Of course, you know that Harley-Davidson is an American motorcycle manufacturer. The brand’s history and growth are all American. But the history of the founders is distinctly European; Harley-Davidson’s Davidson family lived in Scotland before emigrating to the United States.

家族的族长,啤酒xander (aka Sandy) Davidson, was a craftsman working in a local blacksmith’s shop. His major tasks were repairing carts, making and repairing their wheels, and producing wooden shafts for implements.

桑迪和戴维森的家庭住在一个小床tage on the estate of Lord Minto with four adults and five children. Life was difficult, but the family got by with the then necessities of daily life close by. Coal, water, a garden, and an outhouse were available to the family. But they lived there at the deference of the Laird (lord).

Davidson family America bound

In 1857, the Davidsons decided they wanted a better life. Certain members of Sandy’s wife’s (Margaret) family were already living in Wisconsin and well settled. So they made the trans-Atlantic voyage ending up in Harley-Davidson’s hometown of Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

It’s from these roots of the Davidson family that three boys were born to William C. Davidson. Through the efforts of these three American-born sons, Arthur, Walter, and William A. Davidson, along with William Harley, that the now-iconic Harley-Davidson motorcycle company was born

If you are wondering why the three Davidson brothers didn’t insist on naming the company Davidson-Harley, it’s because it was Willam Harley that the Davidson brothers credited with coming up with the idea to build a motorcycle. It might have helped that Harley was the only one of the four with an engineering degree (mechanical).

Harley-Davidson museum

The rest is history, with Harley-Davidson becoming one of the most well-known motorcycle manufacturers in the world. The “Motor Company” keeps the company’s history alive with a museum on a 20-acre campus in Milwaukee. The museum features “…interactive exhibits that celebrate expression, camaraderie, and love for the sport. With an unrivaled collection of Harley-Davidson motorcycles and memorabilia on two floors…”

Maintaining the Davidson family’s heritage

While the museum celebrates the American heritage of the MoCo, a group of people is working to maintain the heritage of the Davidson family in Scotland. Part of the plan to preserve that heritage was to restore the then nearly-collapsed family cottage.

To rebuild it, a group of people interested in maintaining the Davidson’s cottage formed the“The Davidson Legacy.”At the time of its purchase, the cottage was a derelict property and unlivable by modern standards. But the group would not quit, despite setbacks.

Stops and starts

Unfortunately, work was started and stopped on a few occasions while the various government entities directed what could, and could not be done with the property. Although the property was purchased in May 2008, it wasn’t until May 2011 that the restoration work could begin in earnest.

The rebuild

But The Davidson Legacy persevered, and the restoration continued. The efforts necessary were very substantial. The cottage was stripped to four walls, a foundation made, and a six-inch block wall built to tie in the outer masonry wall. The structure’s walls were reconstructed using field stones and clay mortar. The top two feet of the walls used Carmyllie stone to make attic space. Traditional sash and case windows were installed.

The interior masonry walls got a lime plaster finish from the wainscot paneling to the wellhead. In addition, the lime plaster continues over combed ceilings on the upper floor. The slate roof was rebuilt, and both chimneys re-lined. Much, much more work was required, and if you’d like to see thefull extent of the refurbishment, you can find it here.

Visitors from around the world

Interestingly, even in its derelict state, visitors were arriving from many parts of Europe, the USA, and as far away as Australia. Since the rebuilding of the cottage, visitors continue to come from many parts of the world to see and experience the Davidson family’s former home.

If you would like to visit the Davidson cottage, you can find it at:

Netherton Old Quarry
Brechin
DD9 6SH
Scotland

or if you are using Google Maps, you can simply input “Davidson Legacy.”

Thanks

Special thanks are due to the Director of The Davidson Legacy, Mike Sinclair. Mike kindly provided additional information about the Davidson cottage and the authorization to use the photos in this article. Thank you, Mike, and job well done!

Supporting The Davidson Legacy

If you would like to helpsupport the Davidson Legacy, you can donate on their website. If you donate £100 or more, your name (or your club’s name) will receive an engraved stainless steel badge that will be placed on the display board on the property’s grounds.