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NARRATIVE (TOLD IN FIRST PERSON)

MY DAD HAD A NIECE HE HAD QUARRELED WITH, YEARS BEFORE HE HAD
PASSED ON. SHE HAD TOLD HIM IF HE DIES BEFORE SHE DOES, SHE'LL
TURN HER BACK TOWARD HIM. SO BEFORE MY DAD COULD DIE, WE HAD TO
CALL HER AND AS SOON AS SHE ENTERED THE HOUSE MY DAD DIED PEACE-
FULLY.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Subject headings: PROSE NARRATIVE -- Product or activity of man or animal
BELIEF -- Street Trip Relations between relatives, friends, host and guest Social class Rank
BELIEF -- Death Funeral Burial

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HAUNTED CABIN

THERE IS AN OLD LOGGING CABIN IN EAST TAWAS ON ONE OF THE BACK
LOGGING ROADS DATING BACK TO AROUND CIVIL WAR TIME, AND THE CABIN
IS IN VERY GOOD SHAPE FOR HOW OLD IT IS. THE LEGEND GOES THAT THE
PERSON WHO ONWED THE PLACE DIED IN A STABLE JUST OFF ONE ROOM,
ALONG WITH HIS DOG AND HORSE. PRIOR TO OUR ARRIVAL IN EAST TAWAS
(ABOUT 1953), A GROUP OF PEOPLE APPROACHED THE CABIN. ONE PERSON
FROM THE GROUP OPENED THE TOP PART OF THE DUTCH-DOOR AND CLIMBED
OVER AND INTO THE CABIN. HE SEARCHED THE CABIN AND FOUND THE
BONES OF A HUMAN BEING, A HORSE AND A DOG, IN THE STABLE AREA.
WHEN HE CAME OUT OF THE CABIN HE TOLD THE GROUP WHAT HE HAD FOUND
AND IMMEDIATELY KEELED OVER DEAD. THE GROUP FLED, LEAVING THE
TOP PART OF THE DOOR OPEN AND NO ONE HAS ENTERED THE CABIN SINCE
THEN. ALL THE UTENSILS USED BY THE DEAD OWNER COULD BE SEEN IN
THE CABIN IN 1958--THE TIME WHEN THE INFORMANT WAS THERE. THE
INFORMANT BELIEVES THAT THIS REALLY HAPPENED.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; EAST TAWAS

Subject headings: PROSE NARRATIVE -- Ghost Spirit Phantom Specter
PROSE NARRATIVE -- Mammal
PROSE NARRATIVE -- Product or activity of man or animal
BELIEF -- Death Funeral Burial

Date learned: 00-00-1958

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HOUSE OF DAVID TREASURE

IN BENTON HARBOR, MICHIGAN, IN THE HOUSE OF DAVID (KING BEN
PURNELL'S RELIGIOUS SECT), IT IS BELIEVED THAT A SUM OF TEN
MILLION DOLLARS IS HIDDEN BEHIND A PANEL WITH A SECRET SPRING.
PURNELL IS REPORTED TO HAVE COLLECTED MANY MILLIONS THROUGH
HIS ENTERPRISE AND THE MONEY HAS BEEN CHECKED AND TRACED, BUT
TEN MILLION DOLLARS ARE UNACCOUNTED FOR.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DEARBORN

Subject headings: PROSE NARRATIVE -- Product or activity of man or animal
PROSE NARRATIVE -- Ordinary Tale
CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Measure of quality Medium of exchange

Date learned: 03-00-1968

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PAYROLL TREASURE

VARIOUS TALES TELL ABOUT A "POT OF GOLD" BURIED ON DRUMMOND
ISLAND, MICHIGAN, BY A BRITISH COMMISSARY OFFICER TO INSURE ITS
SAFETY. HOWEVER, DURING HIS STAY ON THE ISLAND, HE HAD SO MUCH
TO WORRY ABOUT THAT HE BECAME MENTALLY DERANGED AND AS A RESULT
WAS UNABLE TO RECALL THE LOCATION OF HIS HIDDEN TREASURE.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DEARBORN

Subject headings: PROSE NARRATIVE -- Physically handicapped Deformed
PROSE NARRATIVE -- Product or activity of man or animal
CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Measure of quality Medium of exchange

Date learned: NOT GIVEN

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HERMIT ISLAND TREASURE

ON HERMIT ISLAND, ONE OF THE APOSTLE GROUP IN LAKE SUPERIOR, A
SHORT DISTANCE OUT OF BAYFIELD, WISCONSIN, IS BURIED A BRITISH
PAYROLL. IT WAS BURIED TO KEEP IT FROM HOSTILE INDIANS, WHO
RAIDED THE OUTPOST AND MASSACRED ALMOST ALL OF THE TROOPS
STATIONED THERE. TWO MEN SURVIVING TOLD OF THE BURIAL OF THE
MONEY BUT DID NOT KNOW WHERE THE OFFICERS BURIED IT.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DEARBORN

Subject headings: PROSE NARRATIVE -- Product or activity of man or animal
CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Measure of quality Medium of exchange
BELIEF -- Death Funeral Burial

Date learned: NOT GIVEN

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THE BELLS OF GLEN LEE

THE INFORMANT WENT TO LONDON WITH THE LAIRD'S FAMILY WHILE HER
FAMILY STAYED BEHIND AT GLEN LEE, THE COUNTRY ESTATE, AS CARE-
TAKERS. THEY SLEPT IN THE SERVANTS' QUARTERS ABOVE THE KITCHEN
WHERE THE BELLS WERE TO CALL THE SERVANTS. THERE WAS NO ONE ELSE
IN THE HOUSE, BUT SEVERAL TIMES THEY HEARD THE BELLS RING. THE
INFORMANT'S FATHER ATTEMPTED TO DISCOVER A CAUSE, BUT WAS UNABLE
TO DO SO. THIS WAS ABOUT 1917. GLEN LEE IS IN NEW GALLOWI,
KIRKCUDBRIGHTSHIRE IN SCOTLAND.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DEARBORN

Subject headings: PROSE NARRATIVE -- Product or activity of man or animal
CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Home

Date learned: 03-00-1968

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ST. GERTRUDE CHURCH

THERE IS A LOCAL LEGEND IN THE PARISH OF ST. GERTRUDE (BUILT
IN 1887) IN ST. CLAIR SHORES THAT THE BODIES OF SAINTS MARTYRED
BY THE INDIANS ARE BURIED INTO THE BASEMENT OF THE CHURCH.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; SAINT CLAIR SHORES

Subject headings: PROSE NARRATIVE -- Product or activity of man or animal
BELIEF -- Church

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GHOST HILL

MY INFORMANT WORKED AT CAMP SEMECONON OUTSIDE BUTLER, PENNSYLVANIA
ONE SUMMER AND TOLD ME OF THIS OLD LADY THAT LIVED ON TOP OF THIS
VERY HIGH HILL WITH HER BROTHER WHO WAS ALSO AGED. ON THE WAY TO
THIS OLD LADY'S LOG CABIN THERE WAS AN OLD GRAVE YARD JUST OFF THE
PATH ABOUT 3/4 UP THE HILL. SOME OF THE TOMBSTONES WERE DATED IN
THE LATE 1700'S. THE OLD LADY WOULD TALK ABOUT HOW THE SPIRITS
OF THE PEOPLE BURIED IN THIS GRAVEYARD WOULD START YELLING AND EVEN
FIGHTING AMONG THEMSELVES. THE LADY SEEMED TO BELIEVE IN WHAT SHE
WAS SAYING AND EVERY TIME MY INFORMANT WOULD ASK HER BROTHER ABOUT
THESE THINGS, HE WOULDN'T SAY A WORD AND SEEMED TO GET FRIGHTENED
WHENEVER THE SUBJECT WAS BROUGHT UP.

Where learned: PENNSYLVANIA ; PITTSBURGH

Subject headings: PROSE NARRATIVE -- Ghost Spirit Phantom Specter
PROSE NARRATIVE -- Product or activity of man or animal
ART CRAFT ARCHITECTURE -- Cemetery

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HAUNTED HOUSE

THERE WAS A HAUNTED HOUSE AT GRATIOT AND HARPER IN DETROIT IN THE
1930'S. A FAMILY LIVED IN IT BUT WERE SCARED OUT BY THE GHOST.
THE GHOST WOULD TAKE TOBACCO OUT OF THE POCKET OF THE FATHER OF
THE FAMILY. AFTER THE FAMILY MOVED OUT NO ONE WOULD MOVE INTO
THE HOUSE. AFTER THE HOUSE STOOD VACANT FOR A COUPLE OF YEARS,
THE CITY WIDENED HARPER AND TORE THE HOUSE DOWN EXCEPT FOR ONE
CORNER OF THE HOUSE WHICH THEY LEFT FOR THE GHOST.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; Mount Clemens

Subject headings: PROSE NARRATIVE -- Ghost Spirit Phantom Specter
PROSE NARRATIVE -- Product or activity of man or animal

Date learned: 11-08-1968

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VOICES

ON THE COAST OF RHODE ISLAND, THERE ARE CONCRETE BUNKERS AND PILL-
BOXES LEFT OVER FROM WWII THAT WERE USED TO DEFEND THE COAST.
PEOPLE SAY THAT ONE CAN HEAR THE VOICE OF THE RADIO MAN AND THE
VOICES OF THE MEN THAT WERE STATIONED THERE.

Where learned: NEW YORK ; ENDWELL

Subject headings: PROSE NARRATIVE -- Ghost Spirit Phantom Specter
PROSE NARRATIVE -- Product or activity of man or animal
ART CRAFT ARCHITECTURE -- Occupation War

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HAUNTED HOUSE

IN MORRILTOWN BOTTOMS, ARKANSAS, THERE WAS A HAUNTED HOUSE IN
WHICH ONE ROOM WAS HAUNTED. A FAMILY HAD MOVED IN IN THE
BEGINNING OF SUMMER. TWO OF THE CHILDREN WOULD SLEEP IN THE
FRONT ROOM OF THE HOUSE AND EVERY NIGHT THE GHOST OF THIS ROOM
WOULD PULL THE BLANKET OFF THE TWO KIDS. THE FAMILY COULD ONLY
TAKE IT FOR ONE SUMMER BEFORE THEY MOVED OUT, (AND THE HOUSE WAS)
NEVER TO BE LIVED IN AGAIN.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; Mount Clemens

Subject headings: PROSE NARRATIVE -- Ghost Spirit Phantom Specter
PROSE NARRATIVE -- Product or activity of man or animal

Date learned: 11-08-1968

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THE MYSTERY

NEAR PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA, THERE WAS AN OLD STRIP MINE THAT
HAD BEEN BURIED OVER AND LEFT BY A MINING COMPANY. TWO LITTLE
KIDS WANDERED NEAR THIS OLD STRIP MINE AND DISAPPEARED. A SEARCH
PARTY SET OUT TO FIND THE TWO KIDS AND HEADED TOWARD THIS ONE
PARTICULAR STRIP MINE WHERE THE KIDS WERE LAST SEEN. NEAR THIS
OLD STRIP MINE WAS AN OLD BARN. WHEN THE SEARCH PARTY ARRIVED AT
THE MINE, THERE WAS NO TRACE OF THE TWO KIDS OR THE OLD BARN.
THEY ALL JUST DISAPPEARED.

Where learned: PENNSYLVANIA ; PITTSBURGH

Subject headings: PROSE NARRATIVE -- Product or activity of man or animal

Date learned: 11-07-1968

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DRINK LEGEND

ACCORDING TO IRISH LEGEND, THE SECRET OF "HEATHER WINE," A MIXTURE
OF WHISKEY, HEATHER HONEY AND CERTAIN HERBS, WAS HELD BY ONE CLAN
IN IRELAND. ANOTHER CLAN, WISHING TO LEARN THE SECRET, ATTACKED
THE FIRST CLAN. HOWEVER, ALL THOSE WHO KNEW THE SECRET PERISHED
IN THE WAR THE THE SECRET WAS LOST.

Submitter comment: INFORMANT HEARD THIS FROM HIS DAD IN 1970.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT ; 15931 WOODINGHAM

Subject headings: PROSE NARRATIVE -- Product or activity of man or animal
ART CRAFT ARCHITECTURE -- Occupation War

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ATLANTIS

ATLANTIS WAS FORMERLY A BEAUTIFUL AND PROSPEROUS ISLAND, BUT
BECAUSE THE INHABITANTS OF THE ISLAND HAD BECOME CORRUPT, THE
ISLAND WAS DESTROYED BY AN EARTHQUAKE AND FINALLY SUNK INTO THE
SEA.

Submitter comment: I SAW THIS STORY IN A FILM THAT REALLY WAS ON TELEVISION A FEW
YEARS AGO.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Subject headings: PROSE NARRATIVE -- Product or activity of man or animal

Date learned: NOT GIVEN

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FIRE BALL

OUTSIDE OF LAMBERTVILLE (MISSOURI), THERE IS A FARM WHERE A NEGRO
FAMILY WAS SHARECROPPING (ABOUT 30 OR SO YEARS AGO). ALMOST EVERY
NIGHT AFTER DARK, THEY'D SEE A BALL OF FIRE COME OUT OF THE FIELD,
ROLL ACROSS THE YARD AND DISAPPEAR AT THE CORNER OF THE FENCE
POLE. THIS SCARED THE FAMILY AND THEY SOON MOVED OUT, LEAVING THE
HOUSE ABANDONED. THE LOCAL YOUTHS TOOK THE FIREBALL AS A SIGN
THAT TREASURE WAS BURIED ON THE PROPERTY. ONE NIGHT THEY DETER-
MINED TO SNEAK OVER AND DIG IT UP. THEY WENT BUT WERE TOO SCARED
TO DIG AND THEY SOON LEFT. THEY HOWEVER DIDN'T SEE THE FIRE BALL.
(THE INFORMANT WAS ONE OF THESE YOUTHS.)

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Subject headings: PROSE NARRATIVE -- Air Weather Fire
PROSE NARRATIVE -- Product or activity of man or animal

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JAMES BROTHERS' MONEY

IT IS SAID THAT THE MONEY THE JAMES BROTHERS STOLE FROM THE FAMOUS
STATE FAIR ROBBERY IS BURIED BETWEEN LONE ROCK AND ROCKVIEW ON A
FARM (THE INFORMANT CAN'T REMEMBER THE EXACT FARM, BUT KNOWS THE
MAN--"OLD DYNAMITE" HE'S CALLED--WHO DOES). THIS IS SOUTH OF
CHAFFEE, MISSOURI, BETWEEN CHAFFEE AND ORAN.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Subject headings: PROSE NARRATIVE -- Outlaw Criminal Bandit Pirate
PROSE NARRATIVE -- Product or activity of man or animal
CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Measure of quality Medium of exchange

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CUCKOO CLOCKS

IN THE BLACK FOREST OF GERMANY, IT IS A VERY LARGE TRADE TO MAKE
CUCKOO CLOCKS. THE PEOPLE FROM THE PLATT AREA EXPLAIN THIS BY
SAYING THAT WHEN GERMANY BEGAN TO BE POPULATED ALL THE PEOPLE WHO
COULD NOT READ OR WRITE AND WERE OF LOW INTELLIGENCE WERE HERDED
INTO THE BLACK FOREST TO SPEND THEIR LIVES. THEY TOOK WITH THEM
ONLY WHAT THEY NORMALLY CARRIED. FOR MOST OF THE MEN, THIS MEANT
KNIVES. BECAUSE THE WOODS WERE SO DENSE AND DARK, THE ONLY THING
THE PEOPLE COULD DO WAS CARVE AND WHITTLE WOOD TO THIN OUT THE
FOREST AND MAKE IT LIGHTER. AS THIS HAPPENED, THE PEOPLE BECAME
MORE TECHNICAL AND THEIR PASTIME OF WHITTLING TURNED INTO THE
ART OF CLOCK-MAKING.

Where learned: NOT GIVEN

Subject headings: PROSE NARRATIVE -- Product or activity of man or animal
CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Work Commerce Business

Date learned: NOT GIVEN

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ROMAN OBSERVATION:

THE ROMANS DISLIKE THE ORNATE AND OSTENTATIOUS "ALTAR OF THE
NATION" WHICH CONTAINS A MONUMENT TO VICTOR EMMANUAL II.
THEY SAY: "THE BEST VIEW OF THE CITY IS FROM THE TOP OF THIS
BUILDING, BECAUSE ONLY FROM THE TOP DO YOU NOT HAVE TO LOOK AT
THIS MONSTROSITY."

Where learned: ITALY ; ROME ; IN A LETTER

Subject headings: PROSE NARRATIVE -- Secular hero
PROSE NARRATIVE -- Product or activity of man or animal
ART CRAFT ARCHITECTURE -- Monument

Date learned: 09-00-1967

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OCCURANCE AT A WAKE

THE INFORMANT'S GRANDMOTHER GREW UP ON A FARM IN LITHUANIA. WHEN
SHE WAS A CHILD, SHE WAS TAKEN TO A NEIGHBORING FARM FOR A
FUNERAL. THE GROWN-UPS WERE TALKING IN THE KITCHEN WHILE THE
CHILDREN WERE IN THE PARLOUR WHERE THE MAN WAS LAID OUT WITH A
SHEET COVERING THE BODY. SUDDENLY THE BODY BEGAN TO SIT UP AND
THE CHILDREN ALL SCREAMED. IT TURNED OUT THAT THE MAN HAD DIED
IN THAT ROOM.

Submitter comment: THE INFORMANT LEARNED THIS FROM HER MOTHER.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Subject headings: PROSE NARRATIVE -- Product or activity of man or animal
BELIEF -- Death Funeral Burial

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CHILDHOOD BELIEF

CHILDREN WHO LIVED IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD AROUND PASADENA BETWEEN
SECOND AND THIRD STREETS IN DETROIT BELIEVED THAT A MAN WHO LIVED
IN ONE OF THE HOUSES HAD KILLED HIS WIFE, CAUSING THE HOUSE TO BE
HAUNTED.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Subject headings: PROSE NARRATIVE -- Ghost Spirit Phantom Specter
PROSE NARRATIVE -- Product or activity of man or animal
BELIEF -- Death Funeral Burial

Date learned: 02-10-1967

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