Hobo Art	Hobo Signs	HoboLinks	Fran's Hobo Page	Hobo Gatherings

Link to Books, CDs & Cassettes
by " The Hobo Minstrels "

Use this link for information about "The Hobo Minstrel's" (Fran's) book,
"The American Hoboes".

Use this one for information about "The Hobo Minstrel's" (Fran's) CDs and cassettes.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * *

"New Cds"
(2/3/2005)

  Yes, I now have my recordings of Hobo songs, poetry and history on CDs.  The price for the two CD set is $15.00, including postage, in the continental U.S.  Click here on, Hobo Song CDs, to get full details about this and my other available CDs. Thank you for your attention.  I am

    I get so many requests for the words to old songs and poems I thought I'd add one, or two, at a time to the site.  As some are quite lengthy they're a bit much for the Grapevine page so I've added another page to present them.  These, mostly, old pieces will be replaced periodically, by our Senior Culture and Arts Editor, using a scientific method to determine the length of time each should be displayed.  To enjoy the current "Artistic Selection" click on the title, below.  Anyone having specific requests may ask for them by emailing our "Senior Culture and Arts Editor" at;      cultural arts

Fran,

    As you may or may not know, Deep Lock Quarry Hobo Days is being incorporated with The Summit County Historical Society.  The Akron History Museum, 200 south Main St. Akron, 44308, will have a hobo history display starting June 1, 2012.  The display is in great hands!  I will be hosting the following two events and hope you will either come and help or just visit.I hope to see all of you 'down the road!'

    Join Hummingbird and other Summit County hobos for an evening around the campfire to learn about hobo culture and history, and then share some hobo soup. Bring chairs and marshmallow sticks. In the hobo tradition, please bring a can of food to donate to the Akron-Canton Regional Food Bank. If it rains, the program will be moved to the shelter. F/Tuscarawas Meadows, 2620 Harrington Rd, Akron 44319 This program shares the cultural history of hobos in Summit County.

    Join Hummingbird and the Summit County Historical Society to share the hobo influence through stories, exhibits, and hobohemia (all things hobo). There will be music and hobo soup while it lasts.  Parking is FREE on weekends. Lock 3, 200 South Main St. in downtown Akron, 44308  This program shares the resources of cooperating agencies to provide an in-depth appreciation of the available cultural resources and make personal connections with attendees.

Hi Fran!

    I am from Stonefield Historic site in Cassville, WI.  I was wondering if you could please put something on your Hobo Page.  A honorary hobo from Cassville past away on Feb. 7 and I thought some of the hobo's that come to Cassville would like to know this.  Her legal name was Lei-Lonne Henderson and hobo name was Face Painter.  Here is her obit from a Waterloo Ia newpaper. http://wcfcourier.com/lifestyles/announcements/obituaries/leih-lonne-c-henderson/articale_eb98a23a-5340-11e1-be52-001871e3ce6c.html

Also, this was posted on her facebook page.

    Grandma Lonne's memorial service will be held March 10th at 2pm, at the partk in Cassville, WI.  We will be holding a Native ceremony, with a potluck dinner at The Silver Spigot Saloon, to follow.  (Please remember to refrain from drinking alcohol before the Native ceremony, if you wish to participate in them.)  Please spread the word, and if you can not bring a dish to pass, bring a humorous Grandma Lonne story to share.

    I got a call from Frog last nite asking me to let the hobo family know of this  tragic news and ask everyone to help in whatever way they can.    Thursday night Christopher Hanson died while jumping off an eastbound  train near Mpls. Jewels house.  This young man lived down the street from Jewels and was a frequent  visitor.  The family needs help with the expenses.  It does not matter  what we give, it all adds up.  send donations and cards to;

Fran,

    Just a note to U about birdman. He called me yesterday and was in good spirits. Wanted to thank me for my support during this long battle and all of the complications!!

He just went thru a bout with mursa, an infection which if not caught in time would be fatal. He beat it.  Is still having problems with side effects of medication but was in the best mood I have heard / seen in some time. Said he was taking wife out for supper for Valentines Day and really sounded good. I'm sure he appreciates the funny cards he has been sent by the hobo community.

    On a personal note, Daisy Sue, my wife is doing well with her alzheimers. She got a breathing machine several months back and that really made a big difference.

    We plan to head for Texas the week of March 10th or 17th. Plan to visit our oldest son in Colledge Station and then go on down close to mexico and visit "HARPIN DON"

    Don Grubb and his lovely wife. Wiil spend one/two weeks there and then back to Colledge Station with son for a week, go to Jackson Tennesse for a week, Then to Amory

    Mississippi for Amory Railroad Days head back towards Wisconsin but My go Hunting Turkey in South Dakota around the 15th of April.

Leih-Lonne Clare  Henderson  (http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=624111420) , passed away this morning. Bless her beautiful spirit.  02/07/2012 she has been coming to Britt the last couple of years  with her husband and granddaughter.  A beautiful spirit and a great lady. They were the  reenactment family.

Fran,

    Lonnie died at my home the morning of Tuesday, February 7, 2012.  Letters or cards may be sent to:

    The best number to call is Sara's cell phone at (402) 203-1532.  If anyone has questions, they may contact me via cell phone, email, or snail mail.  I will provide whatever info I can.

Hi Fran

    It has been a good start for 2012 I spent the last part of January on tour in Scotland . As part of the tour , I was able to work with over 2000 kids doing school programs . This year I was able to also include a work shop that featured telling stories by using the old hobo signs. The schools loved it !  One of the the schools was a Gypsy Schools with kids from the Roma Gypsy Community. The Gypsies really enjoyed using the old signs to tell their stories. Soon I will be doing my first tour in Israel which will take place April 25 -May 7th. On this tour I will again do shows in schools and concerts. I also will be At the Jacob's Ladder folk festival where besides my concert will feature a workshop called "hobos & Trains" singing songs and telling stories With songs from Woody Guthrie & Utah Phillips .  I am also doing a little road tour here in Pittsburgh Pa on Sunday March 18th at the friend ship house concert at 4 pm I am hoping to fill in a few more shows during that weekend so if you live in that area or nearby Ohio please let me know

    It's good to hear that Rik was able to get to those foreign parts last month.  He's been making quite a name for himself over there across the pond.  I can understand why he'd like to pick up another gig or two when he goes off to Pittsburgh in March.  Cripes, with gas so high it's tough to make expenses when you're traveling from those Vermont mountains to the more civilized parts of the country for just one show.  Ohio Tom thinks I have to deal with eskimos up here but Rik lives a heck of a lot further north than I do.  Good luck, Rik.

    Stretch called yesterday to tell me that Pullman is definitely on for the last weekend in August.  All I could find on line about it was from past years so if anybody has the exact dates I'd appreciate you sending them.  I post these gathering dates so everyone will know what's happening but, if people can't send me  the postings I'm damned if I'm going to waste time chasing around on the internet looking for them.

Hey Fran,

    Ironweed here. Hope you are well. (Your only as old as you feel.)

    A lot of new tramps on the road these days. I've seen more now then in the past ten years. Only a handful of true Boes.

    Anyway, I am building a pretentious project I have dubbed "The Greatest Hobo Jungle In America" Being constructed near my home yard of Ogden, UT I will provide photos, if I can figure out how to (Upload) photos to the computer.
(Damn I was born in the 20'th century for petes sake.)

    This jungle will initially accomodate 15. It will provide a real nice place to stay before heading back out on the road.   It ought to be something when done. I'd like to have a gathering of sorts when it is ready.

    The jungle will be a throwback to how camps used to and should be, but nicer. Foot tramps and real roadsters are welcome. Homebums and others who can't contol their bad habits are not.

    Looking for volunteers to help. Feel free to post on your website. I'll keep you posted as to the progress.

hey fran,

    just got back to eugene from a small little road trip north for a few days, still gonna be out west for a few more weeks then maybe go back to cali for a few weeks of work with friends.

    You know, I really appreciate hearing from Oops and you others that are still on the road and enjoying life the way it's meant to be enjoyed.  It's not the wrost thing in the world to be getting a "little" older but, if I was to have my druthers,one of my druthers would be to be sitting by a fire, sharing a brew or two, with good friends again.  Sigh, sigh, sigh.  Those was the days.

    Speaking about sharing a brew.  As you can see by the picture above Oops and chessieka are always ready to do that

    Hey go ahead and send a note to the Grapevine from me wishing everyone a happy new year and safe trains to all!

    I swap emails with Tex, quite often.  All I can say is that "He's doing as well as can be expected".  Hey, how good can it be. At least he's getting three squares a day and doesn't have to worry abut heading south to have a warm place to sleep.  If anybody wants to send him a note just email it to me at minstrel@worlpath. net and I'll see that he gets it.

Fran,

    would you also put on the grapevine that BIRDMAN is at home and still doctoring for another 35/45 weeks.he is on a very strong medication with harsh side effects. I am asking his hobo friends to send him a funny card every two or three weeks for the duration. Things are tough and he needs some bright moments. Send to:

Hey, Fran...

Just got a note from Jim Croneis down in Bucyrus and I, thoughtt you could use it...

Anytime is Hobo time in Bucyrus. But, to get the party it will be May 5 and Sept. 1, this year unless something changes. Cro.

    Look at that notice and hang your heads in shame.  If a guy, lke Tom, who walks around the corn fields, up to his ankles in "That Stuff" can get notices out this early why can't everyone do it?  By gosh, Tom may only be as bright as a twenty five watt bulb but he's shining all the time.

    Dandi is an excellent author of children's books.  I suggest if you have children to buy her books.  She is the author of the book, Rudy Rides the Rails.  She is now up for an award with her book, The Silence Murder.  Will you please take the time and vote for this book?  I have read several of her books and they are wonderful.  I just ordered the book, The Silence of Murder.  In the hobo world she is know as "K.C. Bat Girl."  She has been to Britt and several hobo gatherings.  She says in her email to me she has no network but she is wrong she has a network of hobo family...right hobos?

    A good news item involves a favor. THE SILENCE OF MURDER, the young adult novel that came out in October from Knopf/Random House, is nominated for Teen Choice Book of the Year. Anybody can vote, and I suppose-like American Idol and other reality shows-some authors have a network in place to vote often (it's legal to vote often). I have no network, but I would be very grateful if you felt you could vote for The Silence of Murder. If you haven't read it, it's a story about a girl who believes in her brother, who hasn't talked for 10 years, since he was 7 years old. He's on trial for murder, and Hope, his sister, is the only one who believes he's innocent.
 
 

     Greetings all Hobos, Tramps and Hobos at heart, from the BNSF Main Line Railroad tracks in Northeast Minneapolis, MN.

     The theme for the 2012 Hobo Days (coming from this year's King and Queen) is audience involvement.  I will have Hobo signs made for them to tell us what they mean ---- correct answers will garner a red bandanna.  I would also like anyone in the audience tell us how long they have been coming to Britt, where they are from, etc.

     I would also like the Hobos to tell the story of their first time at Britt, their impressions and what made you come back.  This will be broken up through the evenings of the jungle fire. If we can't finish we can do it at the Hobo poetry reading.  Any other ideas for audience involvement are welcome.

     Hobo King, Uncle Freddie, and I will be doing a Hobo presentation at the Seniors Friendship Center, in January.  We want the seniors to share their stories of feeding the Hobos or family members who rode the rails.

     Lastly, I will be crumb boss for 2012. If I cannot arrive before Wednesday Yuck, my, esteemed husband, and Hobo King of 07 /  08 will be available.

     ALSO, has anyone heard from Inkman?  Several folks have called him but no response.  I would like to know if he is doing his pig roast on Thursday.  Any comments, responses, etc I will receive via Frog, via Fran's Hobo Grapevine.

Dear Fran,

     Well, here's my short summery on Dante, Hobo King of 2011 – 2011.  As most of you know Dante is living in Tucson, AZ, temporarily.  He's at a home for disabled veterans where he's undergoing many tests at the VA Hospital to find out why his equilibrium is out of whack and why he's falling so often.  Like most Hoboes, he really doesn't want to use a wheel chair where he's got two legs of his own.  I think it's called "Independence".  We, as humans, all want the same thing.  Oh well, we just all have to learn to accept what comes our way.

     For my own life, I'm moving either to the east coast, or back to Montana, this coming May.  I'm now beginning to feel more inclined to moving back to Helena, mostly because of the time frame it would take me to get into a Senior High Rise. That's right, I said, "Senior".  Yeah, come March of 2012 I become part of The Elite Senior Group.  I still feel like I were eighteen but, I'm just not as agile as I was.

     Hope all are staying warm and healthy.  I want all of you to do that throughout 2012.

     I'll quit here.  If things change with Dante I will let you know.  I remain

Hello,

    This is John L Peterson writing on behalf of my father, John, aka W2FMX, aka NY Slo Freight. I am writing to let you know that my father passed away in the morning of January 6th as a result of metastatic cancer, primarily in the liver and bones. It progressed rapidly, as he mentioned to some of you he went for a CT in November, then had a biopsy in mid-December. The official diagnosis was not until Dec. 27th, at which point he had been bedridden for a couple of weeks.

    Arrangements are pending via the Waterville Funeral Home (http://www.burgessandtedescofuneralhomes.com/home.html), and details will be published in the Waterville Times next week, as well as the Utica O-D.

    I will provide contact information below. We will monitor this email as well, but if you wish to be in contact with my mother, my brother, or me, please feel free to contact us directly. Personal communications are welcome, but please remove this email address from "forwarding" distribution lists, and do not add any of our contact information to such lists.

    My mom's address is Elaine Peterson, 1956 State Route 315, Waterville, NY 13480. Her phone is 315-841-4724. Her email is elnpete2@gmail.com. I can be reached at johnlpeterson@hotmail.com, and my brother Dan can be reached at dano72@embarqmail.com. Dan and I will be at my mom's through most of this month.

My apologies for any duplicate emails received.

     I received a phone call yesterday afternoon from a young Lady, in Washington, DC and being the "Slightly Over The Hell Lecher" that I am, I immediately perked right up.  At first I thought, hopefully, that she was calling because she had seen a copy of that "Calendar" I had posed for a few years ago but Alack and Alas she was calling about the company she represents that would like to film a Hobo Documentary.  I know what some of you may be thinking, "Oh Crap another lousy film."  I know that some of the folk that have done Hobo documentaries, in the past have treated us like S—T, notably the Farce that A & E did one year, but many of these TV and film people do try their best to portray us in a good light.  True Hobo history has been sadly neglected so I believe the only way we can attempt to change the terrible image some people seem to have about us is to show them what we're really like and, well made, documentaries, are one way to do that.  Many of you who used to attend Pennsburg will remember Mo, from Germany, who made a documentary in 2001.  I thought it was a great film.

     Anyway,  Taylor asked me if I could help get the word of their documentary out and that's what I'm doing. She'd like Hoboes that are interested in telling their stories or, possibly being in the film to contact her.  I'll post all the contact information she sent me, below.  I do know that she has been in contact with our Lovely, Sexy, Italian Hobo Queen, Minneapolis Jewel.  (Please, don't tell Tuck how I described her.  He's younger and tougher than I am and it could be dangerous to my health.)

     Oh darn. I just received another email from Taylor and she mentioned "Her Husband".  Sigh, sigh, sigh, once again my hopes have been dashed.

Hi Fran!

     Thank you so much for taking the time out earlier to speak with me. You gave me some good info. If you would be so kind, I would greatly appreciate you posting this Casting Call notice up on your Grapevine.  I want as many people to respond as possible, so I left the notice very broad.

     Like I said over the phone, we are looking for people who live the Hobo life who would be willing to speak to us about their travels on the road. We are looking for people to be both on-camera and also off-camera (to give us more information for research).

 Any contacts or leads you can give me would be great. I really appreciate your help on this! I will touch base with you later this week. All of my contact information is below.
 
 

    Are you a wanderer constantly on the move working different jobs along the way? Would you rather live the life of a nomad, never being tied down to one place for too long? Do you know the subtle differences between a hobo, tramp and bum and consider yourself a hobo? Do you attend the Hobo National Convention in Britt, Iowa?  An established television production company is working on a project that will feature hobo's from across the country.  If you have incredible tales to tell from your life living by your own rules then we want to hear from you!

 Send us your stories from the road and rail by emailing castingshp@gmail.com  with your story and 3-5 pictures of yourself. Please include "Nomad" in the subject line.

    I received the following email from Kris who is looking for a wooden plaque, carved or painted, showing the kind hearted woman Hobo sign.  Over the years I've encountered several people who made and sold these but, I'm ashamed to say, I've lost track of them over the years.  Kris thinks she may have seen a mass produce item but I don't think that's so because the only ones I have seen were hand made by Hoboes, or other artists.  If anyone can supply Kris with a plaque, or knows someone who can, Kris's email address is; catspj@yahoo.com   Hey, some "Old Bums", like myself, may not be good for too much any more but we can still be helpful to others.

Fran,

    I'm trying to find somewhere that I can purchase the "kind-hearted woman lives here" sign.  I saw one on ebay a long time ago, but can't seem to locate a site that sells anything similar.  I hope you can help.   The sign I saw looks like a smiling cat....and it was a wooden plaque, maybe 8\10x8 inches and crudely painted (weathered).  I think it was probably some mass produced item as opposed to a one-of-a-kind, but it wouldn't matter.  I'm sure as soon as you/we find one, we'll find a 1000 :) Thanks, I appreciate your help.

    I spoke with Tootsie on the phone this week and as Tony The Tiger would say she's doing "Grrrrreat".  She was on the road talking on her cell phone but, I allowed her to do that because Don was driving.  They'd been to visit her Dad who's still working in his shoe shop even though he's in his nineties.  I love it when she tells me about her Dad because, even though I'm over forty now, compared to a guy , his age, I feel like I'm just one of the older kids.  (How many of you remember The Dead End Kids?)

    To me, Red is one of the best mucian, singer, song writer, entertainers I know and now he's branching out. (probably trying to keep up with us younguns.)  Anyway, I got an email from him this week with a copy of the Hobo poem he wrote.  It's a bit long for the Grapevine so I put it on my "Cultural Arts Page".  If you scale up just a bit and click on the title, above you'll be able to read it.  You can see a page on Red by clicking HERE
 
 

    I've mentioned on here before, but evidently it didn't register with many, that even though I do have a Face book site I do not access it or answer messages on it.  I have replied with email to some that have left notes on there but don't receive answers to my emails.  I would cancel the damned thing but it does remind me of birthdays that I would otherwise not remember and that's the only reason I keep the stupid site active.  My email address minstrel@worldpath.net has not changed in over twenty years and most of you have it so "PLEASE" use that instead of Face book to contact me.  I know that nothing on the internet is private but if I write an email note to a friend only that person gets it, not the whole damned world.  Maintaining this site, answering email and snail mail to people all over the world asking questions about Hoboes and Hobo history and doing REAL work on my computers takes quite a bit of time so I don't have any extra for screwing around with Face book.

    Some of you may have heard me mention, over the years, that I pick up a bit of cash posing for the art classes at the local university.  I thought you might be interested in seeing an example of what these students do.  This is a photo of an oil painting one of the students finished this week.  "Notice", that I'm modeling fully dressed.  This professor insists on clothing when I model so the coeds don't get too excited.  It's just as well.  I don't want to go through the problems, again, that I went through after posing for the town nude calendar a few years ago. (Sheesh. It's tough being a sex symbol to millions of women.)

The Original Tourist Union 63 Organization started in 1897 and since that time has never been disbanded.  At this time, it is my desire to reactivate the Tourist Union 63 Organization.  I am starting a membership drive to Help Our Brothers Overcome (H.O.B.O).  Members of the Tourist Union 63 Organization will receive:

                       A  Tourist Union 63 membership card, good for one year.  Renewable each August.
 

           A History of Tourist Union 63 written by an original member of Tourist Union No. 63.

The funds from memberships will be used to aid needy Hobos when appropriate.

No funds will be given to anyone without the approval of a Tourist Union 63 Committee's vote.  H.O.B.O. was an organization started by the 1996 Hobo King Liberty Justice who Caught the Westbound in 2008.  Helping Our Brothers (and sisters) Overcome ties nicely to the goals of the original Tourist Union 63 Organization in 1897 as well as today.

Please join by sending your $5.00 membership fee plus name and address and phone number to:

                                                TUCK 2007/2008 Hobo King
                                           Tourist Union 63
                                            P.O. Box 18495
                                            Minneapolis, MN 55418

                              Make checks payable to: Tourist Union 63

            HELP KEEP TOURIST UNION 63 ALIVE

            Thanks,
                                                     TUCK

    I'm sure that King Tuck won't object if Y'all want to send dues for more than one year at a time.  I don't believe any of us have paid any dues for a couple of years, at least, so the bankroll must be a little short.  We all owe Tuck many thanks for keeping this historic union going.

    This may be a good time to tell folk that if you send a picture to me, or anyone else, it should be reduced in size before you email it.  A photo as it comes from your digital camera can be as much as 2 megabytes and a thirty six inch picture.  A photo this large takes a hell of a long time to down load with a phone connection.  The picture of the mayor and Happy Hobo, above was two megabytes, 38 inches,  had a resolution of 350 and took me fifteen minutes to just copy it to my computer.  The photo now has been reduced to 3" X 4" with a resolution of 72 and is only 10 kilobytes.  A photo reduced like this can be brought back to any size and resolution in your own computer so, please, have mercy on me and anyone else you send pictures to and learn to reduce them before you email them.  Anybody can do it even my great grand daughter can do this and she ain't no  brighter than her father or her grandfather.

    Here on the Grapevine, and on other pages of this site, there are, and will continue to be, links to other internet sites.   I try to check these sites out before posting the links but, occasionally, there could be links, from these other sites, to unwanted materials.  If you should find yourself linked to sites that contain objectionable matter let me know, so I can look into it.

    I'm always looking for more pictures of Hobo art to add to the Hobo Arts page.  Let's show folk what we, and the old Hoboes have for talent.  To you folk that aren't Hobos, I'd appreciate it if you'd send pictures of any Hobo art that you find, also.   Help us preserve as much Hobo history as possible.  For too many years Hobo art and the history of the American Hoboes has been neglected and, at times, what is believed and saved is misinterpreted giving many of today's people  false impressions of the true Hobo.