Concerning our conversation about stilts and "Tom Walkers" you might want to take a look at the site below. I guess the term is used in a lot of places. But it was new to me. Also now we know Arkansas is not that wierd. Marilyne ---------- Forwarded message ---------- From: LilEllen55@aol.com <LilEllen55@aol.com> Date: Nov 14, 2006 11:36 AM Subject: Re: [ML] Stilts Tom Walkers To: marilyneb@gmail.com, memory-lane@rootsweb.com *_http://www.doubletongued.org/index.php/dictionary/tom_walkers/_* ** *Citations*: *1921<http://www.doubletongued.org/index.php/citations/tom_walkers_4/> * Paul Stevenson *Atlanta Constitution* (Ga.) (Aug. 6) "'Tom Walker' Fad Hits Oakland City; Kids Stepping High" p. 4: What are "Tom walkers," you say? Why, bless your heart, don't go talking about "stilts" out there in Oakland City. They are "Tom walkers" to everybody and every kid. *1925<http://www.doubletongued.org/index.php/citations/tom_walkers_1/> * Harry Harrison Kroll *A Comparitive Study of Upper and Lower Southern Folk Speech* (George Peabody College for Teachers, Tenn.) (Aug.) p. 77: * Tom-walkers.* Stilts. "We been walking on Tom-walkers to-day." *1961<http://www.doubletongued.org/index.php/citations/tom_walkers_2/> * Jim Baker *Coshocton Tribune* (Ohio) (Apr. 29) "The American Journal" p. 6: "Tin Can Tom Walkers." Time was when tin cans were as useful after being emptied as they were before. Yesterday's children used cans for many playthings—things like "tom walkers." A good "tromp" collapsed the can firmly around the heel, where it clung tightly until kicked off against a curbstone. *1974<http://www.doubletongued.org/index.php/citations/tom_walkers_3/> * *Daily Times-News* (Burlington, N.C.) (Apr. 19) p. B15: Kenneth klops around on stilts, or some people still call them Tom-walkers. ** *I have an old undated (1930's?) Letter to Santa asking for Tom Walkers. And now I know what Tom Walkers are! Mystery solved!* ** *Ellen* ** ** In a message dated 11/14/2006 7:34:29 A.M. Pacific Standard Time, marilyneb@gmail.com writes: On one of my county lists a conversation concerning stilts is going on. A list member from Arkansas mentioned that his father always called stilts "Tom Walkers". He wanted to know if anyone else had ever heard this term. I replied I would run it pass the list members here and see if anyone had heard the term. Can anyone remember this term? By the way I already have one member from that list wanting information for ML. So on to my next good deed for the day. Marilyne **