Goschenhoppen Folk Festival

Early America had its share of homeless folks and characters. Two of the folks depicted in the pictures actually did exist in times gone by. Mountain Mary and Penny Charlie. The tramp in the black coat is just depicting tramps-nothing else. For your edification, there are Hobos, Tramps and Bums. Hobos did not exist in the 19th century-they came later, when the trains were numerous. Hobos would work for a living-just using the rails for transportation. Tramps might work or they might not. Sometime they received food and lodging in the barn for doing some menial tasks like carrying or splitting wood, fetching water, etc. Bums wouldn't work. They were scoundrels, stealing, carousing, etc...

The tramp with the beard stubble and black coat is called Willy T. He whittles little birds and trades for handouts. He seldom works, always on the move, and eager to partake of a meal. Stay clear!