Annual smoker of the Bay City Wheelmen

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The Bay City Wheelmen, "masters of the road and path" liked to have parties. They called them smokers. Here is a list, partial. They appeared to run for at least 30 years, becoming an annual, summer tradition at some point.

BCW Smoker June 8 01.jpg

The San Francisco Bicycle Club held a regular run on Sunday, taking the 9:15 A. M. creek boat to Oakland, wheeling thence to San Leandro and from there to Haywards, where they arrived at 11:30 o'clock. Lunch was served at the Haywards Hotel (the league hotel at that point) at 12:30 P. M. At 1:50 o'clock the bugle was sounded for the return trip, which was made vis Castro valley road. They arrived at Oakland in ample time for the 5:30 P. M. boat. The day across the bay was better than was anticipated on account of the bad outlook on this side in the morning.

The Wheel. - San Francisco Chronicle - July 13, 1886

The "smoker" of the Bay City Wheelmen takes place Saturday, September 3d. After the dancing party, which is set for the 23d of September, it is the intention of the club to hold a monthly hop in the clubrooms, limited to members.

The Wheelmen. - The San Francisco Examiner, 22 Aug 1887

The sixteenth anniversary of the organization of the Bay City Wheelmen was celebrated by a smoker last Saturday evening. Some two hundred members and ex-members were present and enjoyed a splendid programme. William C. Hull presented the club with several comical silk banners, caricaturing the days of the old ordinary bicycle. The members were entertained with songs, recitations, etc., by the following well-known talent: Captain Leale, ex-Sheriff Whelan, Dr. W. H. Sieberst, Dr. Thomas L. Hill, Jack Holland, Frank Coffin, Plymouth Quartet, Frank Thompson, Lal Schwartz, Rincon Quartet, John T. Desmond, Kid Nelson, M. Scanlan, Benjamin D. Coonley, Will Finnie, Mr. Ogilvie and Bob Mitchell. A number of specially invited guests were present, among whom were Captain Truebridge, Purser Menzies and Dr. Thompson, all of the U. S. transport Oylmpia. Dan O'Callaghan acted as chairman of the ceremonies, and the club members, who all worked hard for the reception, will remember the sixteenth anniversary as the most successful ever given by the club.

BAY CITY SMOKER - The San Francisco Call - January 24, 1900

The Bay City's midsummer jinks and smoker will be held a week from tonight, and will be on a par with other similar gatherings of the club, which are always interesting and well attended.

Bicycle Notes. - The San Francisco Call - Jun 1, 1901

The Bay Citys will hold their annual midsummer smoker and jinks to-night at the clubhouse, 441 Golden Gate avenue.

READY FOR THE BIG ROAD RACE - The San Francisco Call - Jun 8, 1901

The seventeenth annual smoker of the Bay City Wheelmen was held Saturday evening at the clubrooms, 441 Golden Gate avenue. Judge Kerrigan made an opening address and "Pop" Mohrig, organizer and first President of the club, presented the members with his photo. In the entertainment ensuing, the following took part: William McDonald, J. Wheaton Leonard, John T. Desmond, William Ogilvie, Pete Dunworth, William Brackett, Lloyd Spencer, Frank Keene, Elton Lambert, Pilot Commissioner Leale, ex-Sheriff Whelan, Ferris Hartmann, Bob Mitchell, Eddie Sweeney and Jack Holland.

Bay City Jinks. - The San Francisco Examiner - Jun 11, 1901

The Bay City Wheelmen celebrated the eighteenth annual birthday of the club last night with a smoker at the house on Golden Gate avenue. The guests began to assemble early and far into the night the sounds of merriment could be heard issuing from the scene of the jollification.

The spacious club rooms were crowded by the members bent on having a night of fun. The place was tastefully decorated with ferns and flowers. Dan O'Callaghan received the guests upon their arrival.

A splendid musical programme was rendered and refreshments were served during the evening. Among those who took part were William McDonald, Arthur Hahn, George Hillman, A. Topping, Richard Whelan, Robert Mitchell, Alexander Rosborough, A. Demont, Kolb and Dill, Al. Hazzard, Clarence Denely and the Manhattan Quartet.

The smoker was in charge of the following committee: Dan O'Callaghan, chairman; Henry L. Day, George Stangenberger, Robert Reid, Frank Smith, Dr. E. L. Mervy, J. M. Salazer, George Bannon, W. Lewis.

BAY CITY WHEELMEN HOLD ANNUAL SMOKER - The San Francisco Call - December 07, 1902

The Bay City Wheelmen are preparing for the celebration of the twentieth anniversary of the club, which takes place some few weeks hence. A special meeting was held during the week to discuss plans, and a large number of wheeling enthusiasts were in attendance. The event will be for members and ex-members only. Everybody who was ever a member of the Bay City Club will be sent a notice, and it is expected that the run will eclipse anything of the kind ever held in this vicinity. As outlined at present, there will be a smoker on a Saturday night and a barbecue and club run on the following day. The run will be to some near-by point of interest and a feature will be the presence of some of the old time riders on their high wheels. Others will ride their small cushion-tired wheels, and in fact, there will be bicycles of every description when the riders line up for the start.

MANY EVENTS FOR WHEELMEN - San Francisco Chronicle - July 31, 1904

Arrangements have been completed for the twentieth anniversary celebration of the Bay City Wheelmen, and to-night the members of this well-known cycling club will meet at the clubrooms and celebrate as no event has been celebrated among the cyclers for many years.

The event will take the form of a smoker, and there will be members present who have not been in the clubrooms for many months. For this reason the evening will be spent by the members and ex-members only. The Bay City Wheelmen would like to have their numerous friends present, but so many of the older clubmen have signified their intention of being on hand that this would not be possible.

The talent that is to do the entertaining has been carefully selected, and a good programme is assured. Too much time, however, will not be given to the programme, for the club members purpose to have a grand reunion, which will be appreciated by the old-time members. Many old stories will be resurrected in regard to happenings on club runs and gatherings of former years. All day to-morrow there will be "open house" at the Bay City Wheelmen's headquarters on Golden Gate avenue.

Next week the anniversary run will be held on Sunday to some nearby place of interest, not yet decided upon. All the old-time wheels are being put into commission and the "bunch" will present an odd appearance on the road on their high wheels and old cushion tires.

BAY CITY WHEELMEN TO CELEBRATE ANNIVERSARY. - San Francisco Chronicle - October 01, 1904

In anticipation of a busy winter, the Bay City Wheelmen have recently placed at the disposal of the club members a new set of rollers upon which to train for the numerous events. The Bay City Club has nothing scheduled for the remainder of the year but their annual Christmas celebration. The members will receive numerous gifts, neither useful nor ornamental, but guaranteed to provide amusement for those present. The wearers of the maltese cross are already preparing for their annual smoker, which is to be held late next month.

Another Club for Boys Takes Up Wheeling - San Francisco Chronicle - December 17, 1905

The Bay City Wheelmen are now comfortably settled in their new quarters and a reunion of the members is scheduled for the latter part of next month, when a smoker will be held at the clubhouse. The country home of the Bay City Club at Grand View, above San Rafael, will be completed about the end of November, at which time a big run will be held to that place.

WHEELMEN TO MEET IN RELAY - San Francisco Chronicle - September 23, 1906

The Bay City Wheelmen, one of the oldest cycling clubs in the State, held a smoker on Saturday evening to celebrate the twenty-sixth anniversary of the foundation of the club. A large attendance gathered at the club rooms and many old-timers enjoyed the evening, which was under the direction of Dan O'Callaghan as master of ceremonies.

The entertainment included stunts by "Billy" Hynes, Bob Mitchell, Jack Holland, Dick Whelan, Captain Leale, Monte Bart, W. J. Connolly, Ed Healey, George Swan, Jack Cahill and others, and the dancing of the Murphy twins was a feature of the entertainment.

"Pop" Mohrig, who was the first president of the club in 1884, gave an interesting address on the early days.

Among the many old-time members who were present were Ed. Mohrig, Fred. R. Cook, Sam Booth, Dr. Thomas L. Hill, Charles C. Moore, Henry L. Day, Fred Noeckmann, Harry Larkin, George Stangenberger, George Dixon, Fred. Allen, Frank Cushman, Harry Housworth, Captain Robinet and Charles A. Day.

Bay City Wheelmen Hold Anniversary - The San Francisco Examiner - June 06, 1911

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