Stories of Iris McFann Woodard

The Organ Grinder


When growing up in Lesage, West Virginia, I saw several organ grinders walking, hobo-style, following the railroad tracks. They were all foreign-looking and carried a small organ box strapped over one shoulder. The organ box had one long leg, as it rested on the ground when he was playing the organ grinder. He would turn a crank on the box and squeaky music came out.




The organ grinder always had a small, live monkey which would leave his shoulder and dance around him. Then, holding a cup, the small monkey would go around asking for coins.


I have seen several organ grinders in our Lesage depot area. Often the organ grinder would enter our store and purchase a can of sardines or a chunk of cheese. Back then, around 1910, cheese came in large round cakes about 5-inches high and about 15-inches around. The cheese rounds were packed in a 2 piece wooden box and it was sold by the wedge or by the slice.




Cheese went with crackers. At our store, crackers from the cracker barrel were thrown in free. The aged cheese was very good, and if I spotted cheese crumbs left over, I would snitch them and gobble them up. As a child, I'd swipe candy or gum, too. The big rock next to our place had crevices in it. I would climb there and, like a squirrel, hide my goodies.

The Organ Grinder
Written by Iris McFann Woodard
March 24, 1986

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