I believe that in the folk song "The Erie Canal", the refrain line is ". ...fifteen miles on the Erie Canal," meaning the mules, mule boys or both were changed each fifteen miles. There are lots of discriptors of the canal activities in the song, once again reminding us of music being a mirror of history, if we just take time to listen. Mary Anne in Missouri A retired music teacher PABRADFO-D-request@rootsweb.com wrote: > Subject: > > PABRADFO-D Digest Volume 03 : Issue 228 > > Today's Topics: > #1 Re: [Tri-Counties] mule boys ["Jack & Ruth Lothers" <lothersjr@m] > #2 Fw: [Tri-Counties] mule boys ["Cynthia Wolcott" <cwolcott@dreams] > #3 Re: [Tri-Counties] mule boys ["wrffraz2" <wrffraz2@acsworld.com>] > > Administrivia: > To unsubscribe from PABRADFO-D, send a message to > > PABRADFO-D-request@rootsweb.com > > that contains in the body of the message the command > > unsubscribe > > and no other text. No subject line is necessary, but if your software > requires one, just use unsubscribe in the subject, too. > > ______________________________ > > ------------------------------------------------------------------------ > > Subject: Re: [Tri-Counties] mule boys > Date: Tue, 25 Nov 2003 10:04:10 -0500 > From: "Jack & Ruth Lothers" <lothersjr@myyellowstone.net> > To: PABRADFO-L@rootsweb.com > > There were mule paths along the Erie canal for mules who pulled the barges. > Someone had to lead or maybe ride the mules--mule boys. > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "Patricia Otis" <otis_p@msn.com> > To: <PABRADFO-L@rootsweb.com> > Sent: Monday, November 24, 2003 8:33 AM > Subject: Fw: [Tri-Counties] mule boys > > > Did you ever find out what "mule boys" are? If so, what is the > definition? > > Pat Otis > > ----- Original Message ----- > > From: Karyl Hubbard > > Sent: Friday, October 31, 2003 5:02 PM > > To: PABRADFO-L@rootsweb.com > > Subject: [Tri-Counties] mule boys > > > > Can anyone there suggest a site giving a brief history/explanation of the > job of the 'mule boy' on various canals (especially the Erie, but I know > there were others)? Or suggest an internet site or book? Thank you. Karyl > Hubbard. karylh@yahoo.com > > > > > > ==== PABRADFO Mailing List ==== > > Please post all surname listings and surname or family queries on the > Query section of Tri-Counties site at > http://www.rootsweb.com/~srgp/jmtindex.htm > > > > > > ==== PABRADFO Mailing List ==== > > Please post all surname listings and surname or family queries on the > Query section of Tri-Counties site at > http://www.rootsweb.com/~srgp/jmtindex.htm > > > > ______________________________ > > ------------------------------------------------------------------------ > > Subject: Fw: [Tri-Counties] mule boys > Date: Tue, 25 Nov 2003 10:42:02 -0500 > From: "Cynthia Wolcott" <cwolcott@dreamscape.com> > To: PABRADFO-L@rootsweb.com > > ----- Original Message ----- > From: Cynthia Wolcott <cwolcott@dreamscape.com> > To: Patricia Otis <otis_p@msn.com> > Sent: Monday, November 24, 2003 4:55 PM > Subject: Re: [Tri-Counties] mule boys > > > I may have an answer to your question. I live near the Erie Canal Village > > in Rome, NY. The website for them is www.eriecanalvillage.net. The small > > picture at the top of their website shows how the packet boats were pulled > > through the water by the mules. In this picture someone is riding the > mule, > > but usually someone led the mule down a dirt track beside the canal. This > > was to keep the mule going at a steady pace. Usually a boy had this job. > > Therefore the term "mule boy". > > Cindy Wolcott > > > > ----- Original Message ----- > > From: Patricia Otis <otis_p@msn.com> > > To: <PABRADFO-L@rootsweb.com> > > Sent: Monday, November 24, 2003 8:33 AM > > Subject: Fw: [Tri-Counties] mule boys > > > > > > > Did you ever find out what "mule boys" are? If so, what is the > > definition? > > > Pat Otis > > > ----- Original Message ----- > > > From: Karyl Hubbard > > > Sent: Friday, October 31, 2003 5:02 PM > > > To: PABRADFO-L@rootsweb.com > > > Subject: [Tri-Counties] mule boys > > > > > > Can anyone there suggest a site giving a brief history/explanation of > the > > job of the 'mule boy' on various canals (especially the Erie, but I know > > there were others)? Or suggest an internet site or book? Thank you. > Karyl > > Hubbard. karylh@yahoo.com > > > > > > > > > ==== PABRADFO Mailing List ==== > > > Please post all surname listings and surname or family queries on the > > Query section of Tri-Counties site at > > http://www.rootsweb.com/~srgp/jmtindex.htm > > > > > > > > > ==== PABRADFO Mailing List ==== > > > Please post all surname listings and surname or family queries on the > > Query section of Tri-Counties site at > > http://www.rootsweb.com/~srgp/jmtindex.htm > > > > > > > ______________________________ > > ------------------------------------------------------------------------ > > Subject: Re: [Tri-Counties] mule boys > Date: Tue, 25 Nov 2003 17:35:02 -0500 > From: "wrffraz2" <wrffraz2@acsworld.com> > To: PABRADFO-L@rootsweb.com > > Yes and they walked the tow path. Not toe ! > > : Subject: Re: [Tri-Counties] mule boys > : > : > I may have an answer to your question. I live near the Erie Canal > Village > : > in Rome, NY. The website for them is www.eriecanalvillage.net. The > small > : > picture at the top of their website shows how the packet boats were > pulled > : > through the water by the mules. In this picture someone is riding the > : mule, > : > but usually someone led the mule down a dirt track beside the canal. > This > : > was to keep the mule going at a steady pace. Usually a boy had this > job. > : > Therefore the term "mule boy". > : > Cindy Wolcott > : > > : > > : > > Did you ever find out what "mule boys" are? If so, what is the > : > definition? > : > > Pat Otis: > > > : > > Can anyone there suggest a site giving a brief history/explanation of: > the: > job of the 'mule boy' on various canals (especially the Erie, but I > know > : > there were others)? Or suggest an internet site or book? Thank you. > : Karyl > : > Hubbard. karylh@yahoo.com > :