To Carroll—Bicycles Then and Now: Wheeling Along Through History to a Very Poular Present – FESCH.TV

FESCH.TV INFORMIERT:

The humble bicycle, formerly called “the ordinary,” has taken many forms over its 170-plus years and has played roles beyond its basic functions of transportation and recreation. Tom will survey design of the bicycle and its influence on social customs, fashion, women’s liberation, city planning, and sport competition.

Tom Carroll’s passion for bicycles is just one facet of many in his life—but an important one. He rides them, collects them, promotes their benefits, and knows their history. His biography includes service as a Coast Guard officer; civic leadership with Cape May MAC (Museums + Arts + Culture), the New Jersey Historic Trust, and the New Jersey Cultural Trust; expertise in historic restoration; and with wife Sue, business insight that helped spur Cape May’s rebirth from quiet, summer-only beach town to its current status as a year-round tourist destination. For 34 years, the couple owned and operated the Mainstay Inn. When they opened at their first location in 1971, they were the only bed-and-breakfast innkeepers in Cape May, and Mainstay was one of just five B&Bs in the country. The B&B industry is credited as a catalyst of the town’s growth. Tom and Sue also restored the current Mainstay Inn, earning an award from the Historic House Association of America. Another of their firsts is bicycle-related: offering bicycle club weekends to bring business to town at down-times.