SALEM HISTORY: The “bicycle craze” in Oregon’s capital

Ralph Emerson, son of Peter Emerson, in Salem in 1885 with a bicycle (Salem Public Library Historic Photograph Collections)

Sue Bell (1932-2019) for many years until her passing, wrote numerous local historical research articles for local newspapers and numerous Salem focused articles as the editor for Willamette Valley Genealogical Society’s quarterly, Beaver Briefs. This article appeared in part in BB Vol. 50, No. 1 and is reprinted in slightly edited form with permission.

What began as a fad…