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THE CALIFORNIA FOG

IN CALIFORNIA THE FOGS ARE SO THICK THAT SHIPS OFTEN SAIL RIGHT
ACROSS THE COUNTRY TILL THEY HIT THE SIERRA NEVADA MOUNTAINS.
IT EVEN GETS SO COLD AT NIGHT THAT YOUR SHADOW FREEZES ON THE
WALL AND THEY HAVE TO USE BLOW TORCHES TO THAW IT OUT.

Where learned: NOT GIVEN

Subject headings: PROSE NARRATIVE -- Lie Tall tale
ART CRAFT ARCHITECTURE -- Means of transportation Water craft or boat propelled by human, wind, mechanical or other force
BELIEF -- Sign or prediction through

Date learned: 07-00-1964

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NAMING MUSKEGON

ONCE AN INDIAN BRAVE WAS PADDLING HIS CANOE ALONG THE SHORE OF LAKE
MICHIGAN. HE HAD LEANED HIS MUSKET AGAINST THE FRONT THWART SO
THAT IT WOULD BE HANDY IN CASE HE NEEDED IT. WELL, IT WAS A
PRETTY STORMY DAY AND THE WAVES WERE KICKING UP SOMETHING FIERCE.
FINALLY ONE WAVE TUMBLED OVER THE BOW OF THE CANOE AND ALMOST
CAPSIZED HIM. HE SAW HIS MUSKET BEING CARRIED OVER THE SIDE OF
THE CANOE AND HE LEAPED TO CATCH IT. WELL, HE LOST IT AND THEN
HE EXCLAIMED, "OH NO, MUSKIE-GONE!" AND FROM THAT DAY FORWARD
THAT PLACE HAS BEEN CALLED MUSKEGON.

Submitter comment: THIS TALE, CONCERNING THE NAMING OF MUSKEGON, WAS PASSED DOWN TO
MY DAD FROM HIS FATHER.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; Lansing ; 2819 TULANE DR ; 48912

Subject headings: PROSE NARRATIVE -- Explanation of a name
ART CRAFT ARCHITECTURE -- Occupation
ART CRAFT ARCHITECTURE -- Means of transportation Water craft or boat propelled by human, wind, mechanical or other force

Date learned: 11-01-1968

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THE ROCK OF THE LORELEI

THERE ONCE WAS A GIRL WHO PLAYED A FLUTE ON SOME ROCKS. EVERY
TIME A SHIP WOULD SAIL NEAR, THEY WOULD BE HYPNOTIZED BY THE
BEAUTY OF THE MUSIC. THUS THEY WERE DRAWN UPON THE ROCKS.

Submitter comment: HE HEARD THIS FROM A FRIEND.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; YPSILANTI

Keyword(s): SIREN

Subject headings: PROSE NARRATIVE -- Tale
Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Music
ART CRAFT ARCHITECTURE -- Means of transportation Water craft or boat propelled by human, wind, mechanical or other force

Date learned: 10-13-1967

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HOW MUSKEGON GOT ITS NAME

WHITE MEN COMING TO THE LAKE MICHIGAN AREA BROUGHT GUNS TO TRADE
WITH THE INDIANS. ONE INDIAN WHO WAS VERY PROUD OF HIS NEW GUN
WAS OUT IN HIS CANOE WHEN A STRONG CURRENT OVERTURNED THE BOAT.
WHEN THE INDIAN REACHED SHORE HE POINTED TO THE WATER AND SAID
SADLY, "MUSKIE GONE."

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; BIRMINGHAM

Subject headings: PROSE NARRATIVE -- Explanation of a name
ART CRAFT ARCHITECTURE -- Means of transportation Water craft or boat propelled by human, wind, mechanical or other force

Date learned: 10-00-1970

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WHALING LEGEND

NEW ENGLAND WHALERS POPULARIZED THE TERM, "NANTUCKET SLEIGH RIDE."
THIS PERTAINS TO A WHALE WHICH, ONCE SPEARED, WILL TAKE OFF AND
LEAD THE WHALE BOAT FOR A "NANTUCKET SLEIGH RIDE."

Submitter comment: LEARNED THIS IN SCHOOL AND FROM THE MOVIE "MOBY DICK."

Where learned: NEW HAMPSHIRE ; MILFORD

Subject headings: PROSE NARRATIVE -- Explanation of a name
ART CRAFT ARCHITECTURE -- Means of transportation Water craft or boat propelled by human, wind, mechanical or other force
ART CRAFT ARCHITECTURE -- M440

Date learned: 11-12-1967

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HEARTBREAK HILL

THE NAME OF HEARTBREAK HILL PERTAINS TO AN EMINENCE IN THE MIDDLE
OF A TOWN IN WHICH THERE WAS A LARGE INDIAN SETTLEMENT, BEFORE THE
WHITE MEN SETTLED THERE AND DROVE THE INHABITANTS OUT. BEFORE THE
ENGLISH COLONY HAD BEEN FIRMLY PLANTED, A SAILOR STRAYING ASHORE
CAME UPON THE SIMPLE NATIVES AND FINDING THEIR WAYS FULL OF NOVEL-
TY, HE LIVED WITH THEM FOR A TIME. WHEN HE FOUND A WAY TO RETURN
TO ENGLAND, HE TOOK WITH HIM THE LOVE OF A MAIDEN OF THE TRIBE,
BUT THE GIRL HERSELF HE LEFT BEHIND, COMFORTING HER ON HIS DEPART-
URE WITH AN ASSURANCE THAT BEFORE MANY MOONS HE WOULD RETURN.
MONTHS WENT BY AND EXTENDED INTO YEARS, AND EVERY DAY THE GIRL
CLIMBED HEARTBREAK HILL AND LOOK(ED) SEAWARD TO LOOK FOR SOME
TOKEN OF HER LOVER. AT LAST A SHIP WAS SEEN TRYING TO COME INTO
THE HARBOR, WITH A FURIOUS GALE RUNNING HER CLOSE TO SHORE, WHERE
BREAKERS WERE LASHING THE ROCKS AND SAND. THE GIRL STAYED WHERE
SHE WAS UNTIL THE VESSEL WAS HURLED AGAINST THE SHORE AND SMASHED
INTO A THOUSAND PIECES. AS ITS TIMBERS WENT TOSSING AWAY, A
WHITE, DESPAIRING FACE WAS LIFTED TO HERS FOR AN INSTANT, THEN IT
SANK AND WAS SEEN NEVERMORE--HER LOVER'S FACE. IT IS SAID THAT
SHE LIES BURIED INSIDE THE LEDGE THAT WAS HER WATCH-TOWER.

Submitter comment: MRS. ORESTE HEARD THIS STORY FROM HER HUSBAND MANY YEARS AGO.
SHE CLAIMED THAT AT THE TIME HE TOLD IT TO HER, THERE WERE TWO
VERSIONS INVOLVED, BUT THAT THIS WAS THE ONLY ONE THAT SHE COULD
REMEMBER.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; GRAND HAVEN

Subject headings: PROSE NARRATIVE -- Explanation of a name
ART CRAFT ARCHITECTURE -- Means of transportation Water craft or boat propelled by human, wind, mechanical or other force
ART CRAFT ARCHITECTURE -- M545
BELIEF -- Sign or prediction through Natural atmospheric phenomenon

Date learned: 09-00-1963

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PHANTOM SHIP

THE FLYING DUTCHMAN WAS A PHANTOM SHIP THAT HAD TO ROVE THE SEAS
FOREVER WITHOUT TOUCHING LAND BECAUSE HER CAPTAIN HAD OFFENDED A
SEA GOD.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DEARBORN HEIGHTS

Subject headings: PROSE NARRATIVE -- Gods
PROSE NARRATIVE -- Product or activity of man or animal
ART CRAFT ARCHITECTURE -- Means of transportation Water craft or boat propelled by human, wind, mechanical or other force

Date learned: 10-29-1068

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MYSTERIOUS LIGHTHOUSE

DURING A FOG, A SHIP SPOTTED A LIGHTHOUSE NEAR THE COAST OF MAINE.
SEVERAL OF THE MEN LEFT THE SHIP IN A SMALL BOAT AND HEADED TO THE
LIGHTHOUSE. WHILE THEY WERE THERE, TWO OF THE MEN DECIDED TO
HAVE A RACE FROM THE TOP OF THE LIGHTHOUSE TO THE BOTTOM. THEIR
BET, WHICH CONSISTED OF A KNIFE, A COMPASS, AND SEVERAL COINS, WAS
TIED IN A HANDKERCHIEF AND DROPPED TO THE FLOOR. ONE OF THE MEN
STARTED DOWN THE STEPS AND THE OTHER JUMPED OUT OF THE WINDOW.
WHEN THE MAN WHO USED THE STEPS REALIZED THIS, HE RAN BACK UP THE
STEPS AND LOOKED OUT OF THE WINDOW. HE COULD NOT SEE THE OTHER
MAN. WHEN HE WENT TO THE BOTTOM OF THE LIGHTHOUSE, THE HANDKER-
CHIEF WAS ALSO GONE.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT

Subject headings: PROSE NARRATIVE -- Product or activity of man or animal
Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Game Pastime
ART CRAFT ARCHITECTURE -- Means of transportation Water craft or boat propelled by human, wind, mechanical or other force

Date learned: 11-20-1968

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INDIAN CHIEF TREASURE

IT IS REPORTED THAT "TWO COPPER KETTLES FULL OF MONEY" WERE BURIED
BY A CHIPPEWA CHIEF IN THE NORTHERN PART OF BENZIE COUNTY NEAR THE
MOUTH OF THE PLATTE RIVER IN MICHIGAN. LATER THE INDIAN CHIEF
DROWNED WHEN HIS CANOE CAPSIZED IN GREEN BAY.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DEARBORN

Subject headings: PROSE NARRATIVE -- Ordinary Tale
CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Measure of quality Medium of exchange
ART CRAFT ARCHITECTURE -- Means of transportation Water craft or boat propelled by human, wind, mechanical or other force

Date learned: NOT GIVEN

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CHICKEN BONE REEF

OLD TIMERS ABOUT THE GREAT LAKES ALL TALKED ABOUT "CHICKEN BONE
REEF," BUT NO ONE HAD EVER SEEN IT, AND NO CHART SHOWED IT; BUT
ANY SAILOR WOULD TELL YOU THAT IT WAS IN THE DETROIT RIVER JUST
OFF WOODWARD AVENUE. IT WAS HERE THAT THE GOVERNMENT REVENUE
CUTTER "FESSENDON" AND THE NAVY GUNBOAT "MICHIGAN" AND OTHERS
USED TO ANCHOR FOR LONG TIMES. ORDINARY MERCHANT SAILORS CLAIMED
THAT "CHICKEN BONE REEF" WAS BUILT UP FROM THE RIVER BOTTOM BY
ALL THE CHICKEN BONES THAT WERE THROWN OVERBOARD FROM THE TABLES
OF THE SHIPS ANCHORED THERE.

Where learned: NOT GIVEN

Subject headings: PROSE NARRATIVE -- Bird
PROSE NARRATIVE -- Explanation of a name
ART CRAFT ARCHITECTURE -- Means of transportation Water craft or boat propelled by human, wind, mechanical or other force
Food Drink -- Food

Date learned: NOT GIVEN

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SEVERAL YEARS AGO, A CABIN CRUISER WAS ANCHORED OUT ON LAKE
ST. CLAIR. A FAMILY (MOTHER, FATHER, AND LITTLE BOY) WERE
OUT ENJOYING AN AFTERNOON ON THE LAKE. SOMEHOW THE LITTLE
BOY FELL OVERBOARD AND HE COULDN'T SWIM. SO HIS MOTHER
JUMPED IN TO SAVE HIM, BUT SHE COULDN'T SWIM EITHER. THERE
WEREN'T ANY LIFE JACKETS ON BOARD. THE FATHER DOVE IN, AND
ALTHOUGH HE COULD SWIM, HE COULDN'T SAVE THEM AND THEY BOTH
DROWNED. THE BOAT WAS LATER FOUND WITH BLOOD AND {FINGER} NAIL
SCRATCHES ALONG THE SIDES. IT WAS SPECULATED THAT THE
FATHER OULDN'T GET BACK IN THE BOAT AFTER TRYING TO SAVE
HIS FAMILY; THERE WERE NO SWIMMING LADDERS, FOOTHOLDS AND
THE GUNWHALE WAS TOO HIGH TO REACH FROM THE WATER LEVEL. THE
STORY WAS PIECED TOGETHER FROM THE EVIDENCE OF THE BOAT AND
ITS CONDITION AND FROM INFORMATION OF FAMILY FRIENDS.

Submitter comment: TOLD AS A TRUE STORY.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Subject headings: PROSE NARRATIVE -- Product or activity of man or animal
ART CRAFT ARCHITECTURE -- Means of transportation Water craft or boat propelled by human, wind, mechanical or other force

Date learned: 00-00-1969

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