The Origins of Corn Hole

One of the enjoyable activities while traveling in RV's is the time taken to socialize with other RV'ers.  This might be done around a fire pit or sharing lunch under a canopy.  But many also enjoy participating in various games.  One favorite game is Corn Hole.  

In this episode I explore the origins of the fun, and sometimes raucus game.

Transcript

Hello fellow Sojourners.  I’m your host Dave Laton and welcome to Travel With A Purpose, a podcast designed to keep sojourners and friends informed, entertained, and inspired.

 In today’s episode we will be talking about a very important issue for many RVers.  We will look at the origin of what is one of the most favorite past times for RVers.  No, I'm not talking about baseball or cooking s'mores, or even watching new arrivals set up their rig.  I'm talking about the great American game of cornhole. 

 I started researching this great game because I thought it was an important area to clear up any misconceptions.  So, I did extensive research on the internet about this important topic.  I found some really interesting facts.  And since it is on the internet, we know it has to be true!

 There are several myths, legends, or outright fabrications about the origin of this great past time.  Here's what I discovered.

 First of all, you might be wondering, what is corn hole.  Cornhole is a game also known as bean bag toss or bags.  It can be played indoors or outdoors by any gender and any age.  The modern version involves at least two players, usually 4, trying to toss small bags filled with corn kernels, rice, beans, or other such substances, into a hole in a slightly tilted platform, or at least to land the bag on the platform closest to the hole.  Each player takes turns until a predetermined score is reached.  That's an overview of the generally accepted rules but can change depending on factors such as age, physical condition, and in some cases, the amount of adult beverages consumed.  Of course, that's not an issue for Sojourners (I hope).

 So why be concerned about the history of this game?  Well, understanding the history, no matter how questionable the source or outrageous the information, adds to the enjoyment and appreciation for this classic pastime.  Like many such activities, the origin of the game is obscured in history.  The myths and legends grow with each generation.

 One popular legend has it that a former named Jebediah McGillicuddy invented the game.  Now, I'm not casting dispersions on old Jebediah, but I have to say that with a name like McGillicuddy, one might begin to suspect its authenticity.  As the legend has it, old Jebediah was a midwestern farmer who was bored while working the fields.  So, he came up with the idea of a game to play while on break.  He supposedly made some cornhole boards out of leftover pieces of wood and dried corn kernels. He didn't use bags at first.  He simply tried to get the corn kernels into the hole. One variation of this legend is that the boards were actually scrap lumber left over from making coffins.  I think there might have been some adult beverages involved in the origin of this legend, if not in Old Jebediah himself.

 Another popular legend is that cornhole was invented by the Native Americans.  This legend has it that the Blackhawk, Apache, and Choctaw Indians all played a similar game using stones or small bags filled with beans instead of corn.  Players would toss the bags into holes in the ground.  Now this obviously predated Old Jebediah mentioned before.  Perhaps if they had worked together, they could have gotten some of his left-over boards.

 Yet still a third legend is that it was invented by soldiers during the American Civil War.  There is no indication of whether it was the Northern soldiers or Soldiers of the Confederacy.  I suspect Soldiers of the Confederacy since Cornhole is a very popular game in the south.  In fact, I'll add to the legend by stating that it was probably some good old boys from Georgia.

According to this legend, soldiers would pass the time between battles by tossing bags filled with beans into holes dug into the ground, much the same way as the Native American legend.  Some even claim this game was actually a training exercise to help soldiers practice their aim (not that the boys from Georgia needed training in aiming their rifles.  But knowing soldiers, they were just as likely to have opened the bags and cooked the beans for dinner after a good round of cornhole.  Perhaps if the soldiers from both armies had gotten together to settle their differences with a good cornhole tournament, things would have been better resolved in less time and less trouble.  

One last legend before we go start our own round of cornhole.  There is a legend that this great American pastime was started by a German immigrant to America.  According to this legend, the game was like a carnival type game of knocking down cans.  The German name for the game is "Dosenwerfen which literally means can throwing.  The competitors would throw beanbags or other objects at stacked cans.  The objective was to knock down as many cans as possible.

Well, that's the some of the legends of the origins of cornhole, the great RV pastime.  The only thing I know for certain is that myths and legends can be entertaining.  Perhaps you have a theory of your own about the origin.  If so, let me know and we'll add it to our list.

No matter the origin, this game continues to grow in popularity.  Some have even gone so far as to turn it into a professional sport.  I wouldn't be surprised if we didn't see some good old boys, probably from Georgia, making it into an Olympic sport someday.  

 We even have cornhole game boards at Camp Bee for Sojourners to enjoy if they aren't playing our other favorite game, Hand and Foot.  This is yet another reason to visit Camp Bee.  In fact, if we are here when you are then I offer an open challenge to anyone to a rousing game.  I know from experience that Patt Rains tosses a mean beanbag.  I want her for a teammate.

 Well, friends, that wraps up our episode on the history of the great American RV game of cornhole.  

 I appreciate you joining us on this podcast.  If you are interested in being a guest on our podcast or know someone we should have as a guest, or if you have a topic you would like us to discuss, please email me at:  sojournersevangelize@gmail.com.  Also, please follow our podcast to keep updated when new episodes are published.

 I’m your host Dave Laton and remember we glorify God as together we, “Travel With A Purpose”!