Finding the unexpected in the everyday.
September 10, 1932 In northwestern Massachusetts, a newly built bridge crossing the Connecticut River was opened. The French King Bridge serves as a link between the towns of Erving and Gill. This bridge was named after French King Rock, a nearby geographical feature. Approximately 15,000 people showed up on that Saturday for the inaugural festivities... Continue Reading →
August 1, 1894 Ottavio Bottecchia, who would achieve widespread renown as a champion cyclist, was born in the comune of Colle Umberto in northeastern Italy. He was the eighth of nine children. Bottecchia had only one year of formal schooling. His earliest jobs included working as a shoemaker and then a bricklayer. After Italy entered... Continue Reading →
July 8, 2007 The Badger State Trail in south-central Wisconsin was officially opened. This 40-mile (64-kilometer) trail courses from the state boundary with Illinois to Wisconsin’s capital city of Madison. In between those two points, the Badger State Trail passes through – from south to north – the city of Monroe; the villages of Monticello... Continue Reading →
June 18, 1888 The ninth annual meet of the League of American Wheelmen (LAW) kicked off in Baltimore, Maryland, with 1,500 members from almost every bicycle club in the United States in attendance for the three-day event. “Baltimore to-day is to a certain extent in the hands of bicyclists,” reported that day’s edition of the New... Continue Reading →
June 17, 1945 Eddy Merckx, who would achieve unparalleled success as a rider in competitive cycling, was born in the town of Meensel-Kiezegem (part of the municipality of Tielt-Winge) in Belgium. He grew up in the municipality of Woluwe-Sain-Pierre, which is 20.7 miles (33.4 kilometers) southwest of Meensel-Kiezegem. Merckx developed a passion for cycling early... Continue Reading →
June 4, 1933 In the northeastern New Jersey township of Nutley, a cycle-racing track was opened in what the Chatham Press newspaper called “a most auspicious manner” and with a standing-room-only crowd of 12,000 people in attendance. The Nutley Velodrome consisted of a saucer-shaped track made of wood and covered with galvanized sheets. The competitors taking... Continue Reading →
May 31, 1969 A major tunnel that is located just south of the Belgian city of Antwerp and had been built under the Scheldt river first went into service when it was opened to motor vehicle traffic. Another milestone for this tunnel took place just a little over eight months later when it was opened... Continue Reading →
May 7, 2013 Al Fritz, who launched a line of hugely popular and influential bicycles, died in Barrington, Illinois, at the age of 88. After serving in the U.S. Army during World War II, Fritz returned to his hometown Chicago and began his longtime employment with the Schwinn Bicycle Company. He started out as a grinder... Continue Reading →
April 18, 1889 The original version of Read Bridge in Singapore first went into service. Construction on this bridge began in 1881 and it was built across the part of the Singapore River that is within the area known as Clarke Quay. At the time of Read Bridge’s debut, Singapore was one of the British... Continue Reading →
April 5, 1878 Albert Champion, who made notable contributions to various modes of transportation, was born in Paris. By the end of the 19th century, he had established himself as a formidable track bicycle racer in his native France. In 1899, Champion surprised nearly everyone by beating out quite a few seasoned cyclists to win... Continue Reading →
Transportation History 