The James T. Callow Folklore Archive

PEG AND STICK

A STICK ABOUT FOUR INCHES LONG IS WHITTLED DOWN TO A
POINT ON EACH END. IT IS CALLED A PEG. THE STICK
WAS ABOUT TWELVE INCHES LONG. IT IS USED TO TAP
THE PEG ON EITHER END AND AS THE PEG ROSE IN THE AIR
TO STRIKE IT TOWARDS THE OPPONENT'S GOAL. THE GAME
IS PLAYED ON THE STREET, USING THE CURBS AS A SIDELINE
BOUNDARY. THE GOALS ARE USUALLY SET APART FOR THE
DISTANCE OF FIVE OR SIX HOUSES. MANHOLE COVERS WERE
LOCATED ON EACH END. EACH MAN TOOK HIS TURN AT THE
PEG. IT WOULD REMAIN IN THE POSITION IT LANDED RE-
GARDLESS WHERE--EVEN UP AGAINST A CURB. WHEN A
PLAYER FELT HE WAS CLOSE ENOUGH TO A PLAYER'S GOAL,
HE WOULD TRY TO THROW THE PEG AT HIS OPPONENT'S
STICK WHICH WAS PLACED IN A ROUND HOLE CARVED JUST IN
FRONT OF THE MANHOLE COVER, IF HE HITS THE STICK
HE RECEIVES A POINT. WHEN A PLAYER RECEIVES A SET
NUMBER OF POINTS, HE IS THE WINNER.

Where learned: ILLINOIS ; GLENVIEW

Date learned: 11-29-1970