Recently I watched a program about the history of motorcycles on the History Channel.  It outlined the battle between Harley-Davidson and Indian where, at one time, each attempted to dominate the motorcycle world. Eventually, H-D won but Indian motorcycles hold a special place in my heart.  Not because I ride motorcycles – I never have but my father did for many, many years. Additionally, the Indian Motorcycle Company was in my hometown of Springfield Massachusetts where my dad was a police officer.

Early in 1925 the Springfield police department decided to experiment by having a Motorcycle Squad.  My dad was in the first squad and, of course, the motorcycles were all Indian Scouts.

In those days that was pretty rugged duty. Massachusetts’s winters are not mild by any means and the road conditions dictated that he have a sidecar attached during that season.

I’m not sure exactly how long he rode his motorcycle but he often commented he was the last one of the original Motorcycle Squad still riding, the rest having left due to accidents or other physical problems. He was eventually promoted to the detective bureau and retired as a Sergeant.

Of course, my dad is gone now and so is the Indian Motorcycle Company but both have left their marks on the history of Springfield Massachusetts.