Indian Day Draws A Crowd

SPRINGFIELD, MA – Vintage Indian owners and Indian lovers converged on the Springfield Museums today for the sixth annual Indian Day. Dozens of old machines provided photo fodder for admirers as owners swapped stories.

“Every year we get a little bit better at this. It gets easier and better because we’ve been able to expand what we’re doing and start a tradition,” said Guy McLain, director of history museums for Springfield Museums.

While new Indians helped fill the parking lot, the show ground was devoted to original Indians that were built in Springfield between  1901 and 1953. They were ridden and trailered in from around the northeast. Bill Emerson and Harry Roberts (pictured below) rode down from Vermont.

Bill Emerson, left, and Harry Roberts

Emerson, who lives in Cornwall, VT, arrived on a Kashan Green 1941 Indian Chief that he’s owned for four years. “It was just a wreck – pieces and parts,” he said, recalling the condition in which he received it. It was a two-year project to get the Chief on the road again, but it has proven trustworthy. “I ride it all the time,” Emerson said, reporting that he’s put 9,000 miles on it.

Roberts, who lives in Norwich, VT, arrived on a 1946 Chief; this one in black. “It was found in a backyard in Puerto Rico,” he said, explaining that it was discovered by a guy in Miami who had an air freight business. The man flew it to Florida and that’s who Roberts bought it from. “Now it’s full circle – back in Springfield,” Roberts said.

Throughout the day, spectators came and went at Indian Day. The event was marked by a noticeable uptick in vendors and by a splendid cross section of Indians.

Robin Gazza of Windham, CT (pictured at right) brought his 1937 Indian Four with sidecar. It’s one of six vintage Indians that he owns.

He said it runs “good – now that I’ve rebuilt the motor.” The bike actually had a 1938 motor. He found it on eBay roughly 10 years ago. “I wanted the sidecar. That’s what I was going after,” Gazza recalled.

Gazza has been riding since he was 21. In fact, he bought his first bike, a Honda CB350, from Burt Ives Honda in Columbia, CT on the day he turned 21. He had to be told how to ride it before he could depart the parking lot. “I got on it and I haven’t stopped,” he said.

Those paying admission to Indian Day got to not only see the bikes on the show ground, but those inside the Lyman & Merrie Wood Museum of Springfield History.

This year’s honoree at Indian Day was Bob’s Indian of Etters, PA. We’ll hear from the honoree tomorrow…