Tales of the Town – part 3 By Jack Coll

Tales of The Town – part 3

By Jack Coll

2-1-14

     So here’s the thing, today’s column was to be the third and final part of “Tales of The Town” but thanks to a lot of positive responses, I made my way back to the microfilm at the library.  I didn’t need anything from the year 1901 where these pieces came from but went searching for a few more “Tales” for entertainment purposes.  Just to refresh, these pieces called “Tales of The Town”, was authored by what was called “From Our Oldest Residents,” many of them stating “From 50 Years Ago.”  This would place these stories in the era of 1849-1852, depending on the writer.  I also haven’t figured out if they are true stories or just fiction, articles written to fill space or residents sitting around just chewin’ the fat, with a writer in their presence, you can chew on that one.

So I write this column today with several more to follow, at least until I run out of “Tales of The Town” columns.  Remember these columns or stories as some of you call them are written word for word from the Conshohocken Recorder Newspaper, this one from:

January 4, 1901

Thirty years ago there were more tramps around Conshohocken than you could shake a stick at.  Fulton’s Mill was their rendezvous; wanderers from all sections of the world have dozed peacefully around the old mill and used it for a permanent home for many years. While domiciled there many of them became well known in the town.  Some of the most prominent were “Tamaqua Jack,” “Leary Lew,” “Schuylkill Bill,” “Old Oil Can,” “Swampy Pete,” “Red Shirt,” “Ginger Jake,” and “Happy Tom.”

     These professional hoboes were very methodical in their customs.  All Worked together for a general success of the establishment.  Three men collected food, three more gathered clothes while another trio sold little oddities which some of the accomplished wanderers made. They also had a tailor, a barber, a cook, and a shoemaker.  Old clothes were patched and fixed up in a manner that kept the entire aggregation looking respectable. The barber had row after row of tin cans which were used for shaving mugs.  Each tramp had his very own brush and contrary to the general most of them had clean shaven faces.  It was generally admitted that the poor barber was worked to death.  Some of the members of this gang were well educated and did fancy card writing to enrich the treasury.

     At night after stories and experiences they retired on top of the boilers with a contented mind and often “alas” with a big supply of stimulants.  So well organized did these wanderers become that Samuel Fulton, the proprietor had a hard job to exterminate them.  Finally after repeated attempts they were driven away entirely, but it was with much regret that they left the vicinity of Conshohocken.

     And there you have it, what was to be part three of three, but we have more, so look for us next week with simply “Tales of The Town Part Four” I don’t know how many parts we’ll have but as long as I have them, I’ll pass them along.