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IN FLORIDA THEY GROW ORANGES,
IN CALIFORNIA TOO.
BUT ONLY OUR DEAR MICHIGAN
CAN PRODUCE A PEACH LIKE YOU!

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Keyword(s): ABCB ; LOCATION

James Callow Keyword(s): IN PLACE OF MICHIGAN ANY STATE OR PLACE COULD BE LISTED.

Subject headings: Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Autograph Verse Humorous allusion to love

Date learned: NOT GIVEN

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THE ROYAL OAK KIMBALL HIGH SCHOOL DEBATE TEAM
PLAYS JACKS BEFORE EVERY DEBATE TOURNAMENT TO
INSURE GOOD LUCK.

Submitter comment: THEY WERE SEARCHING FRANTICALLY FOR THE JACKS THEY
HAD LOST WHEN I FOUND OUT ABOUT THE PRACTICE.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; ANN ARBOR

James Callow Keyword(s): ROYAL OAK, MICHIGAN

Subject headings: 881 Games / Pastimes / Sports

Date learned: 03-00-1968

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MNEMONIC DEVICE

H-O-M-E-S

Submitter comment: THE WORD HOMES HELPS TO REMEMBER THE GREAT LAKES
INFORMANT SAID HE LEARNED THE DEVICE FROM SOME OF HIS FRIENDS AT
SCHOOL. HE DIDN'T REMEMBER WHO TOLD IT TO HIM BUT SAID IT WAS USED
BY ALMOST EVERYONE IN HIS CLASS.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; MADISON HEIGHTS

James Callow Keyword(s): FUNCTION ; LAKES: HURON, ONTARIO, MICHIGAN, ERIE, SUPERIOR

Subject headings: ART CRAFT ARCHITECTURE -- MNEM

Date learned: 10-00-1973

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BLUE MIST

IT IS BELIEVED THAT UPON A CERTAIN STREET IN GROSSE ILE, AT A
CERTAIN TIME, THE BLUE MIST DESCENDS UPON ANY CAR THAT TRESPASSES
THERE.

Submitter comment: THERE DOESN'T SEEM TO BE A STORY AS TO THE WHY OF THIS.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; RIVERVIEW

James Callow Keyword(s): GROSSE ILE IS AN ISLAND IN THE DETROIT RIVER ; GROSSE ILE, MICHIGAN

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Cloud Fog Mist Rain Hail Ice Snow Frost Dew
BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal

Date learned: 01-00-1974

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THE WITCH OF METRO BEACH

A WOMAN WHO DIED IN A CAR CRASH AT METROPOLITAN BEACH HAUNTS THOSE
WHO COME THERE TO PARK.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; Sterling Heights

James Callow Keyword(s): DETROIT, MICHIGAN

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Ghost Spirit Phantom Specter
BELIEF -- Marriage Dating Courtship

Date learned: 11-15-1973

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GRAFFITI

LEON TROTSKY IS ALIVE AND LIVING IN HAMTRAMYCK.

Submitter comment: THE INFORMANT DID NOT KNOW WHO LEON TROTSKY WAS.

Where learned: DETROIT ; TOLD IN

James Callow Keyword(s): HAMTRAMCK, MICHIGAN

Subject headings: Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Art Craft Architecture Art, Craft, Architecture

Date learned: 09-20-1972

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POLISH JOKE

WHY WASN'T JESUS CHRIST BORN IN HAMTRAMMACK?
BECAUSE HE COULDN'T FIND THREE WISE MEN OR A VIRGIN.

Submitter comment:

INFORMANT DOES NOT REMEMBER WHERE HE LEARNED THIS

Where learned: UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT

Keyword(s): HAMTRAMCK,MICHIGAN

Subject headings: PROVERB -- Blason Populaire
RIDDLE -- Riddle Question

Date learned: 10-04-1967

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RIDDLE QUESTION

WHAT'S BLACK OUTSIDE AND WHITE INSIDE?
DEARBORN

Submitter comment: HEARD FROM CLASSMATE AT ST. ALPHONOUS
HIGH SCHOOL IN DEARBORN

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Keyword(s): ETHNIC ; EXCLUSION OF BLACKS FROM DEARBORN, MICHIGAN HOUSING ; RACE SEGREGATION ; SATIRE

Subject headings: RIDDLE -- Riddle Question
Filter - Mature Content

Date learned: 09-27-1967

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FOLK ART: FUNCTIONAL SHIFT

MANY OLD RAILROAD DEPOTS HAVE BEEN CONVERTED FOR USE AS
RESTAURANTS, SHOPS AND OFFICES.

Submitter comment: A CLOSE-BY EXAMPLE IS THE FORMER MICHIGAN CENTRAL RAILROAD IN
ANN ARBOR. IT IS NOW THE GANDY DANCER RESTAURANT.

Where learned: UNITED STATES

James Callow Keyword(s): ANN ARBOR, MICHIGAN

Subject headings: ART CRAFT ARCHITECTURE -- Color Design
ART CRAFT ARCHITECTURE -- Public Building

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HOW MICHIGAN CAME TO BE (INDIAN LEGEND)

THE GREAT SPIRIT IN THE SKY WAS MAKING THE WORLD AND ONE DAY
HE GOT TIRED AND PUT HIS HAND DOWN ON THE EARTH AND THAT
IS HOW MICHIGAN WAS FORMED.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT ; CAMPUS

Keyword(s): GEOGRAPHY ; LAND FORMATION ; MICHIGAN ; MYTH ; SPIRIT

Subject headings: PROSE NARRATIVE -- Creation and Order of Universe

Date learned: 04-01-1970

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LEGEND

AN OLD INDIAN LEGEND SAYS THAT SUGAR LOAF MOUNTAIN
ON MACKINAC ISLAND, MICHIGAN WAS MADE WHEN A PRINCESS OF OLD
WAS STRANDED ON TOP OF THE MOUNTAIN. ALL ATTEMPTS TO RESCUE
HER WERE NO USE, SO INSTEAD THE GODS SENT HER COMPANY, A MAN
ON A HILL BENEATH HER ON EITHER SIDE. THAT IS WHY THE MOUNTAIN
HAS ONE HIGH CREST AND TWO SMALLER CRESTS.
I HEARD THIS LEGEND FROM AN OLD GUIDE FOR THE CARRIAGE TOURS ON
MACKINAC ISLAND, MICHIGAN.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; MACKINAC ISLAND

Keyword(s): GODS ; LAND FORMATION ; MICHIGAN ; MOUNTAIN ; MYTH ; PRINCESS

Subject headings: PROSE NARRATIVE -- Creation and Order of Universe

Date learned: 00-00-1970

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HUMAN BEING

THERE IS A CAMP IN FLINT CALLED MOTT CAMP. THERE IS AN OLD
LEGEND THAT A HERMIT LIVES NEAR THE CAMP. EVERYTHING THAT WENT
WRONG IN THE CAMP WOULD BE BLAMED ON THE HERMIT. THE HERMIT
WOULD KIDNAP SMALL CAMPERS.

Where learned: TOLD AT ; SOUTH QUAD

James Callow Keyword(s): FLINT, MICHIGAN

Subject headings: PROSE NARRATIVE -- Outlaw Criminal Bandit Pirate

Date learned: 10-23-1970

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YELLOW MIKE

BACK IN 1940 THERE WAS A TRAIN WHICH WAS PASSING THROUGH HASTINGS,
MICHIGAN DURING THE NIGHT. A LARGE CRATE WHICH WAS ON THIS TRAIN
FELL OUT OF THE DOOR OF ONE OF THE BOX CARS. A MAN WHO WAS KNOWN AS
MIKE WENT TO SEE WHAT WAS IN THE BOX. AS HE LIT A MATCH AND LOOKED
INSIDE THE BOX, HE SAW A CREATURE WHICH LOOKED LIKE A MAN BUT IT WAS
TOTALLY COVERED WITH LONG YELLOW HAIR. BECAUSE OF THIS IT WAS NAMED
YELLOW MIKE. THE NEXT DAY YELLOW MIKE WAS PUT IN THE HASTINGS'
INSANE ASYLUM. TWO DAYS LATER THE ASYLUM CAUGHT FIRE. SOME OF THE
PATIENTS WERE SAVED AND MANY WERE BURNED TO DEATH. NOBODY SAW
YELLOW MIKE COME OUT, SO THEY FIGURED THAT HE HAD BEEN BURNED TO
DEATH. THE NEXT MORNING FARMERS IN THE AREA REPORTED FINDING
THEIR CATTLE AND OTHER LIVESTOCK LITERALLY TORN APART AND THAT
THERE WAS YELLOW HAIR LYING AROUND. ALSO A LADY SAID THAT HER SON
AND HIS GIRLFRIEND HAD NOT YET RETURNED FROM THEIR DATE. THE TWO
WERE LATER FOUND IN AN AREA BY GUN LAKE WHICH IS CALLED DEVILS' SOUP
BOWL.(IT IS A WELL VISITED SPOT BY PARKERS). THEIR BODIES WERE
TORN APART AS IF SOME ANIMAL HAS GOTTEN AHOLD OF THEM. THERE WAS
ONLY YELLOW HAIR LYING AROUND AND UNDER THE BOY'S FINGERNAILS
THERE WAS YELLOW HAIR. IMMEDIATELY TWENTY MEN WERE STATIONED AT
DEVILS' SOUP BOWL. EIGHTEEN MEN WERE STATIONED AT THE LOW GRADED
SIDE AND THE OTHER TWO AT THE STEEP GRADED SIDE BECAUSE THEY
FIGURED IF YELLOW MIKE WAS IN THERE HE WOULD COME OUT ON THE LOW
GRADED SIDE. THEIR ORDERS WERE TO SHOOT TO KILL AND NOT WOUND
HIM. IF HE WERE TO BE WOUNDED HE WOULD BECOME WORSE THAN HE ALREADY
WAS. ONE OF THE EIGHTEEN SAW YELLOW MIKE AND FIRED BUT HE ONLY
WOUNDED HIM. ONE OF THE TWO FROM THE OTHER SIDE RAN OVER TO SEE
WHAT WAS HAPPENING. WHEN HE DIDN'T RETURN THE OTHER GUY WENT OVER
TO SEE WHAT WAS GOING ON. WHEN HE GOT THERE HE FOUND NINETEEN
MUTILATED BODIES. HIS FRIEND WAS JUST BARELY ALIVE AND THE LAST
THING HE SAID WAS THAT IT WAS YELLOW MIKE AND HE'S WOUNDED. ALL
NINETEEN WERE BURIED ON A HILL NEAR BY NOW CALLED GRAVES' HILL
AND THERE IS A BOULDER OVER EACH GRAVE. WELL THEY FIGURED YELLOW
MIKE WOULD DIE AS A WOUNDED SO THEY DIDN'T BOTHER TO TRACK HIM
DOWN. HASTING LATER ON STARTED GETTING REPORTS FROM JACKSON,
MICHIGAN AND EVEN FARTHER SOUTH OF ANIMALS BEING KILLED AND
FINDING YELLOW HAIR BY THEM. IT SEEMS EVEN UP TO THIS DAY THAT
YELLOW MIKE COMES NORTH FOR THE SUMMER AND GOES SOUTH DURING
MICHIGAN'S COLD SEASON. IF YOU DON'T BELIEVE THIS IS TRUE YOU
CAN GO TO HASTING'S CITY LIBRARY AND UNDER THE HISTORY OF THE
CITY OF HASTING YOU WILL FIND THIS TALE.

Where learned: LOCATION NOT RECORDED BY COLLECTOR

Keyword(s): PLACE NAMES, MURDER ; VIOLENT DEATHS

James Callow Keyword(s): DEVIL'S SOUP BOWL, MICHIGAN

Subject headings: Favorites
PROSE NARRATIVE -- Physically handicapped Deformed

Date learned: DATE NOT RECORDED BY COLLECTOR

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POLISH JOKE

Historical record from James Callow Folklore Archive.

WHAT IS THE TOUGHEST JOB IN HAMTRAMCK? RIDING SHOTGUN ON THE
GARBAGE TRUCK.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; SOUTHFIELD

James Callow Keyword(s): HAMTRMCK, MICHIGAN IS A POLISH COMMUNITY

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Poli

Date learned: 02-00-1980

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Michigan, My Michigan

Michigan, my Michigan,
The state I love,
It looks just like a mitten,
But it fits just like a glove!

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Keyword(s): State rhymes

James Callow Keyword(s): Shape of state of Michigan

Subject headings: 730 Lyrical Verse
Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Lyrical Verse C730.326

Date learned: 01-00-1986

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Language

Tongue Twister:

Betty Botta bought some butter. "But," she said, "this butter's bitter. If I put it in my batter, it will make my batter bitter. But a bit o' better butter will but make my batter better." So she bought a bit o' butter, better than the bitter butter, made her bitter batter better. So 'twas better Betty Botta bought a bit o' better butter.

Data entry tech comment:

Motifs added by TRD

James Callow comment:

Something similar (but shorter) already typed as prose.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; Jekabson, Martha ; 16765 Beech Daly ; REDFORD

Keyword(s): ALLITERATION ; Baking ; Batter ; Butter ; COOKING ; Dearborn Heights ; GAME ; Language ; MICHIGAN ; Prose ; PUZZLE ; Redford ; TONGUE TWISTER ; VERSE

James Callow Keyword(s): Prose ; TONGUE TWISTER ; VERSE

Subject headings: Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Speech Speech

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Custom/Belief

School Belief:

In the middle of the "diag," the diagonal sidewalk bisecting the campus at the University of Michigan, there is embedded in the walk a large brass 'M.' If a freshman walks on this 'M,' it is assured that he will fail his next test.

Data entry tech comment:

Motifs added by TRD

James Callow comment:

Reference

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; Myself ; ANN ARBOR

Keyword(s): BELIEF ; COLLEGE ; CUSTOM ; MICHIGAN ; Student ; SUPERSTITION ; TEST ; University ; University of Michigan

James Callow Keyword(s): Reference

Subject headings: BELIEF -- School

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Language

FLAT ROCK IS CALLED BY DOWNRIVER PEOPLE WHO DON'T LIVE IN FLAT ROCK
LEVEL PEBBLE.

Submitter comment:

JUST RECENTLY.

A TOWN SOME 25 MILES SOUTH OO DETROIT, MICHIGAN.; FLAT ROCK, MICHIGAN; THIS ITEM REFERS TO FLAT ROCK, MICHIGAN,

Data entry tech comment:

Motifs added by TRD 02-22-2011

James Callow comment:

INCOMPLETE COMMENT?
CN[ PARTIPILO, FRANK 720870
C1[ 14909 STONEHAM
C2[ RIVERVIEW, MICHIGAN 48192
CO[ JUST RECENTLY.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; RIVERVIEW

Keyword(s): Flat ; Language ; Level ; MICHIGAN ; Nickname ; Pebble ; Region ; REGIONAL ; Rock ; SLANG ; STATE

Subject headings: SPEECH -- Place

Date learned: 01-00-1974

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Language

Vocabulary of Prejudiced Group:

During the first moon walk, prejudiced people in Flint would chant "Coon to the Moon."

Data entry tech comment:

Motifs Added by TRD

James Callow comment:

Were they black or white or both?
All were white

sense of "coon to the moon?"

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT ; SOUTH QUAD ; Watkins, Dallas

Keyword(s): CHANT ; Coon ; FLINT ; Language ; MICHIGAN ; MOON ; Moonwalk ; PREJUDICE ; RACISM ; SLANG ; Space

Subject headings: SPEECH -- Formula
Filter - Mature Content

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FORMING MICHIGAN

ONE DAY THE INDIAN GOD WAS DRAWING THE VARIOUS LANDS ON THE GLOBE.
AND AS HE WAS TRACING ALONG, HE HAD TO LEAN ON THE LAND WITH HIS
OTHER HAND FOR SUPPORT. WELL, WHEN HE GOT DONE DRAWING AND HE
STOOD BACK TO LOOK AT HIS WORK, HE FOUND THAT HE HAD MADE A BIG
HAND PRINT RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF THE LAND. WELL, THAT HAND PRINT
IS NOW THE STATE OF MICHIGAN.

Submitter comment:

THIS LEGEND WAS TOLD TO MY SISTER ONE DAY IN SCHOOL.

Data entry tech comment:

Updated by TRD

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; Lansing ; 2819 TULANE DR

Keyword(s): CREATION ; ETYMOLOGY ; GEOGRAPHY ; INDIAN ; Legend ; Lore ; MICHIGAN ; Native American ; Origin

Subject headings: PROSE NARRATIVE -- Creation and Order of Universe
PROSE NARRATIVE -- Formation
BELIEF -- Creator

Date learned: 11-01-1968

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