Courting Dulcimers!

My good sister stopped by on Friday with this old article that was printed in the Times Record Newspaper in Spencer. The article was published on Thursday, May 17, 1973. I see in the article that we charged $60 for a three string dulcimer and $65 for a four stringed instrument. Even back then it was a great price for a handmade Appalachian instrument.

The courting dulcimer is actually two dulcimers built together. The story goes that a fellow and his girlfriend would play the courting dulcimer on the porch and as long as the parents heard the dulcimer sound then they did not worry about checking on the dating couple.

The article states that we will be the featured dulcimer players at that year's West Virginia Folk Festival which was being held in nearby Glenville on June 14 through the 17. Strange to think that we retired in Glenville and are still volunteering for the Folk Festival. Rachael, our oldest daugther was three years old when this photo was taken. Things have changed. The old fingers have gotten stiffer but my mind sometimes still thinks I am still 27!