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I’ve been hesitant to share this photo for a while, I’m not sure why…just have. But anyhow, I thought I’d share the story behind it and the somewhat odd coincidences that go along with it.
Well, first of all, the man in the picture is Fred Tornow and he is standing in front of my house with a Penny-Farthing bicycle in 1886. No…sorry, let me start over. He is standing in front of his house in 1886. The best I can figure is he was the second owner of the house (I’m something like the 9th) and he and his wife (the woman in the window, I presume) lived here for more than 40 years; don’t know if they had children but I assume so.
Anyhow, you can imagine my surprise and interest when I first came across this photo…and what little I learned about him…more specifically, some of our same interests. He, for example, was one of the early bicycle advocates in Buffalo and rode a really tall bike that probably drew attention; I, of course, am a local bike advocate and ride a really long bike that seems to draw a lot of attention. His job for decades was working as a book binder; I, in turn, love books of all kinds…just the feel of them; my (his) house is filled with them. For recreation he rode his bicycle around the city and took photos and kept a log of them; I, of course, ride my bike around the city, take photos, and keep this blog. Weird huh? Don’t know if he liked to cook, though.
Now if you look at the picture again. Do you see the window on the right? That’s where my desk is located…and where I am currently typing these words 125 years after the photo was taken. Are the little hairs on the back of your neck tingling yet? Let me know if you see me look out that window…
To see my bicycles parked in the very same spot that Fred Tornow is standing, click here.
Urban Simplicty 