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."
