Who Gets This? Good as New 1931 Harley Davidson Only $100!
Montgomery County Sentinel, Feb 2, 1933
Lewis Reed, an avid motorcycle enthusiast, also acquired and sold Harley-Davidson Motorcycles at his dealership. Between 1915 and 1950, Reed Brothers Dodge sold more than just cars. In addition to automobiles, the dealership also sold a wide variety of vehicles such as farm tractors, delivery trucks, firetrucks, school buses, and apparently, motorcycles.
Rockville’s Park Avenue Motorcycle Club, 1912
At the turn of the century, before cars were even around, Lewis and Edgar Reed, along with brother-in-law Bernard Hanshew, began their riding adventures with a group of friends from the Park Avenue community in Rockville in the early 1900s.
First motorcycle club in Rockville, Maryland. One Harley Davidson, one Indian, and Three Excelsior motorcycles on Park Avenue, 1912. Lewis Reed, far left.
Early motorcyclists were often pictured in riding groups. From its beginnings, motorcycling developed very much as a social activity. Gentlemen of the day often used it to spice up their sunny weekends and impress ladies.
On Park Avenue, ca. 1912. L-R: “Happy” Hicks, Lewis and Edgar Reed, Frank Higgins, and Alvin Luctor.
Montgomery County Sentinel. September 29, 1955, Centennial Edition
Lewis Reed on his Harley Davidson circa 1915 somewhere outside Frederick, Maryland.
Adventurers, enthusiasts, friends, and family…these are the pioneers of Montgomery County who made riding a social pastime, which has carried on in motorcycle travel today.
Rockville’s Park Avenue Motorcycle Club, 1912
First motorcycle club in Rockville, Maryland. One Harley Davidson, one Indian, and Three Excelsior motorcycles on Park Avenue, 1912. Lewis Reed, far left.
Take a step back in time with this glimpse into an almost forgotten era of Montgomery County history in the early 20th century… the motorcycle era.
Motorcycle clubs began forming in the early 1900s as manufacturers stressed the social, sporting, and healthy outdoors potential of the motorcycle. Both Lewis and Edgar Reed, along with brother-in-law Bernard Hanshew, began their riding adventures with a group of friends from the Park Avenue community in Rockville in the early 1900s.
Historically, riding motorized bikes, like horses, began as a gentleman’s sport. In the early days of motorcycling, propriety dictated that a gentleman be presentable when he went out for a spin. Full-length boots derived from horseback riding and a sporty cap with goggles were adapted to the new pursuit of motorcycle riding.
On Park Avenue, ca. 1912. L-R: “Happy” Hicks, Lewis and Edgar Reed, Frank Higgins, and Alvin Luctor.
Lewis (back) & Edgar Reed
Early motorcyclists were often pictured in riding groups. From its beginnings, motorcycling developed very much as a social activity. Gentlemen of the day often used it to spice up their sunny weekends and impress ladies.
The Reed motorcycle gang on Rt 118 in Darnestown.
Edgar Reed and an unidentified lady on an Excelsior motorcycle.
Motorcyclists on Rt 118 in Darnestown. Edgar Reed, middle
Left – right: Lewis Reed with camera, Edgar Reed, Bernard Hanshew. The photo was taken 1914 in Harper’s Ferry, West Virginia. The wooden frame Victorian-style train station dating from 1889 can be seen in the background.
Harper’s Ferry, West Virginia, 1914
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Reed Brothers Dodge History (1915-2012) by Jeanne Gartner is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 3.0 Unported License.
Reed Brothers Dodge History 1915 – 2012 
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