Wednesday, September 24, 2008

Ford City Urban Legend

I first laid my eyes on "Grunt's Leg" in the early 80's. I was a teen and my friends would talk about it. I didn't believe them, so they took me and showed me.

On the first telephone pole, at the lower end of Third Avenue, in Ford City, is where it is. It is right at the very tippy top. When I first viewed it, it still had parts of the tube sock still attached.

Urban legend is that it belonged to Grunt, a local character that could be seen on any given day, sitting on a keg of beer in his driveway, which was next to Sheetz. I've been told that he has since passed away. The story is that he was drunk one night in the 70's and someone took off his leg, climbed the pole and nailed it at the top so he couldn't get it back. I would assume that he got a new leg.

Through the years, I would take visitors and newcomers to the area to see the leg. It is funny how some people, who have lived here their entire lives, don't even know it's up there and has been for over thirty years.

The next time you are in town, you should try to find it. Take a picture of you pointing up at it and send it to me! I would love to start a scrapbook!

5 comments:

Hatgal said...

OMG. It is total urban legend no more. I've always heard about it but never had the pleasure of seeing it with my own eyes.

Anonymous said...

That is too funny. Someone just showed me the leg this spring while we were walking the trail. I didn't know the story behind it though, but everytime I walk I look at it.

Kris said...

Yeah, I lived in Ford City for 20 years and had never seen the leg -- and had never heard the story! I'm telling my dad about it........

Julie said...

Wow I have never seen that! My dad and I used to stop at Sheetz after he picked me up from school on occasion, and if Grunt was out (he usually was), my dad would pop over to chat. No idea how he knew him... I guess everyone knows Grunt!

Anonymous said...

I have never heard that story and of course I've never seen the leg. Thanks for the story!