View attachment 11024 Years ago, I went to school with what we called a sidewalk commando, biker gear, chain drive wallet and Harley everything, except the bike. In an attempt to fit in, he made ceramic beer mugs for the "club", one of them fired with the commandant's name "Hog Daddy" on it. He got his ass kicked, royally and still never got a bike
As a guy with mechanical abilities, I was called on by anything that had wheels and ran at an early age. The Harley guys recognized my talents and I worked on their machines quite a bit. Dealerships were few and far between and gasp!, no internet. I had the fortune of living near a legendary mom and pop Harley Davidson dealership in Donora, Pennsylvania USA. The shop was opened in 1920 and lasted thru three generations of Cerinis
I knew Babe Cerini and admired his style, his first question to a customer was "Why do you think you need that?" after hearing why they wanted that particular item, the education began. Babe had an extensive knowledge of Harleys and would itemize all related possible problems and how to fix all of them. Some thought of him as talking down to them. I saw an opportunity for education and a reduction in mistakes made by missed items.
The Meldon Avenue shop was a time capsule of Harley Davidson history with many original parts, store displays and photographs from their 1903 beginnings to modern times. Harley Davidson pulled the plug on Ernest Cerini's empire at the old cramped shop and would only sell to the Cerini clan if they built new facilities. Both locations failed by 2009. The second ever mom and pop Harley dealer in their history was gone in a corporate flash.
Now a lil history of the Cerini clan: plagerized
Real bikers, not sidewalk commandos
Ernest Cerini - A legend born to bike
His father was born a wine merchant and his grandfather was a farmer in Arezzo, a small town in the province of Tuscany in Italy. On July 13, 1893, Ernesto Cerini was born with the destiny to have an impact on the Mid-Monongahela Valley and several surrounding communities in southwestern Pennsylvania. As an only child growing up on his grandfather’s farm, he had no formal education. His mother died at an early age and his father later remarried.
Hunting became one of his most enjoyable pastimes. Being raised a strict Catholic, he was elated to learn that the church allowed hunting on the Sabbath. Therefore, Ernesto and his friends would walk miles down the road every Sunday in a different direction, leave their rifles outside the church, attend mass, then go out into the countryside to hunt. This was done Sunday after Sunday until his hometown priest missed seeing him at mass and related the fact to his father. It was explained that Ernesto was attending mass in different village churches every Sunday.
It seemed Ernesto took an interest in repairing bikes as a youngster in Italy so it was just a natural thing to continue as a self-taught repairman here in Pennsylvania. At age 16 he and a few friends decided to come to America. His friends were Albert Lucchesi, Gioviani Bennati, and Jasper Bonafed, who started Monessen Vulcanizing and Retreading Company in 1918. Ernest repaired bikes in Jasper’s bicycle shop in Monessen for no pay and also worked in the Monessen Tin Mill. It was in the tin mill where he met Oliva Sylvesti, his future wife. She was a sorter in the mill and he brought tin to be sorted. When they married, Ernest opened his own bike shop in Donora since there were no cycle shops here and there were shops in Monessen and Charleroi. The first location was an old schoolhouse on the north end of Donora on Meldon Avenue. His next move was to 1405 Meldon Avenue, then, in 1925, he had the structure built at 1507 Meldon Avenue where the businesses ARO is presently located.
Oliva and Ernest became the parents of Jimmy, Madeline, and August “Babe”, because he was the youngest. English was always spoken in the home, as Ernest wanted to better learn the language. He was a gentle man to his children. They knew by his imposing tone of voice what he wanted done and he was not ever to be questioned.
He believed deeply that since he made his living in America, he would always buy American made products. He would never allow a foreign made motorcycle to be parked on his property. It had to be parked across the street. During his lifetime, he never owned an automobile. The whole family traveled by cycle in any and all kinds of weather. That open air mode of transportation was a necessity. Today it is mostly used for pleasure.
When Ernest went hunting, he would bring deer home on the sidecar of the motorcycle or strap it around the back of the cycle to keep the cold air from hitting his back. He also trained bird dogs for small game season and like to hunt pheasant and quail.
In all his years as a cycle enthusiast, he never had an accident. Many trips were made to Frederick, Maryland, Cumberland, Maryland, Columbus, Ohio, and West Virginia for half-mile races. It was a long distance to travel over roads that were not very good.
A customer wants his motorcycle torn down, repaired and ready to go as soon as possible. Hence, Cerini’s always kept a large supply of parts on hand. It would take a month or more to receive a part from the factory, now it only takes a few days after the part is ordered.
Before the electronic ignition, they had to keep 100 sets of points and 1000 sparkplugs on hand. “Working on a motorcycle can be as delicate as working on a well-made watch,” according to Babe. He goes on to explain that “the difference between the operating expenses for a motorcycle and a car would give you a savings in one year to almost pay for your cycle.”
Harley-Davidson had opened a mechanics school in Milwaukee, Wisconsin in 1919. Ernest attended the second class of the first year that it opened. Babe attended classes in 1948, 1951, 1955, 1975, and also in the 1980’s. Some classes lasted three weeks.
The franchise with Harley-Davidson was acquired in 1920 and is the oldest Harley dealership in Pennsylvania.
In 1973, at the age of 80, Ernest died a man ahead of his time in his conviction to God and country and his fellow man. He became a prime example of an immigrant with no knowledge of the language or the monetary system and very little in the way of funds, giving so much of himself in the way of hard labor, sacrifice and taking a chance on his God-given talents to make a success of his life.
In 1976, Babe bought the business from his mother. Babe and his wife Marie were dedicated to pleasing the customers. Ernest would be proud that they were giving unrelentlessly to uphold his memorable reputation.
Babe was widely recognized as an expert and historian by knowledgeable riding enthusiasts as well as those in charge of Harley-Davidson Motor Co. Babe was more reknowned for his superior technical knowledge of Harley-Davidson Motorcycles, and still to this day, Harley-Davidson University leaders still speak highly of his technical prowess and ability to foresee potential technical problems with new technology.
The 3d generation of Cerini's were poised to take over in the early 1990's... Ernie, Eric Roger and Mark are the sons of Babe and Marie. Ernie, Eric and Mark stayed on to grow up to the next step, building a new and modern store in Belle Vernon, where it still stands. In 2002, Ernie and Eric acquired the Uniontown location, called Cerini's National Road.
In 1920, Ernest Cerini opened the doors of Harley-Davidson to the people of Pennsylvania, Ohio and West Virginia, 89 years later, Grandson Ernest Cerini closed the doors....
A great part of Harley History has been lost, as well as a legacy of service, satisfaction, but more importantly, the days of the "Mom and Pop" shop has perished....
As a guy with mechanical abilities, I was called on by anything that had wheels and ran at an early age. The Harley guys recognized my talents and I worked on their machines quite a bit. Dealerships were few and far between and gasp!, no internet. I had the fortune of living near a legendary mom and pop Harley Davidson dealership in Donora, Pennsylvania USA. The shop was opened in 1920 and lasted thru three generations of Cerinis
I knew Babe Cerini and admired his style, his first question to a customer was "Why do you think you need that?" after hearing why they wanted that particular item, the education began. Babe had an extensive knowledge of Harleys and would itemize all related possible problems and how to fix all of them. Some thought of him as talking down to them. I saw an opportunity for education and a reduction in mistakes made by missed items.
The Meldon Avenue shop was a time capsule of Harley Davidson history with many original parts, store displays and photographs from their 1903 beginnings to modern times. Harley Davidson pulled the plug on Ernest Cerini's empire at the old cramped shop and would only sell to the Cerini clan if they built new facilities. Both locations failed by 2009. The second ever mom and pop Harley dealer in their history was gone in a corporate flash.
Now a lil history of the Cerini clan: plagerized
Real bikers, not sidewalk commandos
Ernest Cerini - A legend born to bike
His father was born a wine merchant and his grandfather was a farmer in Arezzo, a small town in the province of Tuscany in Italy. On July 13, 1893, Ernesto Cerini was born with the destiny to have an impact on the Mid-Monongahela Valley and several surrounding communities in southwestern Pennsylvania. As an only child growing up on his grandfather’s farm, he had no formal education. His mother died at an early age and his father later remarried.
Hunting became one of his most enjoyable pastimes. Being raised a strict Catholic, he was elated to learn that the church allowed hunting on the Sabbath. Therefore, Ernesto and his friends would walk miles down the road every Sunday in a different direction, leave their rifles outside the church, attend mass, then go out into the countryside to hunt. This was done Sunday after Sunday until his hometown priest missed seeing him at mass and related the fact to his father. It was explained that Ernesto was attending mass in different village churches every Sunday.
It seemed Ernesto took an interest in repairing bikes as a youngster in Italy so it was just a natural thing to continue as a self-taught repairman here in Pennsylvania. At age 16 he and a few friends decided to come to America. His friends were Albert Lucchesi, Gioviani Bennati, and Jasper Bonafed, who started Monessen Vulcanizing and Retreading Company in 1918. Ernest repaired bikes in Jasper’s bicycle shop in Monessen for no pay and also worked in the Monessen Tin Mill. It was in the tin mill where he met Oliva Sylvesti, his future wife. She was a sorter in the mill and he brought tin to be sorted. When they married, Ernest opened his own bike shop in Donora since there were no cycle shops here and there were shops in Monessen and Charleroi. The first location was an old schoolhouse on the north end of Donora on Meldon Avenue. His next move was to 1405 Meldon Avenue, then, in 1925, he had the structure built at 1507 Meldon Avenue where the businesses ARO is presently located.
Oliva and Ernest became the parents of Jimmy, Madeline, and August “Babe”, because he was the youngest. English was always spoken in the home, as Ernest wanted to better learn the language. He was a gentle man to his children. They knew by his imposing tone of voice what he wanted done and he was not ever to be questioned.
He believed deeply that since he made his living in America, he would always buy American made products. He would never allow a foreign made motorcycle to be parked on his property. It had to be parked across the street. During his lifetime, he never owned an automobile. The whole family traveled by cycle in any and all kinds of weather. That open air mode of transportation was a necessity. Today it is mostly used for pleasure.
When Ernest went hunting, he would bring deer home on the sidecar of the motorcycle or strap it around the back of the cycle to keep the cold air from hitting his back. He also trained bird dogs for small game season and like to hunt pheasant and quail.
In all his years as a cycle enthusiast, he never had an accident. Many trips were made to Frederick, Maryland, Cumberland, Maryland, Columbus, Ohio, and West Virginia for half-mile races. It was a long distance to travel over roads that were not very good.
A customer wants his motorcycle torn down, repaired and ready to go as soon as possible. Hence, Cerini’s always kept a large supply of parts on hand. It would take a month or more to receive a part from the factory, now it only takes a few days after the part is ordered.
Before the electronic ignition, they had to keep 100 sets of points and 1000 sparkplugs on hand. “Working on a motorcycle can be as delicate as working on a well-made watch,” according to Babe. He goes on to explain that “the difference between the operating expenses for a motorcycle and a car would give you a savings in one year to almost pay for your cycle.”
Harley-Davidson had opened a mechanics school in Milwaukee, Wisconsin in 1919. Ernest attended the second class of the first year that it opened. Babe attended classes in 1948, 1951, 1955, 1975, and also in the 1980’s. Some classes lasted three weeks.
The franchise with Harley-Davidson was acquired in 1920 and is the oldest Harley dealership in Pennsylvania.
In 1973, at the age of 80, Ernest died a man ahead of his time in his conviction to God and country and his fellow man. He became a prime example of an immigrant with no knowledge of the language or the monetary system and very little in the way of funds, giving so much of himself in the way of hard labor, sacrifice and taking a chance on his God-given talents to make a success of his life.
In 1976, Babe bought the business from his mother. Babe and his wife Marie were dedicated to pleasing the customers. Ernest would be proud that they were giving unrelentlessly to uphold his memorable reputation.
Babe was widely recognized as an expert and historian by knowledgeable riding enthusiasts as well as those in charge of Harley-Davidson Motor Co. Babe was more reknowned for his superior technical knowledge of Harley-Davidson Motorcycles, and still to this day, Harley-Davidson University leaders still speak highly of his technical prowess and ability to foresee potential technical problems with new technology.
The 3d generation of Cerini's were poised to take over in the early 1990's... Ernie, Eric Roger and Mark are the sons of Babe and Marie. Ernie, Eric and Mark stayed on to grow up to the next step, building a new and modern store in Belle Vernon, where it still stands. In 2002, Ernie and Eric acquired the Uniontown location, called Cerini's National Road.
In 1920, Ernest Cerini opened the doors of Harley-Davidson to the people of Pennsylvania, Ohio and West Virginia, 89 years later, Grandson Ernest Cerini closed the doors....
A great part of Harley History has been lost, as well as a legacy of service, satisfaction, but more importantly, the days of the "Mom and Pop" shop has perished....
