The Barclay Blog

Beginning in 1898, Barclay learned his trade in Elsom’s shop that sold bicycles and electrical goods. [2] Barclay explained that in the early days, the shop “took in every sort of work that came along,” such as repairing bicycles, automobiles, motorcycles, racing sulkies, wheelchairs, baby buggies, umbrellas, hot-water bottles, and rubber shoes. [3]

On May 2, 1903, Elsom opened his new shop at 141 North Boulevard. [4] The Oak Park Cycle and Automobile Depot, a purpose-built structure, had room to include automobile sales. [5]

Barclay, who was in charge of Elsom’s bicycle shop, [6] may have been motivated to open his own bicycle and electrical goods shop due to the new emphasis of his boss on automobile sales.

Further, Barclay’s parents died in 1902, three weeks apart. Both had life insurance: James, $12,000 [7] and Mary, $13,500. [8] Barclay’s Drug Store (a.k.a. Sign of the Golden Lion), which his father operated, was sold to Charles McCauley, a former employee of the store. [9] Assuming the children (Luan, James, and Philander) received a share of their parents’ estate, it’s likely Philander had enough money to go into business for himself.

Between working in his own bike shop and documenting early Oak Park, Barclay must have been extraordinarily busy. In an article from 1935, Barclay admitted that “starting in my little ‘bike’ business, and at the same time collecting ancient photographs as well as taking hundreds of present-day (that is, then) scenes of our little village, I sure had my hands full, or should I say, "brain"? [10]

Business was looking up for the young bicycle man. Due to space concerns brought about from his successful shop, Barclay wasn’t at his 138 Lake Street location for long. On July 14, 1906, the Oak Leaves reported:

Philander Barclay has met with so good success in his bicycle repair business that he has been forced to seek larger quarters and will move his store and shop in about a week to the vacant store in the Masonic building, 133 Lake street, where he will have a room several times the size of his present space. [11]

His next shop opened on July 23. [12]

Also in the July 14 issue, Oak Leaves reported that 19 new members had been voted into the Oak Park Business Men’s Association (later known as Oak Park Commercial Association), during the Friday evening (July 13) meeting. One of the business owners was Philander. [13] While he was a member, he typically donated a bicycle-related prize (like a Columbia gas bicycle lamp) for one of the many contests held during the annual summer picnics of the organization. [14]