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NARRATIVE

IN 1917 IN POLAND HER MOTHER LIVED ON A FARM. ONE NIGHT THEY
HEARD THE CATTLE IN THE BARN SCREECHING. IT WAS AN UNUSUAL CRY,
SO THEY RAN OUT TO SEE WHAT THE MATTER WAS. ALL THE CATTLE WERE
DEAD AND THE STRANGE THING ABOUT IT WAS THAT THE HIDE ON ALL THE
CATTLE WAS MATTED UNDER THEIR NECKS. AFTER THAT THEY HUNG HUGE
SICKLES ABOVE THE BARN DOORS TO WARD OFF THE EVIL SPIRITS AND
THEY NEVER HAD TROUBLE AGAIN.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT ; 34 ; 910 VAN DYKE

Subject headings: PROSE NARRATIVE -- Mammal
PROSE NARRATIVE -- Animal Husbandry Farming Ranching
BELIEF -- Death Funeral Burial

Date learned: NOT GIVEN

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SLEEPY HOLLOW STORY

ONE NIGHT A YOUNG COUPLE WENT TO SLEEPY HOLLOW TO MAKE OUT. WHEN
THEY WERE READY TO LEAVE, THE CAR WOULDN'T START. THE BOY WENT TO
GET HELP AND THE GIRL LOCKED ALL THE DOORS, CURLED UP, AND FELL
FAST ASLEEP. SOMETIME IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT SHE WOKE UP TO
A SCRATCHING SOUND ON THE ROOF, LIKE A TREE BRANCH BRUSHING ACROSS
THE ROOF IN THE WIND. THE NEXT MORNING THE COPS CAME AND WOKE HER
UP. WHEN SHE GOT OUT OF THE CAR, SHE SAW HER BOYFRIEND HANGING
ABOVE THE CAR, SHOES GONE AND HIS TOENAILS SCRAPING THE ROOF.
VARIATION: THE SOUND WAS A THUMPING AND THE BOY'S HEELS WERE
BUMPING ON THE ROOF.

Where learned: KENTUCKY ; UNIVERSITY OF KENTUCKY

Subject headings: PROSE NARRATIVE -- Explanation of a name
PROSE NARRATIVE -- Ordinary Tale
ART CRAFT ARCHITECTURE -- Means of transportation Vehicle propelled by mechanical or other force on land
BELIEF -- Marriage
BELIEF -- Death Funeral Burial

Date learned: 10-00-1968

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KNOCK KNOCK STREET

LOCATED ON ROBERT JOHN STREET IN GROSSE POINTE. WHEN A CAR IS
DRIVEN OVER IT, A KNOCKING SOUND IS MADE. THE STORY BEHIND IT
IS THAT A BOY WAS TAKING HIS GIRLFRIEND ON ROBERT JOHN AND WHEN
HE DROPPED HER OFF, HER COAT GOT CAUGHT IN THE DOOR AND HE DROVE
OFF WITH HER HANGING FROM THE DOOR. SHE KNOCKED ON HIS DOOR TO
TELL HIM SHE WAS THERE, BUT WHEN HE FINALLY STOPPED, SHE WAS
DEAD.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; GROSSE POINTE WOODS

Subject headings: PROSE NARRATIVE -- Product or activity of man or animal
ART CRAFT ARCHITECTURE -- Means of transportation Vehicle propelled by mechanical or other force on land
BELIEF -- Marriage
BELIEF -- Death Funeral Burial

Date learned: NOT GIVEN

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CAR FOR SALE

IT WAS A CADILLAC IN THE UPPER PENINSULA SIX OR SEVEN YEARS AGO.
SOMEONE HAD GONE HUNTING AND GOT LOST IN THE WOODS LOOKING FOR
FRIENDS. HE WAS 50-ISH. IT WAS A NEW CAR--A '53 OR '54 CADILLAC.
HE WANDERED AND GOT COLD AND FELL ASLEEP AND WAS ASFIXIATED AND
WAS IN THE CAR FOR ABOUT 8 MONTHS TO A YEAR. IT WAS A BRAND NEW
CAR AT THE TIME. IT HAPPENED DURING DEER SEASON--ABOUT NOVEMBER--
AND THE CAR WAS FOUND IN APRIL OR MAY.
THEY TOOK OUT THE UPHOLSTERY AND TOOK A TORCH TO THE METAL TO KILL
THE SMELL. THE CAR WAS OFFERED FOR $500. SOMEONE ASKED ME IF I
WOULD BUY IT BUT I NEVER HEARD ANY MORE FROM HIM. THEY COULDN'T
ERADICATE THE SMELL FROM THE METAL.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; ROCHESTER ; 1882 FAIR OAK DR

Subject headings: ART CRAFT ARCHITECTURE -- Means of transportation Vehicle propelled by mechanical or other force on land
BELIEF -- Death Funeral Burial

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CAR FOR SALE

A THUNDERBIRD WAS ON SALE FOR $500--IT WAS AFTER THE FOUR-PASSEN-
GERS CAME OUT, SO AFTER 1958. A WOMAN HAD GONE TO CALIFORNIA AND
HER HUSBAND CAME HOME AFTER DRIVING HER TO THE AIRPORT. HE
ENTERED THE GARAGE WHICH OPENED WITH REMOTE CONTROL. HE DIED OF
A HEART ATTACK AND WAS LEFT IN THERE FOR EITHER THREE DAYS OR
WEEKS--I CAN'T REMEMBER. WHEN HIS WIFE CAME BACK SHE WAS IN THE
HOSPITAL BEING TREATED FOR SHOCK, I GUESS. ONE OF HER NURSES (WHO
IS THE DAUGHTER OF ONE OF MY DAD'S EMPLOYEES) WAS TOLD ABOUT THE
CAR. YOU REALLY COULDN'T SMELL IT UNLESS YOU WERE TOLD ABOUT IT;
BUT THEY STILL HAD TROUBLE SELLING IT. THE NURSE COULDN'T BUY IT
BECAUSE SHE WAS BLIND AND HAS SUGAR DIABETES. THIS HAPPENED TWO
OR THREE YEARS AGO.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT ; 18922 ANCHESTER

Subject headings: ART CRAFT ARCHITECTURE -- Means of transportation Vehicle propelled by mechanical or other force on land
BELIEF -- Death Funeral Burial

Date learned: 05-10-1965

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CAR FOR SALE

A PERSON BOUGHT THAT CAR AND EVERY TIME HE CLOSED THE WINDOWS THE
STENCH INSIDE THE CAR WOULD BE SO STRONG YOU COULDN'T GET IN THE
CAR--LIKE ON A WARM DAY. THIS STILL HAPPENED YEARS AFTERWARDS.

Submitter comment: I, THE COLLECTOR, TOLD THEM ABOUT THE CAR WHICH THE OWNER COULD NOT
SELL BECAUSE A PERSON WHO HAD DIED IN IT WAS LEFT IN IT FOR SOME
TIME AND THE ODOR REMAINED. IT PROMPTED THE FOLLOWING:
HEARD THIS IN DETROIT, MICHIGAN

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT ; 19792 STOUT

Subject headings: ART CRAFT ARCHITECTURE -- Means of transportation Vehicle propelled by mechanical or other force on land
BELIEF -- Death Funeral Burial

Date learned: 05-11-1965

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LEGEND

IN ST. MARY'S COUNTY, MARYLAND, ON A WINDING ROAD DURING WORLD WAR
II, THERE WAS AN ACCIDENT IN WHICH A CAR, GOING OVER A BRIDGE,
CRASHED. IN THIS ACCIDENT, A BABY WAS KILLED INSTANTLY AND THE
MOTHER DIED LATER IN THE HOSPITAL. IT IS BELIEVED THAT IF YOU
DRIVE OVER THIS BRIDGE AT NIGHT, YOU CAN HEAR THE BABY CRYING.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT

Subject headings: PROSE NARRATIVE -- Ghost Spirit Phantom Specter
ART CRAFT ARCHITECTURE -- Bridge
BELIEF -- Death Funeral Burial

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ORDINARY TALE

ONE EVENING TWO BOYS AND A GIRL WENT OUT TO A CEMETERY IN
ROCHESTER, MICHIGAN. THEY WENT TO INSPECT THE TOMBS. BUILT IN
THE SIDE OF A HILL WAS THE TOMB OF MARY DUNN; THE BOYS CONSPIRED
TO LOCK UP THE GIRL IN THIS TOMB OVERNIGHT. WHEN THEY CAME BACK
IN THE MORNING, THEY FOUND HER DEAD WITH A FRIGHTENED EXPRESSION
ON HER FACE. SINCE THEN IRON BARS HAVE BEEN PLACED ACROSS THE
ENTRANCE AND THE TOMB OF MARY DUNN HAS BECOME A HISTORICAL MARKER
OF LOVER'S LANE IN ROCHESTER.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

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

Date learned: 00-00-1967

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BURIED ALIVE

THIS HAPPENED IN A CONCENTRATION CAMP NOT TOO LONG AGO. ALL THE
PRISONERS WHO WERE KILLED OR DIED WERE BURIED IN TWOS. A MAN
WAS GOING TO BE KILLED SO HE PRETENDED THAT HE WAS DEAD. HE HAD
MADE A DEAL WITH THE DOCTOR TO DIG HIM UP AFTER 15 MINUTES WHEN
EVERYONE HAD LEFT. THE DOCTOR GAVE HIM SOME MATCHES TO LIGHT SO
THAT HE WOULDN'T BE AFRAID OF THE DARK. AFTER THE MAN WAS BURIED,
HE WAITED 5, THEN 10, THEN 15 MINUTES AND THE DOCTOR STILL HADN'T
COME TO DIG HIM UP. HE LIT HIS LAST MATCH AND TURNED TO THE BODY
NEXT TO HIM ONLY TO FIND THAT THE BODY NEXT TO HIM WAS THE DOCTOR.

Submitter comment: THE INFORMANT HEARD THIS AT A PAJAMA PARTY FROM ONE OF HER FRIENDS

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; BERKELEY

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

Date learned: 08-00-1964

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BALL OF FIRE

A MAN WAS FOUND DEAD IN HIS BEDROOM WITH HIS THROAT CUT AND HIS
WRISTS CUT. NO ONE WOULD EVER SLEEP IN THE ROOM WHERE THE MAN
DIED BECAUSE A BALL OF FIRE APPEARED UNDER THE BED. IT WOULD
COME OUT FROM UNDER THE BED AND HIT THE FOUR CORNERS OF THE ROOM
AND THEN RETURN TO ITS RESTING PLACE.
THEY THOUGHT THAT THE MAN HAD BEEN MURDERED, BUT THEY WERE NEVER
ABLE TO FIND THE MURDERER.

Submitter comment: THE INFORMANT HEARD THIS STORY FROM HER MOTHER WHEN SHE WAS A
CHILD.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; SOUTHFIELD

Subject headings: PROSE NARRATIVE -- Outlaw Criminal Bandit Pirate
PROSE NARRATIVE -- Air Weather Fire
PROSE NARRATIVE -- Product or activity of man or animal
BELIEF -- Death Funeral Burial

Date learned: 08-11-1964

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NOT GIVEN

IN BINGHAMTON, NEW YORK, THERE WAS A PONTIAC, BUICK AND CADILLAC
DEALERSHIP, GUY F. JOHNSON. THIS AUTO COMPANY IN THE 1930'S GOT
HOLD OF A CAR SUPPOSEDLY OWNED BY A GANGSTER WHO WAS MURDERED
IN THIS CAR. THE CAR CHANGED HANDS MANY TIMES UNTIL A YOUNG
COUPLE, NEEDING A CAR, BOUGHT IT. THE PREVIOUS OWNERS NEVER
EXPLAINED WHY THEY HAD RETURNED THE AUTO. APPARENTLY, WHEN A
SINGLE PERSON WOULD DRIVE THE CAR, THERE WAS A DISTINCT ODOR OF
CIGAR SMOKE. A PAIR OF EYES WOULD APPEAR IN THE MIRROR. THE
COUPLE RETURNED THE CAR AND EXPLAINED WHAT HAPPENED. NO ONE
KNOWS WHAT HAPPENED TO THE CAR.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

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

Date learned: 03-17-1972

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THE LEGEND OF STRASBURG STREET OR "KNOCK-KNOCK" STREET

SOMEONE ONCE TOLD ME A STORY ABOUT AN INCIDENT WHICH SUPPOSEDLY
OCCURRED ON STRASBURG STREET IN DETROIT. THERE WAS A TERRIBLE
ACCIDENT ON THIS STREET ONE NIGHT IN WHICH A LITTLE THREE-YEAR-
OLD GIRL WAS KILLED AND HER BODY BADLY DISMEMBERED. THE POLICE
SEARCHED THE AREA FOR HER REMAINS BUT FAILED TO LOCATE ONE OF
HER ARMS. NOW THE STORY HAS IT THAT WHEN YOU DRIVE DOWN STRASBURG
STREET AT NIGHT, IF YOU ARE VERY QUIET, YOU CAN HEAR A KNOCKING ON
THE SIDE OF YOUR CAR. FOR THIS REASON STRASBURG STREET IS KNOWN
AS KNOCK-KNOCK STREET.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT ; WALSH COLLEGE

Subject headings: ART CRAFT ARCHITECTURE -- Means of transportation Vehicle propelled by mechanical or other force on land
BELIEF -- Body part Senses Hands, palms, fingernails
BELIEF -- Death Funeral Burial

Date learned: 03-31-1970

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KNOCK-KNOCK STREET

ON A DARK, FOGGY NIGHT SOME YEARS AGO ON A STREET NEAR MY HOME
(I CAN'T REMEMBER THE NAME ANYMORE), A BOY WAS RUN OVER BY A CAR
AND KILLED. THE HIT AND RUN DRIVER WAS NEVER FOUND. FROM THAT
TIME ON, ANYTIME MY FRIENDS AND I WERE RIDING DOWN THE STREET,
STRANGE NOISES CAME FROM BENEATH THE CAR. WE BELIEVED THAT THIS
BOY WHO WAS KILLED WAS BOTHERING PEOPLE BECAUSE THE KILLER WAS
NEVER FOUND. THE NOISE WAS NOT THE FAULT OF A DEFECTIVE CAR,
SINCE THIS NOISE WOULD ONLY OCCUR ON THIS PARTICULAR STREET.
THE NICKNAME FOR THIS STREET WAS KNOCK-KNOCK STREET.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT ; 249 EASTLAWN

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

Date learned: 03-31-1970

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RAIN AT A WEDDING BRINGS BAD LUCK, RAIN AT A
FUNERAL BRINGS GOOD LUCK.
HAPPY IS THE BRIDE THAT THE SUN SHINES ON;
HAPPY IS THE CORPSE THAT THE RAIN POURS ON.

Submitter comment: INFORMANT LEARNED THIS WHEN SHE WAS A CHILD. SHE
WAS BORN AND RAISED IN IRELAND.

Where learned: DETROIT ; RECTORY ; IRELAND ; MICHIGAN, ASSUMED ; HOLY NAME

Subject headings: Observation
BELIEF -- Marriage Superstition about good weather
BELIEF -- Death Funeral Burial
BELIEF -- Good luck Activities

Date learned: 02-19-1967

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IF A WEDDING AND FUNERAL PASS EACH OTHER, THIS
WILL MEAN GOOD LUCK IN THE FUTURE.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; WARREN

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Marriage
BELIEF -- Death Funeral Burial
BELIEF -- Good luck Activities

Date learned: 09-00-1969

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RELICS OF DEAD PEOPLE WHO ENJOYED HEALTH IN LIFE,
BRING THEIR WEARER GOOD LUCK.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Death Funeral Burial
BELIEF -- Good luck Amulet, mojo

Date learned: 03-09-1968

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IF YOU SMELL ROSES WHEN THERE ARE NO ROSES NEAR,
YOU WILL SOON HEAR OF SOMEONE CLOSE TO YOU DYING.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Subject headings: Observation
BELIEF -- Plant
BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal
BELIEF -- Death Funeral Burial
BELIEF -- Use of Object Plant

Date learned: 01-00-1968

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WHEN THE BANSHEE CRY, IT'S A SIGN THAT THERE WILL BE
A DEATH IN FAMILY OR NEIGHBORHOOD.

Where learned: IRELAND ; BELFAST

Subject headings: Observation
BELIEF -- Fairy Elf Goblin Gnome
BELIEF -- Death Funeral Burial

Date learned: NOT GIVEN

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IF A BANSHEE SQUEALS, THERE'S BEEN A DEATH IN THE FAMILY.

Submitter comment: SYLVIA HEARD THIS ON THE "TONIGHT SHOW" ONE EVENING
WHEN MAUREEN O'SULLIVAN WAS ON. (AN ACTRESS).

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT

Subject headings: Observation
BELIEF -- Fairy Elf Goblin Gnome
BELIEF -- Death Funeral Burial

Date learned: 09-23-1967

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IF DURING THE NIGHT YOU HEAR THE SOUND OF A BANSHEE'S
WAIL, YOU KNOW THAT BY MORNING A MAN WILL BE DEAD.

Submitter comment: THIS WAS TOLD TO ME BY MY IRISH ROOMMATE LAST YEAR
WHILE I WAS STUDYING AT UNIVERSITY COLLEGE, DUBLIN.
(IRELAND). SHE BELIEVED IN THIS.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; HARPER WOODS

Subject headings: Observation
BELIEF -- Fairy Elf Goblin Gnome
BELIEF -- Death Funeral Burial

Date learned: NOT GIVEN

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