Strolling past Pennsylvania Park in downtown Petoskey, you might notice a curious building among the offices and retail spaces – one emblazoned with “Wright Cycle Co.” It looks like a relic, frozen in time, and you’d be right to wonder about it, as it’s almost never open.
However, as reported by The Petoskey News-Review, this intriguing building springs to life once a year, every December 17th. This date marks the anniversary of the Wright brothers’ first historic flight, and on this day, the doors of Petoskey’s Wright Cycle Co. swing open to the public.
Stepping Inside History
Venture inside, and you’ll find a meticulously recreated replica of the original Wright Cycle Company shop. The space is a treasure trove of historical artifacts, exhibits, and information all dedicated to Wilbur and Orville Wright. The building and its impressive collection are owned by Dave Russell, a devoted expert on the Wright brothers.
A sign within the Petoskey shop illuminates a crucial connection: how the brothers’ work with bicycles provided the calculations essential for their groundbreaking first flight. As one visitor, Kaplan, read from a sign, “Here on this day, Dec. 17, 1903, the first powered flight took place… The Wright brothers were flying for you, they were flying for me and they were flying for all humanity. They broke the bonds of gravity. On the sands of Kill Devil Hill, Wilbur and Orville Wright gave the gift to soar like an eagle. We thank the Wright brothers for this gift.”
A Passion for Flight
Russell’s fascination with the Wright brothers began around age 12, sparked by a visit to Greenfield Village with his father. The historical village, maintained by the Henry Ford Museum, houses the original Wright Cycle Shop, and his dad’s explanation of its historical significance clearly left an impression. His interest was further cemented when he later met Ivonette Wright, the Wright brothers’ niece.
Through a friendship with the curator of the Wrights’ home (also owned by the Henry Ford Museum), Russell acquired his most prized possession: Orville Wright’s personal address book. Dating back to 1906, this book contains the names of many early aviators, a testament to its historical value.
A Building’s Journey
The Petoskey Wright Cycle Co. building itself has an interesting history. It was originally located next to the City Park Grill. In the 1990s, the city planned to demolish it to create a parking lot. Russell intervened, asking if he could move the building and purchasing a plot of land for it.
Initially, the city intended to give him the building for free, but legal complexities prevented it. Instead, they sold it to Russell for a symbolic $1. In 1996, a collaborative effort by community members saw the bricks carefully washed and relocated to the building’s current spot on Park Avenue, facing Pennsylvania Park.
Today, the building serves as a unique home for Russell’s extensive collection of Wright brothers memorabilia. He doesn’t sell anything from the shop; rather, it’s a dedicated space for his artifacts and a cherished opportunity, once a year, to educate the public about the incredible legacy of the Wright brothers and their pivotal role in history.
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