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| The principle mode of transportation in the 1800s was the
horse and buggy. From its earliest years, Sidney, Ohio, was an important center for this
fledgling transportation industry. Sidney was home to several wagon builders. Piper Wagon
Works was formed in 1847 and its location was 824 West Court Street. The Rupert Wagon Shop
was in competition on West Popular Street three years later. (Sidney’s plat initially named the street Popular
rather than Poplar as it is known today) This business lasted only four years. The
location was taken over by the Miller and Smith firm for the manufacture of carriages. In mid-1854, Lorenzo Bimel of St. Marys moved to Sidney to open a buggy manufacturing business known as the Bimel Buggy Company. He built a plant at 218 South Ohio Ave, and produced a fine quality buggy. The company made various types of buggies, carriages and runabouts with either steel or rubber tires. Each year, the company made hundreds of ‘Storm King’ buggies for the winter season. After his business began to deteriorate, Mr. Bimel returned to St. Marys in 1860. After learning that Mr. Bimel had left Sidney, James Crozier of Piqua decided that Sidney presented more opportunity for him than his home town. He moved his buggy business here, and, in 1860, occupied the former Bimel plant. The business became ‘Crozier and Son’ with the addition of his son some years later. Mr. Crozier was featured in the April 4, 1914, edition of the "Sidney Daily News" for completing 54 years in the carriage business. In addition to overseeing his business, James Crozier served over 50 consecutive years as trustee of the Methodist Church, and was mayor of the town for several terms. He died in 1919.
[Back] [Next] [Up] [New Search] Industry segment written in January, 1998 by Rich Wallace |
