The Hobo Jungle
My brother mentioned a hobo jungle in Bridgeport and I ran into this at “xroads.virginia.edu”:
The hobo jungle was a place to rest and repair while on the road. Some were more permanent than others, but all were a refuge, an out-of-the-way place where the hobo could eat, sleep, read a newspaper and wash himself before heading out again.
It was located near the railroad, close enough to get to and from the train yard or rail line but not so close as to attract attention; this is but one of the requirements for a good jungle. There should be plenty of water for cooking and bathing and wood enough to keep the pot boiling. If there is a general store nearby, so much the better. It is well that the jungles be not too far from a town, though far enough to escape the attention of the natives and officials.
In the jungle camp, especially a permanent camp, might be found pots or kettles, utensils of various kinds, a line strung on which to dry clothes or a mirror with which a man might more easily shave. Much in the tradition of the cowboy camp whose basic tenet is that you leave it as you found it, the jungle has certain rules designed to keep it functional and self-sustaining.
Men are supposed to use cooking cans for cooking only. After using, guests are expected to clean utensils, dry them, and keep the camp clean.
The hobo jungle was a place to rest and repair while on the road. Some were more permanent than others, but all were a refuge, an out-of-the-way place where the hobo could eat, sleep, read a newspaper and wash himself before heading out again.
It was located near the railroad, close enough to get to and from the train yard or rail line but not so close as to attract attention; this is but one of the requirements for a good jungle. There should be plenty of water for cooking and bathing and wood enough to keep the pot boiling. If there is a general store nearby, so much the better. It is well that the jungles be not too far from a town, though far enough to escape the attention of the natives and officials.
In the jungle camp, especially a permanent camp, might be found pots or kettles, utensils of various kinds, a line strung on which to dry clothes or a mirror with which a man might more easily shave. Much in the tradition of the cowboy camp whose basic tenet is that you leave it as you found it, the jungle has certain rules designed to keep it functional and self-sustaining.
Men are supposed to use cooking cans for cooking only. After using, guests are expected to clean utensils, dry them, and keep the camp clean.
posted by Tom Carten at 6:20 PM
1 Comments:
I wonder if our great grandfather was in that one. He rode a freight from Wisconsin to Philadelaphia and then to Broidgeport, Ct.
Wouldn,t that be cool to have a hobo as a greatgrandfather? What stories he could tell.
Exit 318
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