WVDreamin - Posted - 05/07/2021:  20:41:30

This week I’ve chosen “Stumptown Stomp” from fiddler Eck Robertson.  Mr. Robertson was best known as recording in 1922 the first commercial county music record (as a duo with Henry Gilliland) with the double A sides of “Turkey in the Straw” and “Arkansas Traveler.”  He had a few recording sessions before Great Depression and again in the 40s and had a  record released in ’63 that had some rustier, played by a much older fella, versions of many of the early recordings, but also included this week’s tune. 

Stumptown turns out to have been the name/nickname for several cities over the years.  Wikipedia turned up this list:

Guerneville, California the site of an ancient coast redwood forest, much of which was logged for the rebuilding of San Francisco after the 1906 earthquake and fire. Prior to being renamed for one of the local milling families, Guerneville was called Stumptown for the giant redwood stumps left by the loggers. 

Whitefish, Montana was called Stumptown as the area was cleared for the train station.

Matthews, North Carolina was originally named Stumptown in the early 19th century after cotton farmers cleared the land, leaving tree stumps everywhere.

Portland, Oregon bears the nickname Stumptown, as well as several other nicknames. In the mid-19th century, the city's growth led residents to clear a lot of land quickly, but the tree stumps were not immediately removed; in some areas, there were so many that people used to jump from stump to stump to avoid the muddy, unpaved roads.

Stumptown, Indiana is an unincorporated community in Parke County.

Stumptown, Loudoun County, Virginia is an unincorporated community.

Stumptown, Northampton County, Virginia is an unincorporated community.

Stumptown, West Virginia is an unincorporated community in Gilmer County.

Mr Roberson playing it can be heard HERE.

I first heard it at a Folk Festival in Kansas City, MO back in 2014, in a class taught by Howard Rains.  He and Tricia play it at such a relaxed pace and with a great groove.  Here is their band playing "Stumptown Stomp" with Brendan Doyle on banjo. 

There is just the one banjo version on the Youtubes.  banjukebox   

That's all I have for now.  This is a really great grooving jam tune that has one tricky phrase.  I hope you all give it a go.

banjoak - Posted - 05/08/2021:  02:55:30

Being in Iowa might know there was a Stumptown, Iowa as well; official plat, RR and PO name was River Junction; but always seem referred to it as Stumptown. It was just across the river from my grandparents farm.

Mtngoat - Posted - 05/08/2021:  05:54:37

Great pick. The Rains, Spencer, and Doyle version is entrancing and the Banjukebox video demonstrates an interesting thumb lick to the first string. I searched for a Stumptown, Florida to add to the list and came up with this bizarre result: allthatsinteresting.com/nub-ci...n-florida

TreyDBanjoKS - Posted - 05/08/2021:  06:11:40

Great tune, and one that always makes me think of Howard and Trish. I took fiddle lessons with Howard (fortunate to live in the same city with these old-time greats!) and this was the very first tune that we worked through. Both of them have instructed a lot of up-and coming musicians here in NE Kansas, and many of 'their' tunes get called at jams around here. This tune has been particularly popular in Lawrence because of them :)

Of course Brendan's tone and playing are top notch as always! :)

Thanks for sharing!

WVDreamin - Posted - 05/08/2021:  07:34:05

Nub City, now there's a nickname!

I see there is a Stumptown Trail in the Cedar Rapids, IA area and something called Mount Trashmore. Is this in the area you are referring to?


Trey, you are fortunate to have Tricia (and Howard) in your vicinity; they are a great tune resource and seem to be pretty nice people too.

banjoak - Posted - 05/08/2021:  11:40:40

quote:

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Originally posted by WVDreamin

I see there is a Stumptown Trail in the Cedar Rapids, IA area and something called Mount Trashmore. Is this in the area you are referring to?

 

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No, between Lone Tree and Riverside, in johnson Co, Freemont Twp.

WVDreamin - Posted - 05/08/2021:  11:50:24

quote:

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Originally posted by banjoak

quote:

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Originally posted by WVDreamin

I see there is a Stumptown Trail in the Cedar Rapids, IA area and something called Mount Trashmore. Is this in the area you are referring to?

 

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No, between Lone Tree and Riverside, in johnson Co, Freemont Twp.

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Lone Tree is near where the Camp Euforia Festival is held. I played many of them. 

JanetB - Posted - 05/08/2021:  18:37:16

Thanks for choosing another good tune, Billy. Anything from Spencer and Rains is a treat and so is Brendan Doyle's banjo. I like to go to the oldest known source and found Eck Robertson's on youtube. I've also enjoyed reading his history in Chapter 2 of The Devil's Box, Masters of Southern Fiddling by Charles Wolfe. Texas fiddler Mr. Robertson (1887 - 1975) is said to have recorded, along with his elderly friend Henry Gilliland, the earliest commercial country music recording when they traveled to New York in the early 1920's to seek the Victor company. I like his smooth fiddling, and Victor must have too, because they took a chance on him, among many, many fiddlers who desired to be recorded. I also read that his style began a standard for fiddle contests of the day.

Robertson plays the A part three times on most of this youtube version:  Eck Robertson solo of Stumptown Stomp .  I repeated it just once.  He's in the key of G.

Edited by - JanetB on 05/08/2021 18:38:25

VIDEO: Stumptown Stomp (TOTW)
(click to view)

Stumptown Stomp (CH) tab

dbrooks - Posted - 05/09/2021:  08:50:24

Here's some tab based on what I hear in the video by Banjojukebox.

Stumptown Stump Tab - Details and Ratings - Banjo Hangout

David