Take a Virtual Tour
of the store
– Kerry Triffin
James Probst, the "Molly Moocher" Man
James moved to the back woods of West
Virginia in the Sixties. When his parents retired, they chose to move
in next door to him. I think that says a lot about the man. James is
rough-hewn and plainspoken almost to a fault, but a pure stream of
creativity flows through and from him. I know of no one who has such a
sure touch when it comes to grain and color match.
Sometimes, even months after receiving a piece from him, be it a
hutch/buffet, a bed, a desk or a dining table, you will discover
further subtleties, and perhaps be utterly delighted.
And it's not only about wood — a singular joy for me is to be standing
in the showroom surrounded by some of his pieces, listening to a
recording of him playing, on a dulcimer he built, one of his own
compositions (my favorite is "Sunday Morning").
So — what's the "Molly Moocher" reference? That's what they call morel
mushrooms in his part of West Virginia. They grow abundantly there
certain years, and one of these years I'm going to go down and enjoy
his company and heaping platefuls of Molly Moochers some "Sunday
Morning."
