Hobo signs and symbols

Resourceful and itinerant, the hobos developed a secret language system, doomed to disappear, to leave clues for their fellow hobos.

Hoboes have been leaving signs and symbols around the world for over a century. Symbols would signify to other hobos about good places to camp, where to get food, where the cops are alert, where to find work, etc. The reason for the hobo signs were twofold. Some hobos were illiterate and also by using symbols they could keep the meaning of their messages a secret from the general public. Hobo signs and hobo symbols have been guiding and informing hobos for over a century. Hobo Signs Hoboes have been leaving signs and symbols around the world for over a century.

Hobo signs and symbols

A hobo is a migratory worker or homeless vagabond—especially one who is penniless. The term originated in the Western probably Northwestern United States around Unlike "tramps"—who work only when they are forced to- and "bums" who do not work at all, "hobos" are itinerant workers. It is unclear exactly when hobos first appeared on the American railroading scene. With the end of the American Civil War in the s, many discharged veterans returning home began hopping freight trains. Others looking for work on the American frontier followed the railways west aboard freight trains in the late 19th century. To cope with the difficulty of such a lifestyle, hobos developed a system of symbols, or a code. Hobos would write this code with chalk or coal to provide directions, information, and warnings to other hobos. Some signs included "turn right here", "beware of hostile railroad police", "dangerous dog", "food available here", and so on. Edit this category. This symbol possesses a number of different connotations most notably as the "equals" concept in mathematics , but in the British system of hobo signs it indicates that here you can find a place to sleep for the night. A symbol from the French system of hobo signs indicating that an authority figure lives at this location. We're doing our best to make sure our content is useful, accurate and safe.

Steve Chase. View full post on Youtube. The 20 says there's a pile of rocks to be brokenthe 21 has a hospice, the 22 speaks of a saloon, the 23 doesn't serve hobo signs and symbols prohibitionthe 24 is pious, the 25 is full of hoodlums, be careful.

The origins of the term "Hobo" cannot be traced. A few suggestions have been put forward. Some say it comes from "Hoe Boy" because many migrant workers traveled with a hoe or other farming tool. Others claim it came from the soldiers returning from the Civil War, who were "Homeward Bound. There are even those who say it comes from the Latin Homo Bonus, meaning good man, or the French haut beaux, the highest of the handsome. Few, if any, of these explanations seem adequate.

Dry Town This symbol took the shape of an upside down cup and said that this town did not sell or allow alcohol. Don't try to buy it or even display it if you had it. Owlcation - All Things Hobo [alcohol, booze, liquor]. ANo1, The Rambler [alcohol, booze, liquor]. Terry Fox - Hobo Signs - Sign 27 [alcohol, booze, liquor].

Hobo signs and symbols

Have you ever noticed mysterious symbols etched into the sides of buildings, fences, or railroad cars? These enigmatic markings are known as hobo symbols, and they hold a deep historical significance. Dating back to the early s, these symbols were created by tramps and hobos as a way to communicate with one another, providing valuable information and warnings to those in the transient community. These symbols, often hidden in plain sight, served as a secret language that allowed these nomadic individuals to navigate the often treacherous world of train hopping and hitchhiking. Join me as we delve into the fascinating world of hobo symbols and the hidden meanings behind these cryptic marks. Hobos were transient workers who roamed the United States during the late 19th and early 20th centuries, often traveling by train. They had their own unique culture and language, including a system of symbols known as hobo signs. These symbols were used by hobos to communicate with each other, leaving behind messages for fellow travelers. Here are some common hobo symbols and their meanings:. It's important to note that hobo signs were not standardized, and their meaning can vary depending on the region or the individual hobo who created them.

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To cope with the difficulty of such a lifestyle, hobos developed a system of symbols, or a code. ISBN X. Hobo life was dangerous. National Hobo Museum. After some time in an orphanage and as a foster child, he walked out the kitchen door on his 18th birthday and never looked back. Self-published: billdaniel. In the s and s hobo numbers were augmented by returning Vietnam War veterans, many of whom were disillusioned with settled society. October 26, A good code system makes no intuitive correlation between the code and its meaning. Symbols in this category:. An advertisement for The Pensacola Journal showing hobo signs. April 6, I will never lose the love for the arriving, but I'm born to leave. Archived from the original on October 13, Almost from the beginning of the existence of hoboes, as early as the s, [17] it was reported that they communicated with each other by way of a system of cryptic "hobo signs", which would be chalked in prominent or relevant places to clandestinely alert future hoboes about important local information.

It was almost 30 years ago, and I was flat on my back in a hospital bed in Trenton, New Jersey, sharing my room with this elderly man. I called him Mr. To everybody else, he was Willy.

Despite this preference for solitude, they still feel a certain camaraderie with their fellow hobos, an obligation to assist their brethren — thus, the creation of the signs and symbols. Pie in sight, lawn to clean, vicious dog. Delivering hobos was a by-product. Source Image Chalk marks on your fence. A few symbols include:. There are symbols that mean, for example, "if you're sick, this person will take care of you" or "filthy prison" some hobos in need of food would willingly spend a night in prison to keep warm and have something to eat. They have websites and email to share details of their travels and upcoming hobo events. April 23, Source Image See all sources to the right. Made in America. Willy went on to various gigs after his road-bound days were over.