Bob Wright
Hawkeye
I took some trousers to be hemmed up at a nearby alteration place today. The shop is a tiny brick building in Memphis on the Highland Strip, run by a youngish (in his sixties or so) black man, who also is a Baptist preacher, and full of stories. It took him about an hour to hem three pairs of trousers, and he never stopped talkin' the whole time.
During his conversation, he mentioned getting paid, as a youngster, with a bo' dollar. Now I haven't heard that expression in many years, and was amused to hear him use it.
Now bo' dollars were silver dollars, usually a Morgan silver dollar. Way I heard it's origin, many years ago, was the term was originally a "boat dollar." Supposedly during the 'Twenties and 'Thirties, many river boats, excursion steamers, permitted slot machines on board, and the dollar machines took the old Morgan silver dollars. Many who had won some on these trips paid for items on shore with these silver dollars, having gotten them while on the boats, hence "boat dollars" or "bo' dollars."
Bob Wright
During his conversation, he mentioned getting paid, as a youngster, with a bo' dollar. Now I haven't heard that expression in many years, and was amused to hear him use it.
Now bo' dollars were silver dollars, usually a Morgan silver dollar. Way I heard it's origin, many years ago, was the term was originally a "boat dollar." Supposedly during the 'Twenties and 'Thirties, many river boats, excursion steamers, permitted slot machines on board, and the dollar machines took the old Morgan silver dollars. Many who had won some on these trips paid for items on shore with these silver dollars, having gotten them while on the boats, hence "boat dollars" or "bo' dollars."
Bob Wright
