Hundreds gathered at the Portsmouth Motorcycle Club in Portsmouth, Ohio, on June 30 to celebrate the club’s 125th anniversary. The club is among the oldest active AMA-chartered clubs.

Motorcycles lined the curb of Front Street in Portsmouth as the organization celebrated with food, live music, vintage motorcycle and bicycle shows and a 50-mile ride through scenic southern Ohio.

According to club President Dan “Dirty Dog” Belcher, the club traces its history to 1893 when it was founded as the Portsmouth Cycling Club. The club changed its name and became a motorcycling club in 1913.

A mural depicting the club’s history is painted on the city’s flood wall, alongside murals of other prominent Portsmouth historical moments and organizations.

Belcher, a member of the club for 10 years, was happy with the turnout.

“It’s been a tough road, but I am hoping for the club to be here another 125 years,” he said. “We’re going to try and stay up with the times, but we are going to continue being an old-school club, continue being nice to people and try to break the biker stereotype.”

Patrick Parsons, of Piketon, Ohio, rode his Harley-Davidson Sportster to Portsmouth to enjoy the celebration.

“It’s a really nice event,” Parsons said. “The vintage bikes are cool to see, there are a lot more people than I expected here.”

John “HoJo” Potter, who is a Portsmouth Motorcycle Club member and led the scenic ride, was happy to see so many turn out for the event.

“A lot of clubs are here to celebrate with us,” he said. “There are a lot of vintage bikes here today.”