MAY’S LICK — Eighteen bicyclists from as far away as Florida and California participated in the first Buffalo Soldiers Bike ride on Saturday.
The event – conceived and coordinated by descendants of Col. Charles Young – involved a 55-mile round trip ride from the Colonel’s birth cabin in May’s Lick to the John P. Parker House in Ripley, Ohio. The ride was designed to raise money for a feasibility study that could determine the future of the cabin and also to raise awareness of Col. Young and his contributions as a leader and career military officer.
The cabin underwent an extensive restoration from 2013 to September 2014, when an official dedication of the cabin took place. It is situated on 33 acres on Kentucky 324, and the entire property is owned by the Mason County Fiscal Court.
Denese Johnson, a descendant of Young, served as the event coordinator.
“The event was just awesome,” said Johnson, “Every cyclist that rode was so impressed with the route that Peter Chamness put together.”
“They said it was challenging, it was historical and it was refreshing,” she said.
The Limestone Bicycle League was involved with planning and mapping out the route to and from Ripley.
Johnson said she brought several cyclists with her from Florida. A couple vacationing in Cincinnati found information about the ride online and registered Saturday morning.
The event was scheduled to coincide with the national observance of the 1896 Buffalo Soldiers 25th Infantry Bicycle Corps excursion from Fort Missoula, Mont. to Yellowstone National Park.
Young was a Buffalo Soldier having served with the Ninth and Tenth Cavalries upon graduation from the United States Military Academy at West Point in 1889.
Since its restoration, efforts have been underway by the National Coalition of Black Veteran Organizations to bring national awareness to the cabin and its connection to America’s Buffalo Soldiers. The NCBVO is also behind a national movement to have Young promoted posthumously to Brigadier General because at the time of his death he was the highest-ranking black officer in the U.S. Army.
Young spent his formative years in Ripley which is home to several important sites including Rankin House and the John P. Parker House Museum.
As a volunteer with the North Florida Bikers Club in Jacksonville, Johnson said she thought staging a ride would be one way to raise funds for the study.
Members of the Mason County JROTC Col. Charles Young Battalion provided volunteers to assist, and the Second Baptist Church of May’s Lick with Pastor Rodney Bennett held its Praise in the Park celebration at the cabin to coincide with the ride.
“Judge (Joe) Pfeffer and former Judge (Buddy) Gallenstein were so helpful,” said Johnson, “I think they were surprised we could pull this off, but they’re already talking about plans for a ride next year.”
