Hobo Encampment Reenacted

Saturday, September 6, 2025, 11:00 am until 3:00 pm
Trolley Museum, 14 Depot St., Shelburne Falls, MA 01370

"Hobo Jungle, Rail Yard Bindel Sticks, & Tramp Houses.", a troupe of living history reenactors, will portray the difficult lives of early 20th century hobos and tramps. They will be camping in our Freight Yard on Saturday September 6 from 11am to 3pm.
The troupe is led by Dennis Picard who has been a museum professional in the living history field for over 45 years, with long associations to Old Sturbridge Village, Hancock Shaker Village and other New England museums. This troupe is composed of present or former museum professionals and members of the teaching profession. Expect historical accuracy, no sad cartoon portrayals here. The group will establish an encampment? - called the hobo jungle - and encourage visitors to stroll through and engage with the living history reenactors to understand the lives and struggles of early 20th century transient laborers, and the ways in which towns sought to lighten their burdens. Life's challenges such as laundry, food gathering, and cooking, personal hygiene, finding work, and modes of travel are just a few of the topics this program will address.