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Garrison Hillia
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Jul 16, 5:27 AM EDT
Wright Brothers' Bike Shop Is Dig Site
By JAMES HANNAH Associated Press Writer
DAYTON, Ohio (AP) -- The bicycle shop where the Wright brothers built their first airplane may have
been scooped up and sent to Michigan, but some archaeology students hope something was left behind.
Their digging at the shop site has turned up pieces of the foundation and a few other items, but
they have yet to uncover any evidence of the brothers' airplane work - or even a piece of a bicycle.
The digging is taking place as the hometown of Wilbur and Orville Wright celebrates the centennial
of powered flight. It was at the bicycle shop that the Wrights built the airplane that made the
first flight near Kitty Hawk, N.C., on Dec. 17, 1903.
"We're getting physical remains of the shop foundation," said Robert Riordan, a Wright State
University anthropology professor who is supervising the dig. "Potentially, we might add some
information about their use of the shop."
The Wrights built their first airplane at the shop where they worked from 1897 to 1916. Automobile
legend Henry Ford purchased it in 1936 and moved it to Greenfield Village, a living-history area he
founded in Dearborn, Mich.
Advertisement
Eleven Wright State archaeology students and a few volunteers have been digging at the site since
June 30. They plan to finish the excavation by the end of the month.
The excavators have uncovered some mosaic floor tile, a coin, a Victorian-style gas valve and a
cistern-like object, but it's not known whether any of the items are connected to the Wrights.
After the shop was moved, the site was used as a parking lot until a furniture store was built there
in the 1950s. When the store was demolished last year, some limestone slabs were found.
"They didn't realize Henry Ford had left anything in place," Riordan said.
---
On the Net:
http://www.birthplaceofaviation.com
Copyright 2003 Associated Press. All rights reserved.
By JAMES HANNAH Associated Press Writer
DAYTON, Ohio (AP) -- The bicycle shop where the Wright brothers built their first airplane may have
been scooped up and sent to Michigan, but some archaeology students hope something was left behind.
Their digging at the shop site has turned up pieces of the foundation and a few other items, but
they have yet to uncover any evidence of the brothers' airplane work - or even a piece of a bicycle.
The digging is taking place as the hometown of Wilbur and Orville Wright celebrates the centennial
of powered flight. It was at the bicycle shop that the Wrights built the airplane that made the
first flight near Kitty Hawk, N.C., on Dec. 17, 1903.
"We're getting physical remains of the shop foundation," said Robert Riordan, a Wright State
University anthropology professor who is supervising the dig. "Potentially, we might add some
information about their use of the shop."
The Wrights built their first airplane at the shop where they worked from 1897 to 1916. Automobile
legend Henry Ford purchased it in 1936 and moved it to Greenfield Village, a living-history area he
founded in Dearborn, Mich.
Advertisement
Eleven Wright State archaeology students and a few volunteers have been digging at the site since
June 30. They plan to finish the excavation by the end of the month.
The excavators have uncovered some mosaic floor tile, a coin, a Victorian-style gas valve and a
cistern-like object, but it's not known whether any of the items are connected to the Wrights.
After the shop was moved, the site was used as a parking lot until a furniture store was built there
in the 1950s. When the store was demolished last year, some limestone slabs were found.
"They didn't realize Henry Ford had left anything in place," Riordan said.
---
On the Net:
http://www.birthplaceofaviation.com
Copyright 2003 Associated Press. All rights reserved.
Wright Brothers' Bike Shop Is Dig Site
By JAMES HANNAH Associated Press Writer
DAYTON, Ohio (AP) -- The bicycle shop where the Wright brothers built their first airplane may have
been scooped up and sent to Michigan, but some archaeology students hope something was left behind.
Their digging at the shop site has turned up pieces of the foundation and a few other items, but
they have yet to uncover any evidence of the brothers' airplane work - or even a piece of a bicycle.
The digging is taking place as the hometown of Wilbur and Orville Wright celebrates the centennial
of powered flight. It was at the bicycle shop that the Wrights built the airplane that made the
first flight near Kitty Hawk, N.C., on Dec. 17, 1903.
"We're getting physical remains of the shop foundation," said Robert Riordan, a Wright State
University anthropology professor who is supervising the dig. "Potentially, we might add some
information about their use of the shop."
The Wrights built their first airplane at the shop where they worked from 1897 to 1916. Automobile
legend Henry Ford purchased it in 1936 and moved it to Greenfield Village, a living-history area he
founded in Dearborn, Mich.
Advertisement
Eleven Wright State archaeology students and a few volunteers have been digging at the site since
June 30. They plan to finish the excavation by the end of the month.
The excavators have uncovered some mosaic floor tile, a coin, a Victorian-style gas valve and a
cistern-like object, but it's not known whether any of the items are connected to the Wrights.
After the shop was moved, the site was used as a parking lot until a furniture store was built there
in the 1950s. When the store was demolished last year, some limestone slabs were found.
"They didn't realize Henry Ford had left anything in place," Riordan said.
---
On the Net:
http://www.birthplaceofaviation.com
Copyright 2003 Associated Press. All rights reserved.
By JAMES HANNAH Associated Press Writer
DAYTON, Ohio (AP) -- The bicycle shop where the Wright brothers built their first airplane may have
been scooped up and sent to Michigan, but some archaeology students hope something was left behind.
Their digging at the shop site has turned up pieces of the foundation and a few other items, but
they have yet to uncover any evidence of the brothers' airplane work - or even a piece of a bicycle.
The digging is taking place as the hometown of Wilbur and Orville Wright celebrates the centennial
of powered flight. It was at the bicycle shop that the Wrights built the airplane that made the
first flight near Kitty Hawk, N.C., on Dec. 17, 1903.
"We're getting physical remains of the shop foundation," said Robert Riordan, a Wright State
University anthropology professor who is supervising the dig. "Potentially, we might add some
information about their use of the shop."
The Wrights built their first airplane at the shop where they worked from 1897 to 1916. Automobile
legend Henry Ford purchased it in 1936 and moved it to Greenfield Village, a living-history area he
founded in Dearborn, Mich.
Advertisement
Eleven Wright State archaeology students and a few volunteers have been digging at the site since
June 30. They plan to finish the excavation by the end of the month.
The excavators have uncovered some mosaic floor tile, a coin, a Victorian-style gas valve and a
cistern-like object, but it's not known whether any of the items are connected to the Wrights.
After the shop was moved, the site was used as a parking lot until a furniture store was built there
in the 1950s. When the store was demolished last year, some limestone slabs were found.
"They didn't realize Henry Ford had left anything in place," Riordan said.
---
On the Net:
http://www.birthplaceofaviation.com
Copyright 2003 Associated Press. All rights reserved.
