Dennis Hopper. The Hells Angels. Hunter S. Thompson.

Easy Rider, Altamont and the other black leather-clad pins that dot Harley Davidson’s iconic cultural roadmap can all be traced to Ohio, when a century ago, the most bad-ass biker babe of all-time gripped her husband’s vision and gunned the throttle.

The A.D. Farrow Co., hailed as the oldest Harley dealership in America, will celebrate its 100th year in business this month (February 26th), having spent 88 of those years in Columbus, where original owner Alfred D. Farrow moved the outfit shortly before his passing.

That’s when his wife, Lily, took over the operation, and became the glue that held the company together.

“Lily Farrow gets a lot of the credit,” said Doug Kamerer, A.D. Farrow’s Minister of Culture. “She ran a motorcycle shop while it was just starting out, through the depression and through WWII, at a time when women didn’t do those kind of things. She’d dress up like a lady of the times, and do her thing, but then she’d be hanging out with mechanics and doing whatever she had to do to get things done. She definitely had an ornery, adventurous side, and went out on the bikes to ride. She was a risk taker and she was a pretty attractive woman, to boot.”

The dealership landed on West Broad Street in 1941, where it remains to this day, in addition to its massive Northstar facility in Sunbury, which opened in 2007. It survived largely in part to Lily Farrow’s efforts and the way she embraced the Harley spirit. The company was sold to Pat and Al Doerman in 1983 and then again in 2002 to its current owners, Bob and Valerie Althoff. In the last eight years, the company has sold more Harleys than in the previous 92 years combined.

“The past 100 years have all been about maintaining our spirit and the perseverance that we’ve had,” Kamerer said. “Iconic brands are usually traditional or innovative. Harley is definitely along the lines of tradition. Think about a brand like Tiffany. Are they innovative? No, but they’re well known and traditional. If you think about a brand like Apple, it’s not so much about tradition for them. It’s about innovation. The traditional aspect of Harley Davidson is key. Then you have the rebelliousness and freedom and a sense of community, which is in the DNA of the brand.”

Aside from being the purveyors of such powerful machines, A.D. Farrow has always had strong ties to the community, which Kamerer says is in keeping with the civic nature of the brand. They’ve contributed greatly to the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure in Columbus, iron ponying up both thousands of dollars and arranging the renowned Thunder Tunnel of enthusiasts. They also host the annual Ohio Fallen Heroes Motorcycle Ride and Rally, honoring our lost men and women over seas, as well as teaching marines about safe riding while on base through their Rider's Edge Safety Course. These programs have helped A.D. Farrow win the Conway Family Business Center “Community Engagement Award”.

“You think about all the motorcycle rallies – tens of thousands around the country and one could make the argument that motorcyclists are probably the most interest-getting people on the planet,” says Kamerer. “It’s a brotherhood. You can pull up anywhere with a Harley, and if there are other Harley guys around, they’ll be able to take care of you on the road.”

To celebrate their successful 100-year run, A.D. Farrow is setting up a number of events, including a 100th Anniversary party at Bluestone on February 26th. For more information, visit www.adfarrow.com.

To pay homage to their century in the business, A.D. Farrow has put together some kick-ass events this year to remind Columbus what makes their motorcycles thundering kings of the road. From June 13th to June 23rd, they will begin The American Motorcycle Rally: The Brotherhood of Giving, a non-profit, 7,000-mile cruise. During that time, they will be hosting events around town that will speak to the proud tradition of road warriors everywhere:

• A fashion show at The Ohio State University, which will feature signature Harley Davidson gear

• A motorcycle giveaway, co-sponsored by Quaker Steak and Lube and Nationwide, where they will be handing out twin black Sportsters.

• A rodeo, harnessing the unbridled power of non-steel steeds

• A concert in which they are negotiating to secure Kid Rock as the main event

• Hometown Throwdown, a UFC fight promotion that’s sure to rattle some chains