120 Years of Harley-Davidson: A Wisconsin Icon
2023 marks 120 years of the legendary motorcycle company
If you live in Wisconsin, you know the distinctive roar of a Harley-Davidson motorcycle even if you don’t ride one. If you do ride – or, in my case, are a pillion rider – you know the freedom it is to be on a motorcycle, and if you ride H-D, you know the deep-rooted community that comes with the ride.
In chatting with a long-time local and motorcycle rider, Darrell Broten, he reminded me of Harley-Davidson’s incredible roots – something I think Wisconsinites often forget about or just don’t know. What is now a worldwide brand and icon got its start back in 1903 in Milwaukee thanks to a group of kids and a dream. Specifically, two friends: William Harley and Arthur Davidson.
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It was in a Wisconsin backyard shed that the first Harley-Davidson factory stood.
H-D headquarters stand today at the same location (although, it is no longer a shed).
William and Arthur grew up just a few houses apart, their friendship one that began as children. By 15, William H. was working at a Milwaukee-based bicycle factory, and both he and Arthur were fascinated by bicycles. Some years later, both worked at the Barth Manufacturing Company.
As described on Harley-Davidson’s website, William H. and Arthur spent years working on a prototype motorcycle in their spare time with a co-worker from Barth and a few others. While it didn’t pan out, it did show William H. and Arthur they were short one vital member: a machinist.
The duo reached out to Arthur’s older brother, Walter Davidson, who lived in Kansas at the time. After seeing something of a prototype motorcycle – ”an unfinished mess,” as described on Harley-Davidson’s site – Walter decided to move back to his home state and help craft a true motorcycle with William H. and Arthur.
The trio added William Davidson, Arthur’s oldest brother, to their team soon after. Also a mechanic, he helped the group complete their second-ever prototype. It was the first Harley-Davidson motorcycle to ever participate in a motorcycle race. The rest, as they say, is history – but of course, there really is so, so much more to Harley-Davidson’s rise to its legendary status.
The Harley family was one of engineers, so it's no surprise William Harley too pursued engineering, and he became Harley-Davidson’s chief engineer after dreaming up the original H-D motorcycle all those years ago. He also earned a mechanical engineering degree from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 1907.
Arthur Davidson is credited for enshrining Harley-Davidson in American history and popular culture, paving the way for the H-D lifestyle brand and expansive influence. He also started the Harley-Davidson service school responsible for training qualified mechanics and aligned himself with and supported the American Motorcycle Association.
William “Bill” Davidson worked with the Milwaukee Road railroad until he decided to take Harley-Davidson full time, William became the works manager, creating and sustaining the factory as a well-oiled machine.
Walter Davidson was racing and repairing bikes as a child, taught himself electric work as a teenager, and after moving back to Milwaukee from Kansas to help his brother and friend bring Harley-Davidson to life, he helped finish the first batch of H-D bikes. He’s credited with actually building the first H-D motorcycle. Walter became H-D’s first President and General Manager – and is still the longest-serving of either position – continuing to race and was a lifelong bike enthusiast.
It was in a Wisconsin backyard shed that served as Harley-Davidson’s first factory, and the Harley-Davidson Motor Company HQ stands today at the same location (although, it is no longer a shed).
Today in the Chippewa Valley, you can visit the Chippewa Falls Harley-Davidson to get a taste of H-D, and local bikers can check out the popular biker bars in the area or get in on some local biker club action (courtesy of Darrell Broten):
Local Motorcycling Groups:
Rolling Wheels Vintage Motorcycle Club
Targets vintage motorcycles of any brand; monthly meetings and summer events
Chippewa Valley Indian Motorcycle Riders Group
For riders of Indian motorcycles; meets the first Saturday of each month at Zacho's
Indianhead Chapter, Harley Owners' Group
For H-D rides; meets the second Friday of each month at Chippewa Falls H-D
Headquartered in St. Paul Park, Minnesota, but is very active in the Ellsworth area
Popular Area Biker Bars + Stops:
B&B Weston Bar & Grill (E1745 361st Avenue, Menomonie)
Bucknuckles Bar & Grill (S1501 Hwy 88, Alma)
Gaslite Bar & Grill (W8945 Hwy 10, Ellsworth)
Gaslite hosts many St. Croix Valley Riders events
John & Michelle’s Bateman Tavern (19990 Cty Hwy X, Chippewa Falls)
Loopy’s Grill & Saloon (10691 Cty Hwy X, Chippewa Falls)
Features motorcycle-only parking and hosts Ridin’ for a Reason each summer
Seymore’s Ponderosa Bar (S1926 St., Hwy 88, Alma)
Slim’s Lake Hallie Tavern (4881 Joles Ave., Lake Hallie)
Slim’s sponsored a poker run each summer and is a common biker gathering spot
Learn more about Harley-Davidson on their website and about the founders. Visit the Chippewa Falls Harley-Davidson store in person at 2452 Hallie Rd., Chippewa Falls, or check out their Facebook.
