Fort McCoy ArtiFACT: Bicycle pin

Courtesy Photo | A piece of a bicycle-themed lapel pin, which was recovered at a past archaeological dig at Fort McCoy, Wis., is shown Oct. 26, 2015, at Fort McCoy. In 2015, archaeologists with Colorado State University’s Center for Environmental Management of Military Lands recovered approximately 3,000 historic artifacts, including this pin, from a small farmstead that was occupied from about the beginning of the 20th century until the start of World War II. Additionally, 66 prehistoric artifacts were recovered, which indicates that the area was occupied long before the farmstead was built in the same location. (Photo courtesy of Colorado State University’s Center for Environmental Management of Military Lands)  

FORT MCCOY, WISCONSIN, UNITED STATES

04.25.2019

Courtesy Story

Fort McCoy Public Affairs Office           

In 2015, archaeologists with Colorado State University’s Center for Environmental Management of Military Lands recovered approximately 3,000 historic artifacts from a small farmstead on Fort McCoy that was occupied from about the beginning of the 20th century until the start of World War II.

Additionally, 66 prehistoric artifacts were recovered, which indicates that the area was occupied long before the farmstead was built in the same location.

Structural elements from the farmstead, such as foundation remnants and a concrete floor, were found in the site area, but none of these were identified as the main house.

The majority of the historic-era artifacts recovered included broken window glass, nails, screws, and roofing shingles. More than 100 artifacts were associated with clothing, including buttons with “Oshkosh B’Gosh,” “Head Light,” and “Sweet-Orr” on them.

A number of other personal items were recovered, including a cuff link embossed with “Sterling $” and a tie clip embossed with “$ SB CO $.” There was a Fraternal Order of Eagles ornament that likely came from a pin or a ring.

Another fragment of a pin depicts a bicycle with a rider.

Bicycling has a robust history in the United States. The National Museum of American History has a bicycle-shaped candy mold that dates to the 1890s, which coincides with the first time biking was in vogue.

The area around Fort McCoy also has a rich history with cycling, with the Deke Slayton Memorial Space & Bicycle Museum located in Sparta, Wis.
Sparta calls itself the “Bicycling Capital of America” and contains one end of the Elroy-Sparta bike trail, much of which was created by repurposing old railroad paths.

The bicycle and rider pin fragment recovered at Fort McCoy is most likely an old Schwinn promotional lapel pin.

The Schwinn bicycle company began as Arnold, Schwinn, & Co. in 1895. For a short time before the stock market crash and the Great Depression in the early 20th century, the company was the third-most prolific producer of motorcycles in the country behind Indian and Harley Davidson.

By the middle of the 20th century, Schwinn had abandoned motorcycle production and redoubled their efforts with bicycles, just in time for cycling to become a fad again in the 1960s.

All archaeological work conducted at Fort McCoy was coordinated by the Directorate of Public Works Environmental Division Natural Resources Branch.

(Article prepared by Colorado State University’s Center for Environmental Management of Military Lands.)

• Date Taken: 04.25.2019
• Date Posted: 04.25.2019 10:25
• Story ID: 319377
• Location: FORT MCCOY, WISCONSIN, US