific address numbers. This author suggests that Orville provided the initial information of first draft and later drafts included information as researched by the Henry Ford team. Otherwise, a specific date of the interview would not have been provided, if in fact the interview extended over days, or weeks, or a longer period of time as these revisions were made. Orville was interviewed on many subjects of his and Wilbur's history by the Dearborn team, with a specific date of interview given, and each has many revisions as these records were prepared. The direct contradiction of the first bicycle shop located in the middle of the thousand block vs. #1005 which is located at the far east end of the 1000 block is evident. Courtesy of the Benson Ford Library Wright Brother Archives, Dearborn, Michigan. |
These initial interview notes revised and revised again were prepared by The Edison Institute. Their publication of the "Dedication of The Wright Brothers Home and Shop in Greenfield Village, Dearborn Michigan April Sixteen Nineteen Hundred Thirty-Eight includes an abbreviated portion of the Wright Cycle shop history. The first chapter, "The Wright Home and Shop" include page 11 reading, "Wilbur and Orville opened their bicycle shop at 1005 West Third Street in 1892 after securing the agencies for several different makes of bicycles. When that shop became too small they moved to 1034 West Third Street. In 1895 they moved again, this time to 22 South Williams Street where they began building bicycles of their own...." The reference of the first cycle shop being located in the middle of the 1000 block as expressed by Orville Wright was lost in the final version.
In Fred Kelly's book, "The Wright Brothers", 1943, Kelly wrote, "Their first sales room was at 1005 West Third Street. They rented it in December, 1892, to be ready for business when the bicycle season began in the early spring of 1893. For a while Orville divided his time between the bicycle shop and the printing business across the street in which Ed Sines was still employed.....The brothers soon had to move their bicycle business to larger quarters, at 1034 West Third Street." It seems likely Kelly's source for this information was from the earlier 1936-1938 Henry Ford research on this subject, which appears to be the primary source. Kelly did have access to Orville Wright and to his secretary Mabel Beck while writing the book, but it makes sense he would gather previously published information for inclusion.
In John McMahon's book "The Wright Brothers Fathers of Flight", 1930, he wrote, "The job printers branched out in 1892 with the addition of a bicycle repair shop to their line. No doubt they saw profit and were also lured by the idea of playing with a new machine, the ball-bearing 'safety' with compressed air within rubber tires. 'Wright Cycle Co.' was the legend put above the modest shop in a two-story brick building at Number 1127 West Third Street.....Despite the two enterprises they found leisure in the fall of 1892 to repair and improve the homestead on Hawthorn Street..." McMahon was apparently unaware that the Wrights Cycle business was not located at 1127 West Third Street until 1897. Clearly, McMahon had been completely unaware that the Brothers cycle business occupied a number of other locations other than just 1127 West Third.
From another early book from this time period, in Mitchell Charnley's "Boys' Life of the Wright Brothers", 1928, Charnley wrote, "The business started in 1893 as a simple bicycle-repair shop..." As he continues providing details of the business, no mention of multiple shop locations is made, and no specific addresses are indicated.
11. Williams Dayton City Directories 1871 through 1904/05. Also, The Dayton Herald, August 14, 1895, Deaths, Josiah Fouts, "Funeral from his late residence, No. 1015 West Third street..."
12. The Wright's West Side News and The Evening Item printed ads for businesses located at 1015 West Third Street. Their papers never listed an ad for any business at 1005 West Third Street. This author has been unable, to date, to find any business listed in the William's Dayton City Directories located at 1005 West Third Street between the years 1883 and 1897. Prior to 1883, a residence existed at 1005 West Third, with occupants known for the years 1871, 1880, 1881, and 1882.
13. Williams Dayton City Directories 1894-1899.
14. The Wright Brothers from Bicycle to Biplane, by Fred C. Fisk and Marlin W. Todd, 1990/2000.
15. Orville Wright was interviewed in 1936 when Henry Ford purchased and
relocated the 1127 Wright Cycle Company and 7 Hawthorn structures to
Dearborn Michigan. From notes in the Benson Ford Library Archives, the
initial typed interview account exists, as do multiple revised copies
with additional information noted on each copy in pencil. In the
original version, Orville did not indicate specific building numbers,
but rather, general locations. The original version reads, "Mr.
Wright stated (11-20-36) that their first bicycle shop was located in
the middle of the one thousand block on the north side of Third Street,
that they were in this location only four or five months- November or
December, 1892 to May 1893. They moved because there wasn't sufficient
room. Their next location was on the south side of Third Street in the
same block. In the early part of 1895 they moved again, this time to
Williams Street where they began building the Van Cleve bicycle in 1896,
making about fifteen the first year. In addition to this they continued
to sell other makes of bicycles which bore the trade name 'Redding'.
Mr. Wright said that a letter appeared in one of the Dayton papers
recently stating that their Williams Street address was the original
shop and that we may receive letters from time to time from folks who
will claim that some one of their other shops was the original. After
starting the manufacture of the Van Cleve bicycle, which sold at the top
price of the period, $75.00 to $90.00. A couple years later they
started the manufacture of the St. Clair, a medium priced bicycle and
then added the Wright Special which sold at $18.00 each. This was of
seamless tubing and was equipped with Morgan & Wright tires. The
Wright Special was made to meet competition and they did not make so
many of them. As they got more involved in the airplane business, they
left the bicycle business taper off. In 1904 and 1905 they still made
enough out of the bicycle business to pay expenses of airplane
experimenting. The most they sold in any one year of their own make was
about one hundred. Finally, about 1905 or 1906, they sold out the
balance of their stock to a Mr. Myers." In the final version, the
specific building addresses are given, plus much more detail and
revisions to models of bicycles, prices, and dates are provided. It is unlikely Orville was questioned further for the later revisions as a specific date was given of the time of the interview. Henry Ford's team expanded the account based on further research, perhaps through Orville's secretary Mabel Beck. Fred Kelly repeated the 1005 address in "The Wright Brothers", but his accounts read similar to the Benson Ford Archive final revised reading, likely his source for this specific information.
16. John F. Wagner owned a Feed Store located at 1034 West Third in 1905. In 1906, he had relocated to 1524 West Third. By October of 1906, he had returned to 1034 West Third. This temporary relocation hints at 1906 as being the year the single story 1034 building was rebuilt or modified with a second story.
17. April 27, 1895 The Dayton Evening Herald, "Bicycling", Some of the Latest Gossip Relative to the Exhilarating Exercise- The Bloomers a-Bloomin'.
18. May 31, 1949 Dayton Daily News, "Frank S. Rudy Rites Thursday". Frank would return to Dayton and by 1905 operate a Dairy stand at the Arcade Market.
19. The 1895/96 Williams Dayton City Directory lists The Wright Cycle Shop at 22 South Williams and 23 West Second. The 1896/97 Dayton Directory lists The Wright Cycle Shop at only 22 South Williams.
20. Library of Congress Wright Brother Archives.
21. William's Dayton City Directories 1900-1951, and numerous newspaper articles. The Dayton Herald, March 25, 1937, "Bids Accepted", "Bids are being received now for the erection of a new store building at 1017 West Third street for the Gem City Ice Cream company....28' on Third street and extending to a depth of 70'. When completed, the building will be occupied by the Liberty Electric company..." The Dayton Herald, April 17, 1937, "Award Contract on New Building", "The Shartzer company will begin razing the structure on the grounds, Monday and the new building will be completed in about six weeks..."
22. Orville Wright How We Invented The Airplane, An Illustrated History, Edited, with an Introduction and Commentary , by Fred C. Kelly. Additional Text by Alan Weissman, 1953, 1988.
