First Harley Davidson and First Gas Driven Truck in Rockford

Baseball Team Rides in the City’s First Gasoline-Driven Truck

The Ironbrew Bottling works owned the first gasoline driven truck in Rockford-a two-cylinder Rapid dated 1906. Members of the old Maroon baseball team are passengers in the truck, among them Hal Carlson, later a big league player, and Hilding Nelson, who played with the Three-I league. Everett Russ, son of E.T. Russ and part owner of Russ and company, is in the driver’s seat, and beside him is his sister Gertrude, now Mrs. Theodore Nells, 315 N. 3rd st. The first Harley Davidson motorcycle in Rockford, pictured at the rear of the truck, is manned by Carl Bladstrom.

Source: Register Republic  June 16, 1952  p.46

Rockford Industrial Athletic Association

Rockford Industrial Athletic Association

Factories include: Andrews, Free Sewing, Barber-Colman, Trahern Pump, Hess and Hopkins, Kurtz Action

(Trahern Pump was replaced in 1914 by Haddorff Piano)

Commercial Loop includes: Clark Manufacturing, Rockford Watch, Rockford Malleable, Burson’s Knitting, Central Union Telegraph, Rockford Printers

(Rockford Printers was succeeded in 1914 by Woodward Governor)

Hal Carlson went on to play for the Chicago Cubs, and Fred Schulte went on to play for the Pittsburgh Pirates  (Both were from the Free Sewing Machine Company)

“Turk” Skurski of Amerock was a top player, and Lou Coletta and Tony Vella of Barber-Colman were minor leagers

 

Source: Rockford Register, 12/24/1955