The origins of the term “Hobo” cannot be traced, but came into common usage by the end of the 19th century. But the history of hobos began decades earlier. Most modern hobos trace their lineage back to the building of the railroads and the end of the Civil War. Following the war, many veterans took jobs building the expanding railroads. During the Panic of 1873 and the depression that followed, men climbed aboard the freight trains in search of work. The situation repeated itself with the Great Depression of the 1930s.
In some places, hobos who drifted into town were not always welcome. In other places, they found those who were friendly and willing to help. Knowing where to go or whom to avoid was important to these travelers. So the hobo community developed a written communication system of signs. A symbol on a fence post, mailbox, or tree told other hobos what to expect in the town or from the homeowner.
During the Great Depression, the signs relayed information vital to a hobo’s way of life. Some signs appear to have a visual connection to their meaning. (A drawing of a top hat means a wealthy man lives here.) Others seem to indicate no relationship between the meaning and the symbol. Therefore, the definitions and explanations of the approximately fifty different hobo signs had to be passed on. Perhaps the men shared this information while traveling together in a boxcar or while sitting around a campfire of a hobo jungle.
The signs were intentionally temporary and the chalk marks wore off in time. Like many in the 21st century, modern hobos use the technology of today to communicate. Thus the secret signs and symbols of hobos have passed into history and folklore.
Related Links:
Looking for a Sign: A Brief History of Hobos and Their Signs
Samples of Hobo Signs