Welcome to the Hobo pages
of
St Louis Frank
c/o Riverside Hotel-Suite #101
615 Sunflower Ave Clarksdale, MS 38614
e-mail Frank at 
Upcoming Events:
Amory, MS - April
- 2012
Water Valley, MS - April
- 2012 Hosted by Gurner's
Jackson, TN - April - 2012
Hosted by Lawrence & Norma Taylor
Galesburg, IL - June - 2012
Railroad Days
Britt, IA - August - 2011
National Convention
In 2010, trains move more than two billion tons of freight a
year on 140,000 miles of track. Almost all of that track is privately
owned.
Coal accounts for 40% of all freight transported by train. 200,000 people
are employed averaging a $70,000 annual salary with nine companies accounting
for 90% of the North American railway revenue, estimated at $50 billion.
The big 5 of railroads are; Union Pacific, BNSF, Norfolk Southern, CSX, and
Canadian National Railway. Industry people project that the US will face a
calamity in the next ten years as demand is expected to double for a system
already groaning under congestion.
UP 3985-Challenger rolls thru St Louis - January
2004
More Hobo pics? Click the EVENTS
button (left side of this page), and then HOBO
CONVENTION-Britt, IA
You can see Preacher Steve doing the Hobo Shuffle!
Hobo Musician pics? Click the MUSICIANS
button (left side of this page), and then choose from Alphabetical List.
In Memory of Iowa Blackie-Richard Allan Gage
b Sep 21, 1948 - d Feb 24, 2011 New Hampton, IA
King of Hoboes in 1993
Blackie was an Iowa Original catching out in 1963 and the RR
became his life. He didn't leave Iowa much in the later years and his
health had been failing since 2007. He remained in New Hampton mostly, but
traveled to Britt, IA each year for the Hobo Convention; even though he was
LOUDLY & OPENLY critical of Britt's treatment of the Hoboes. In
addition, Blackie did not get along with many of the younger "Kids" on
the road. He was considered cantankerous and his overall appearance was
scary to mothers and children alike. None of the Iowa Librarians cared to
see him park at a library table for the day while he did his research for his
annual calendar. His poetry was published and he would sell his poetry
along with his calendars for an income. I always looked forward to
receiving a post card from Blackie just to admire his handwriting. His
writing was very very small, but perfectly readable and he could pack a story
onto a small postcard. While standoffish at times, he was enjoyable when
in private. I fondly remember my visits to Blackie's house in New Hampton
on my way to Britt. I remember being with Blackie in Mt Pleasant, Iowa in
Sep-1993 at The Old Thresher's Reunion right after he became King in
Britt, Iowa in Aug-1993. Fond memories of a good Hobo Friend.
In Memory of Road Hog USA-Don Desimone
d Jan 13, 2011-Reno, NV
King of Hoboes in 1992
Road Hog USA, a great friend. Road Hog came out of California as a young
man due to family problems. He teamed up with some fellows in a hobo
jungle as a teenager and with their help, got the right clothes and build a
bedroll and headed North. Road Hog told me that when he saw Mt Shasta from
the train, he knew this was the better life he wanted. He said I never
looked back. I was always glad to run into Road Hog as he could brighten
your day just being around him. No matter what town you were in Road Hog
knew the ins & outs; where to get a shower, cheap food, and a safe place to
bed down. I remember being up early one morning as the sun was just coming
up for the day and walked uptown to maybe find something to eat and as I
approached a small cafe, I could hear a harmonica playing and then I heard Road
Hog singing "You Are My Sunshine." No one was around, Road Hog
was just playing for himself and the joy of being on the road for another day
and being free to carry on as he pleased. Always a big smile and a kind
word. A joyous man to be around and he will be missed by all who knew him.
In Memory of Little Hobo-Harold Tim Kuhn
b Mar 6, 1916 - d Jul 13, 2010 Coalport, PA
In Memory of Hobo Duane Lee Tonsager
b Jan 23, 1938 Eagle Bend, MN d Apr 12, 2010 Staples, MN
In Memory of Hobo Great Grand Duke of Historians
Larry
"Loco Larry" O'Briant
b Mar 1, 1948 d Aug 29, 2008 Amory, MS
In Memory of Hobo "Preacher Steve" Stewart
b Dec 11, 1948 Iowa d Aug 28, 2008 MN
King of Hobos 1999
In Memory of Hobo Jerry "Liberty" Justice
b 1936 d April 23, 2008 Raytown, MO
Hobo King in 1996
In Memory of Hobo John F. O'Connor
The Sidedoor Pullman Kid
b June 4, 1917 - New Haven, CT
d February 8, 2008 - Phoenix, Arizona
Married 1950's to Florence Wyckoff - Syracuse, NY
Sidedoor caught out in 1930 and traveled & worked the land
for the next 25 years. He lived in most of the established hobo camps at
one time or another as he traveled the country. He took time out in the
1950's to get married and worked as a regular married man as a merchant marine
and highway laborer until moving to Phoenix in 1977. When his wife died in
1985, Sidedoor hit the road again meeting up with old friends around the
country. Sidedoor was elected King of the Hoboes in 1994 in Britt, Iowa at
the annual National Convention. I last talked to Sidedoor at the 2003 Pennsburg
Hobo gathering and he recounted his travels through one of his favorite stops in
Dubuque, Iowa. Pennsburg brought together four of the most senior of
the Old-time Hobos in Overland Slim-1919, NY Greenie-1918, Sidedoor-1917, and Little
Hobo-1916. Sidedoor referred to the foursome as the 'stair steps' due to their
ages being one year apart. Sidedoor represented one of the last of the
depression era independent hoboes and is missed by all.
In Memory of Hobo Benita Sankey
Slo Freight Ben
b March 23, 1911 - d September 28, 2007
Grand Duchess in 1981
3 time Queen of Hoboes 1984, 1989, 1999
Queen Mum in 2006
Hobo Queen for Life in 2007
In Memory of Hobo Maurice W. Graham
Steam Train Maury
b June 3, 1917 - Atchison, Kansas
d November 18, 2006 - Napoleon, Ohio
Married April 30, 1938 to Wanda Marion Matyanczyk
b May 11, 1918 d June 17, 2011
Two daughters:
Alice L. b 9-12-1939 & Karen S. b 1-11-1944
Maury first caught out in 1931 at the age of 14 to live out on
the Iron Road and was known to his other hobo friends as
"Idaho". In the early seventies, he was referred to as
"Steam Train" because of his fondness of the earlier steam
engines.
Steam Train made his way to Britt, Iowa for the first time in
1971 for the National Hobo Convention. Two years later, "Steam
Train Maury" was elected King of The Hobos. Due to his colorful
personality and great knowledge of trains, hobos, nature, and the countryside,
Maury would eventually be elected King an additional four times in addition to
becoming a National celebrity. At 
the 2003 National Hobo Convention held
in Britt Iowa, Steam Train was named "Grand Patriarch For Life" by the
hobo family.
He made appearances on radio programs and
was the topic in newspaper articles numerous times throughout his life.
Several cities claimed "Steam Train" as their adopted son and welcomed
his visits to their annual fairs and celebrations. Most often, he was the
honored guest of the mayor and rode in the local parade as an honored
guest. Maury appeared on the TV program - "To Tell The Truth"
and also appeared on the late night "Tom Synder Show" in the
mid-seventies.
He served in World War II, was a cement mason and a member of Local 886 for 65
years, and will be sadly missed by the Hobo family.
In Memory of Hobo Euan K. Greene
New York Greenie
b October 14, 1918 - d June 11, 2005
Married June 11, 1949 to Kathleen V. Vaughn
b March 31, 1920 d November 5, 1992
Greenie was a 1949 graduate of the University of North
Carolina-Chapel Hill with a Bachelor of Science Degree.
He served his country in three major campaigns. Greenie was a Ham Radio
Operator-KA2FTU. Outside of these and other
accomplishments, Greenie was just a cool dude, spoke a few foreign languages,
had a great sense of humor, and Greenie was liked by everyone that knew him.
In Memory of 2001 Hobo Queen
Sharon "Derail"
Fahey
born - April 4, 1942
died - December 31, 2003
In Memory of Hobo Geo May - Author
George W. May
born - November 1, 1909
died - April 29, 2003
Hoboed USA, Cuba, Europe, & Mexico
WHAT IS A HOBO?
Well, there are a lot of different ideas of what makes a
person a Hobo. A consistent theme throughout the years relates to INDEPENDENCE
and TRAVELING around the country. A dysfunctional family situation
has put youngsters on the road and other unfortunate circumstance has made a
Hobo out of many men. As the nation's economy went through periods of
decline, people moved about the country seeking a way to make a living.
Those circumstantial Hoboes caused by the hard times of the 1930's that are
still alive are now in their 80's and 90's and provide a link to those earlier
days. After the economy picked up, many Hoboes moved back into a more
conventional life, got permanent jobs, raised a family, and have not ridden the
rails in over 50 years. In other cases, the Hobo continued to be more
comfortable "On the Road" and away from mainstream society. Hobo
Gatherings held in such cities as Britt-IA, Pennsburg-PA, Amory-MS, Jackson, TN,
Baldwin, KS,
and
elsewhere across the country, draw up to 100 Hoboes from age 20 to 90
years. Most are not actively living on the rails or road, but many remain
fiercely independent and still travel the country on a regular basis.
The Hobo of the 21st century may very well have an e-mail
address along with a cell phone and probably travels by auto, train (with &
without a ticket), plane, bus, or by hitchhiking.
If you're interested in more complete info on Hoboes, click on the Hobo Links
below, buy a Hobo book, or better yet, attend one of the Hobo Gatherings and
visit with a real, live Hobo.
HOBO LINKS
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