The End of a Legend

It has taken me three months to write about this. I am so ticked off, even today, it makes me want to find the jackass responsible and hurt them. Last September, I wrote about Grunt's Leg. I, like many others, grew up with that leg. I've taken joy in introducing many people to the leg, many of whom have lived here their entire lives and didn't know about it's existence. Grunt's Leg was a part of Ford City and part of our heritage.

In mid July, we noticed that the leg was gone. Through the grapevine, we heard that a utility company wanted the leg down, so a "concerned" neighbor took it down. It is now residing in someone's camp behind Garda's Restaurant.

First, no utility company wanted it down. That's just bullshit. There are NO utilities connected to that pole, the only purpose that pole served was to hold that wooden leg.

Second, that leg was up there for over 30 years. So now you are going to tell me that suddenly, after 30 years a company wants it down. Bullshit again.

To me, it sounds as though someone wanted a "trophy" for their camp, so they took it. Shame on you. You are such a selfish jackass to make it so that no one but yourself can enjoy the history and legend that is Grunt's Leg.

Mr Bruises says it's all my fault that this happened. He said that I brought attention to the leg by writing about it on my blog. Maybe he's right, maybe I did cause this to happen.

All I know, is if I find out where it is, I am breaking and entering to take back what belongs to Ford City and if anyone gets in my way, they are getting the shit beat out of them with Grunt's Leg.

Reuben's Grave revisited

Well, after three leads and visiting all three cemeteries twice, Mr. Bruises finally took me to Reuben's Grave. It was the very first cemetery I went to and took a photo of in my first post.

Sadly, the monument is long gone. Mr. Bruises remembers in high school that a Kittanning boy (who will not be named) stole it and rode around with it in the trunk of his car for the longest time. He took me to the general area that he remembered and we found an old foundation and are pretty sure that spot is where the grave is. The photo isn't that exciting. Despite looking though numerous year books, I still can't find a photo of the monument.

It's funny how urban legends are. My generation heard that Reuben hung himself by putting a noose around his neck, attached to a tree, while on a horse and then kicking the horse out from under himself. Others have heard about him killing all the kids in a nearby schoolhouse then killing himself. I guess that is how urban legends are, they take on a life of their own.

Here is a picture of the old schoolhouse that is at the bottom of the road, near the farm house. The schoolhouse must still get visits because it was clearly toilet papered when we were visiting.

This is the old farm and farmhouse that is at the bottom of the hill. Legend has it that the farmer that lived their was the graveyard caretaker. Story has it that he moved the grave after too many visitors. I can't believe that, but some do.

Reuben's Grave - Urban Legend

After writing about Grunt's Leg, I tried to think of any other urban legends I knew of in the area. The only other one I could think of was Reuben's Grave. I have never been there, remember, I am a fraidy cat. I could not remember the stories from my youth, so I posted a note on Facebook for people to help me out. Kris (Grafton) Shunk helped me out by providing the story.

Reuben, a teenager but exact age unknown, decided to kill himself -- but before doing so, he wrote his own epitaph: "What you are now I once was. What I am now you will be." He rode his white horse to a tree near the cemetery where he's now buried, put a noose around his neck, looped the rope around a tree branch, and kicked the horse away. If visitors to the cemetery at night see a
white horse on the hillside, they will die a horrible death. There are some accounts that the horse has flaming red eyes -- like that of the devil.

So, I just headed out and tried to find the cemetery. Mr. Bruises gave me directions and he was going from memory. He hasn't been there since he was a teen. I am not sure if I found the cemetery or not. It seemed like it could be it, however, I couldn't find the monument. Chances are it's been stolen or destroyed through the years. I took a photo anyway, I saw a tree that could possibly be "the" tree.


Some of you may not know, but for about eight years of my life, I designed cemetery memorials. I used to be obsessed with cemeteries. I loved to look at the differing artwork from region to region. So, I called my former boss to see if he could help me find the cemetery and the grave. We are working on it. When I do find it, I will post an updated photo.


Thank you Kris for the story! Happy Halloween to everyone!

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!