Mar 24, 2014 2 min read

WAYNESBURG – “Hickory dickory dock, the mouse ran up the clock,” and so it went recently at a meeting of the Cornerstone Genealogical Society in the log courthouse on Greene Street.

The meeting began with society member Marilyn Eichenlaub reciting “Old King Cole was a merry old soul” and asked if everyone knew the history of the nursery rhyme. She then introduced speaker Kerry McClure, children’s librarian from Bowlby Library, who knew the answer.

McClure, dressed as Mother Goose, began with how nursery rhymes were handed down by word of mouth from generation to generation. As early as 1570, nursery rhymes were printed in England in “chap books,” which are small books or pamphlets printed for nursery rhymes, political or religious tracts, poetry, folk tales or almanacs. These books were great for even the nonreader because of the pictures in them.

Rhymes were often associated or reflected the actual events of history, McClure explained. They were used as a parody on royal and political events of the day. Using rhymes and short words made the rhyme easy to remember, even for the illiterate. Rhymes were used as an innocent vehicle to spread messages around. Speaking out against the government or King was punishable by death, so rhymes were used as way to speak secretively.

McClure said nursery rhymes can be broken down into four categories – lullabies, such as Rock a Bye Baby; educational, such as the alphabet and counting rhymes; riddles; and lesser known, the secret of nursery rhymes/actual historical events and culture of the day.

McClure said Bowlby Library has a large selection of nursery rhymes, from the traditional to ones that are Chinese, Hawaiian and more.

The next meeting of Cornerstone Genealogical Society will be 7 p.m. April 8. Mary Beth Morgan Pastorius will speak on “Waynesburg Architecture.” The meeting is open to the public.