The History of the Cast Iron Lawn Jockey
Often viewed as a symbol of racism, the cast iron lawn jockey nevertheless occupies a fascinating place in history. "The faithful groomsman" has stood guard before homes, plantations, businesses and storefronts for more than 150 years. Does this Spark an idea?
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"Jocko" and George Washington
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The legend of George Washington and his faithful servant, Jocko Graves, first circulated in 1963 when journalist Earl Kroger, Jr. wrote a pamphlet outlining their story. According to the Antique Trader website, Kroger maintained that Jocko, a boy of 12, died of exposure while caring for the horses of Washington's troops while Washington crossed the Delaware in 1776. Washington supposedly later erected a small statue at Mount Vernon in honor of the young groomsman. Historians and scholars, however, have found no factual evidence to prove the legend.
Underground Railroad Connection
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The Loudon County, Virginia History website explains that the cast iron jockey stood as a silent indicator of safe houses along the Underground Railroad's route to freedom, with or without the knowledge of the home or plantation owner.
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Statue Evolution
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The first statues appear to have been cast no earlier than the 1850s. Sculptor Franklin Porteus Holcomb created the statue's first prototype in 1855, says the Antique Trader website. The first cast iron statue portrayed a young African-American wearing overalls, with his right hand extended to serve as a hitching post or lantern-holder. Over the years, the groomsman's features became more caricature-like and offensive to African-Americans and others who saw the statue as a painful reminder of slavery in the United States.
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