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Older News & Events ScrapBook . . . Page 19
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Leaf through OHNS ScrapBook... 
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Most photographs can be left-clicked on to view an enlargement.
543
30 April 2008
Raytown's “Hobo King” Dies at 72
The Raytown Post ~ www.raytown-post.com ~ 4/30/2008 ~ 10:28am
Jerry “Liberty” Justice, a lifelong resident of Raytown, Missouri and a former National Hobo King, “caught the westbound” from his home on April 23 and rode on in to the Promised Land. He was 72.
Justice took the hobo name of Liberty and rode the rails from 1993 to 1998, logging almost 30,000 miles on freight trains crisscrossing America. In 1996 he was elected National Hobo King at the annual gathering of hobos in Britt, Iowa. He and His wife, Brenda, were regulars at that convention until his health failed.
He also was an accomplished musician and was a member of the Greenside Up Bluegrass Band for seven years and was dubbed by the hobos their National Hobo Troubadour. Several years ago he cut a CD of songs that he wrote and performed.
Justice was born July 12, 1935, in Raytown. He was retired driver for Graham Truck Lines and was a member of Teamsters Union Local 41. He leaves his wife, Brenda Justice; his son, Jerry Lee Justice; and a brother, John Justice.
The family received friends on Sunday, April 27, at D.W. Newcomers Sons Floral Hills Chapel. Burial will be at a later date in the National Hobo Cemetery in Britt, Iowa, following cremation. The family suggests memorials to the National Hobo New Museum in Britt, Iowa.
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542
25 April 2008
Bob Shamey ~ “Woodcarver's Illustrated” ~ Summer 2008
 
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~ Bob Shamey Published In 2008
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Bob Shamey ~ Published in a Russian Language Magazine “Men's Club” ~ 2008
  
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541
17 April 2008
Jon
Is Enamored With Vintage Hats!
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A “Fredora” Hat
“Bertmon S. Brooklyn”
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A “Slouch” Hat
“Ruziemaker van Capet”
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Most photographs can be left-clicked on to view an enlargement.
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The Road...
“Pinched”
Confession
Holding Her Down
Pictures
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“Pinched”
The Pen
Hoboes That Pass in the Night
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Road-Kids and Gay-Cats
Two Thousand Stiffs
Bulls
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Most photographs can be left-clicked on to view an enlargement.
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539
6 April 2008
De Zwerver Dossier #12 [ stukken en brokken ] −by V-Dubya
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The Hobo Nickels
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The Hobo Nickels are a Denver-based folk band playing original Americana-style songs.
It's a foot stompin' mix of bluegrass, swing, folk, old-timey country, zydeco, polka, trucker tunes and more.
Left to right: Tim McCanna on Accordion, Steve Combs on Upright Bass, Rob Silk on Ukulele and Andy Sherman on Guitar.
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Appliqué Nickel
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This superb “Flat Nose” classic carved nickel was recently found in
Ancon, Balboa, Panama and subsequently sold on eBay for $349.27.
The Seller pondered what it was doing there in Panama. Joyce Ann Romines acknowledged the assistance of Joaquin “Pacheco” Monserrat (1921−1996), a collector of Hobo nickels, who was a TV personality in Puerto Rico... one of the most known and loved hosts of children's programs since the 60's until the 90's.
Thus we know classic carved nickels were valued and exported beyond our U.S. borders well before the genesis of eBay marketing on the Internet. ~ V-Dubya
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$162.27 on eBay
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$212.51 on eBay
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$261.09 on eBay
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Mickey's Clown
−by Mike Pezak
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Vicar “Potty” Pottle
−by Derek Pegnall
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Translation... “The Hobo File #12 [ bits and pieces ]”
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Most photographs can be left-clicked on to view an enlargement.
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538
Carving Chips.....
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A Trio of Day Brighteners
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From East Point, Georgia in the USA
“Baraby” −by Dennis “Books” Tucker, OHNS-RM977
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From Glasgow in Scotland
“Lobey Dosser”(*) −by Bud Neill
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From Gisborne in New Zealand
“Horse and Aunt Dolly” −by Murray Ball
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Thanks for the GREAT
artwork “Books”! ~ V-Dubya
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(*) An adaptation of “lobby dosser”... a term applied to tramps and vagrants who slept
on the close landings and in the entrance hallways of Glasgow's tenement flats.
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Pedantic: excessively
subtle reasoning.
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Be certain to left-click on these graphics for extended materials.
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537
23 March 2008
“About the Artist” ~ Raymond E. Cover, Jr.
www.rcoverengraving.com
“If a very extensive work of art is to be done on the obverse side of the coin,
then it does make sense to use a highly collectible coin in great condition, so the reverse is as pleasant to view.
That being said, Ray does strive to use at least VF-AU grade coins for most carvings.”
Cavalry Officer Carving
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Teaching Engraving
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A Trophy Brown Trout
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A Dandy King Salmon
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Most photographs can be left-clicked on to view an enlargement.
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536
Carving Chips.....
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Wealth Is Made Up By Accumulating Friends ~ Not Pelf !
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Hobo “Nase Haar” ~ Rollie's sixth carved nickel!
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Most photographs can be left-clicked on to view an enlargement.
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535
Chapter Three of Nine
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The Road...
Pictures
Confession
Holding Her Down
Pictures
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“Pinched”
The Pen
Hoboes That Pass in the Night
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Road-Kids and Gay-Cats
Two Thousand Stiffs
Bulls
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Most photographs can be left-clicked on to view an enlargement.
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534
20 March 2008
How and Why Henry Got the Name Smiley
The story as told to Wallace S. Bottoms, gives the account of his cousin, Henry Thomas Bottoms, Jr. who later in life was given the name “Smiley”. Smiley in his early life as a young boy from Burna, Kentucky came from a dirt poor family of twelve, four girls and six boys and had to work from the age of seven to eat. Burna wasn't a big town, but it had a lot of people who liked to read the Grit. If you don't know what the Grit was, it was a paper with lots of good honest down to earth stories and advertisements in it. At the time of this story, Norman P. Joiner had the Grit route in Burna, but was thinking about getting a job at D.L. Fatback's Hog Parlor. As things would have it, Norman P. when he turned fourteen got the job at D. L. Fatback's Hog Parlor.
Now here is really where the story starts for Henry Thomas Jr., he got Norman P.'s Grit route, so at the age of nine he was a salesman. Henry was a good salesman and built up the Grit route, which in turn allowed him to meet many people.
So as things would have it, Henry met Eli Towny one day delivering Grits, the first thing Henry saw and something that wouldn't leave his mind was that Eli had a gold tooth. Henry made up his mind that day he would one day have a gold tooth.
So as things would have it, Henry saved and saved and made the trip to Doc Bridges in Lola, Kentucky and got his gold tooth at the age of twelve. But something happened when he got fourteen, he saw his first train when he made a trip to Tolu, Kentucky to see about buying a milk cow for his family, as Henry was watching the train go by he noticed two men jump into a open boxcar. Later on that day Henry asked a clerk at Bagwell's store who and what were the two men doing by hopping in the boxcar, the clerk told Henry the men were hobos and used the trains to get from town to town. Well as things would have it, Henry knew he wanted to be a hobo.
Henry went back to Burna, gave his farewells and then made the trip back to Tolu and jumped the first empty boxcar he saw. Later that day as he was joined by three more hobos, they noticed he had a gold tooth and how it shined when Henry smiled. So Henry Thomas Bottoms, Jr. got his name changed to “Smiley” that day. So as things would have it, this was the story about how and why Henry got the name Smiley and how he became a hobo.
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533
Carving Chips.....
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Woxikon Online Dictionary - Translation
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“Härskarinna Dake”
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“Herenkapper Zanger”
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Translation of words, word sequences and short sentences into the languages...
English, German, Spanish, French, Italian, Dutch, Portuguese, and Swedish.
Examples:
Swedish...
“Härskarinna”
Dutch...
“Herenkapper”
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Translation... “The Hobo File #11 [ bits and pieces ]”
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Most photographs can be left-clicked on to view an enlargement.
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531
18 March 2008
Vagabondo Ernesto
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People Liked Him −by Edgar A. Guest
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His was not a brilliant style,
His was not a forceful way,
But he had a gentle smile
And a kindly word to say
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Wasn't one to boast of gold
Or belittle it with sneers,
Didn't change from hot to cold,
Kept his friends throughout the years
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Never lied to friend or foe,
Never rash in word or deed,
Quick to come and slow to go
In a neighbor's time of need
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Never arrogant or proud,
On he went with manner mild;
Never quarrelsome or loud,
Just as simple as a child
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Sort of man you like to meet
Any time or any place
There was always something sweet
And refreshing in his face
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Never rose to wealth or fame,
Simply lived, and simply died,
But the passing of his name
Left a sorrow, far and wide
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People liked him, not because
He was rich or known to fame;
He had never won applause
As a star in any game
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Honest, patient, brave and true:
Thus he lived from day to day,
Doing what he found to do
In a cheerful sort of way
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Sort of man you'd like to be:
Balanced well and truly square;
Patient in adversity,
Generous when his skies were fair
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Not for glory he'd attained,
Nor for what he had of pelf,
Were the friends that he had gained,
But for what he was himself
- 10 -
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Most photographs can be left-clicked on to view an enlargement.
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The Road...
Holding Her Down
Confession
Holding Her Down
Pictures
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“Pinched”
The Pen
Hoboes That Pass in the Night
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Road-Kids and Gay-Cats
Two Thousand Stiffs
Bulls
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Most photographs can be left-clicked on to view an enlargement.
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529
Carving Chips.....
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Ribbon Rail Productions' Clip Art Collection
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Clip Art Collection
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“Hogger” (Train Engineer)
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Many of the images here have been made available through the courtesy of Ken Houghton of Houghton's Rail Images and are marked with a (KH). The other images are from the collection efforts of NMRA members Jack Pettee and Roger Hensley.
This collection will be updated periodically in an effort to keep the largest practical collection available.
All Clip Art is in GIF or JPG format.
 ~ My favorites! ~ V-Dubya
Please feel free to use any of the clip art here for personal use, on Web sites or modify them to suit your needs within the following limits; 1) If you wish to use any of Ken Houghton's clip art for a newsletter or other publication, please give credit to Ken Houghton Rail Images. 2) The Conrail registered service mark notice must remain with the Conrail logo. 3) Where there is a circle R (R) or (TM) Trade Mark symbol on or with the logo, please include it when using it. 4) No credit is necessary for any of the other images, however, a link back to www.rrhistorical.com or notice of this site would be appreciated.
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Most photographs can be left-clicked on to view an enlargement.
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528
10 March 2008
Round Trip In A Side-Door Pullman
−by John R. Niemi, Jr.
The following story is offered for its entertainment value only,
and in no way do we condone or encourage train hopping, since it is very dangerous.
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It was eleven o'clock on the night of August 15, 1932. I boarded my first side-door pullman (boxcar)
in the railroad yards of Superior, Wisconsin. I had three dollars in my pocket. I was going to look for work.
 Round Trip In A Side-Door Pullman
The Side-door Pullman excursion was started in Superior, Wis. Aug. 15, 1932 and completed in Duluth, Minn.
(across the bay from Superior) on Sept. 15, 1932. This story was written 15 years later (1947) in San Diego, Calif.
where the first person (the author) resided. John R. Niemi, Jr. passed away in 1989.
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527
10 March 2008
The boomers spoke a language of their own, and many of the terms these imaginative and romantic travelers invented still remain in railway parlance. The following is an attempt to establish a glossary of the terms used. It is by no means complete.
This glossary first appeared in the Buffalo, Rochester and Pittsburgh employee magazine, Railway Life in 1931. Note that seven decades later, many of the terms are still part of our everyday “slanguage.”
 Railroad Slanguage Glossary
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526
10 March 2008
John Francis O'Connor of Phoenix, 90, passed away February 8, 2008. John was perhaps better known as “The Sidedoor Pullman Kid” - a moniker earned by spending most of his life riding in boxcars of freight trains in search of work and adventure. John was possibly the last of the Great Depression-era hoboes alive, who strongly preferred the wanderlust of the open road to a settled and stable lifestyle. John was born in New Haven, CT on June 4th, 1917. He left home in 1930 as a teenager and started riding the rails to find work. Like other hoboes of the time, John did all sorts of temporary jobs - from picking fruit to washing dishes to working for the railroads themselves. “Sidedoor” crisscrossed the country working like this for the next 25 years - living in hobo camps called “jungles” located at the fringe of towns next to the tracks. In the mid 1950's, John married Florence Wyckoff and settled down in Syracuse, NY. There, he continued to work as a merchant marine and highway laborer. The couple never had children and later moved to Phoenix in 1977. When Florence died in 1985, “Sidedoor” resumed his hobo life, and at age 67 began to hop freight trains again. Only this time around, the rides were for pleasure and mostly limited to upper midwestern states. His independent character and life experiences got him elected King of the Hoboes in 1994 during their century-old annual convention in Britt, IA. John actively rode freights until he turned 82. Although no known blood relatives survive him, John left countless friends behind all over the country - including scores of modern day train riders who regard him as a Legend. A fiercely proud and honorable man, John harbored no regrets about the life he chose to live. Funeral services and burial for John are pending at the White Tanks Cemetery, 15926 W. Camelback Rd. in Litchfield Park.
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Published in The Arizona Republic on 2/19/2008
King of the Hobos laid to rest in West Valley
Lynn French ~ Mulitmedia Journalist ~ 12 News ~ Feb. 21, 2008 6:47pm
It is one of those obituaries that stops you in your tracks---an obituary for a hobo, one-time King of the Hobos to be exact.
John Francis O'Connor rode through life as “The Sidedoor Pullman Kid”, a moniker he earned while spending most of his life hopping freight trains in the pursuit of work and adventure. He started riding the rails at age 13. O'Connor passed away last week here in Phoenix at the age of 90. He was laid to rest today in a potter's grave at the White Tanks Cemetery (in Phoenix, Arizona ~ V-Dubya). This was not Sidedoor's final wish, but he may have been okay with it. Full Article
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Hobo king catches the westbound
The Arizona Republic ~ Valley & State online print edition ~ Feb. 23, 2008 6:35pm
It does not speak well of us when the passing of a man known as “the Sidedoor Pullman Kid” is noted on the obituary page of the local newspaper but nowhere else, as happened last week in The Arizona Republic.
John Francis O'Connor was 90 years old. In his final days he lived in a small Phoenix apartment, from which he sometimes ventured out on a bicycle to visit a local watering hole. But for much of his young life, and then again during his golden years, Sidedoor's wanderlust was bound only by the limits of North America's rail system and his ability to leap into a rolling boxcar. Full Article
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