The James T. Callow Folklore Archive

GHOST STORY

"A LITTLE BOY GOT KILLED BY A TRAIN WHEN HE WAS PLAYING
ON SOME RAILROAD TRACKS. HE HAD BEEN TOLD NOT TO PLAY
ON THE TRACKS. THE TRAIN HIT HIM REAL HARD AND PULLED HIM
FOR A REAL LONG WAY. THE TRAIN CUT HIS BODY UP INTO
HUNDREDS OF PIECES. HIS MOM AND DAD WENT UP AND DOWN THE
TRACKS PICKING UP HIS BODY PARTS. IF YOU LISTEN AT NIGHT
AT THE TIME THE BOY WAS KILLED, YOU CAN HEAR HIM CALLING
TO HIS MOM AND DAD. HE SAYS,'MOMMY, HERE'S A PIECE OF ME.
AND HERE'S ANOTHER PIECE OF ME.'"

Where learned: PENNSYLVANIA ; SHAMOKIN

Keyword(s): DISOBEYED PARENTS

James Callow Keyword(s): DISMEMBERMENT BY MISFORTUNATE ACCIDENT

Date learned: 00001934CA

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GHOST STORY

"MY DAD HAD BEEN DEAD FOR 15 YEARS AND THEN CAME AND
VISITED ME. WHEN I WAS A LITLE GIRL HE USED TO WAKE ME UP
BY PULLING MY TOES. SO, WHEN HE VISITED ME FROM THE GRAVE,
HE PULLED MY TOE TO WAKE ME UP. HE SAID THAT HE CAME TO
MAKE SURE THAT I WAS HAPPY AND THAT IF I WASN'T, I COULD
GO BACK WITH HIM."

Submitter comment: INFORMANT SAYS THAT THIS IS TRUE.

Where learned: PENNSYLVANIA ; SHAMOKIN

Date learned: 00001965CA

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SUPERNATURAL STORY

"WHERE MY GREAT-GRANDMOTHER GREW UP IS A COUNTY IN IRELAND.
HER FAMILY WAS HERSELF AND A COUPLE OF YOUNGER BROTHERS. HER
FATHER HAD DIED AND IT WAS JUST HER MOTHER, HER BROTHERS
AND HERSELF THAT RAN A BIG FARM. ONE TIME WHEN MY GREAT-GRAND-
MOTHER WAS STILL YOUNG, HER MOTHER GOT REAL SICK. SHE REALIZED
THAT SHE WOULDN'T BE IN TOO GOOD SHAPE UNLESS SHE GOT TO A DOCTOR
RIGHT AWAY. IT WAS JUST STARTING TO TURN EVENING AND THEY
LIVED ON THE CORNER OF A BOG IN IRELAND. SO SHE HAD MY GREAT-
GRANDMOTHER GO AND GET THE DOCTOR BUT IT WAS QUITE A WAYS AWAY
FROM TOWN. BECAUSE OF THE BOG THERE WAS A LONG GROVE THAT
WENT AROUND THE BOG AND INTO THE TOWN. THE SHORTCUT TO THE
TOWN WAS TO GO THROUGH THE BOG. IT WAS GETTING DARK AND MY
GREAT-GRANDMA KNEW SHE HAD TO GET TO THE DOCTOR QUICKLY, SO
SHE DECIDED TO CUT ACROSS THE BOG. WHEN IT TURNS NIGHT TIME
A MIST STARTS TO COME UP FROM THE BOG AND YOU CAN'T SEE
WHERE YOU'RE GOING AND IT'S VERY EASY TO GET LOST. SO SHE
WAS RUNNING AROUND IN CIRCLES FOR HOURS SHE THOUGHT AND WASN'T
GETTING ANYWHERE. SHE SAT DOWN WONDERING WHAT TO DO WHEN ALL
OF A SUDDEN SHE LOOKED OVER AND SHE SAID SHE COULD SEE THE MIST
SORT OF START MOVING AROUND AND FORMED WHAT SHE SAID WAS A SMALL
MAN. THE MAN REALLY DIDN'T SAY ANYTHING TO HER BUT JUST
MOTIONED FOR HER TO FOLLOW HIM, WHICH SHE DID. SHE NEVER
REALLY QUITE SAW HIM, BUT SHE COULD SEE THE MIST MOVE AS HE
WALKED. IT LED HER OUT OF THE BOG AND TO THE DOCTOR'S.
SOMEHOW BY THE TIME SHE GOT TO THE DOCTOR'S ALMOST NO TIME
HAD PASSED. SHE GOT TO THE DOCTOR'S AND HE WENT TO THE HOUSE
AND TOOK CARE OF MY GREAT-GREAT-GRANDMOTHER."

Submitter comment: INFORMANT'S GREAT-GRANDMOTHER SINCERELY BELIEVES THIS. SHE
SWORE THAT THIS HAPPENED TO HER TO THE DAY SHE DIED.

Where learned: NEW JERSEY ; CARTERET

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GHOST STORY

"WHEN MY GREAT-GRANDFATHER CAME TO THE UNITED STATES FROM
IRELAND, HE WAS WORKING AS A TAXI CAB DRIVER. ON HIS ROUTE
HE USED TO PASS A GRAVEYARD. ON HIS WAY PAST IT ONE TIME
HE NOTICED A WOMAN STANDING ON THE ROAD NEAR THERE. HE PICKED
HER UP AND TOOK HER HOME. HE PICKED UP THIS SAME LADY EVERY-
DAY AT THE SAME TIME. MY GREAT-GRANDFATHER GOT TO KNOW THIS
PERSON VERY WELL. ONE DAY THIS LADY DIDN'T SHOW UP, SO MY
GREAT-GRANDFATHER WENT TO HER HOUSE TO CHECK UP ON HER.
AN OLD LADY ANSWERED THE DOOR AND MY GREAT-GRANDFATHER ASKED
HER ABOUT THIS LADY. THE OLD LADY HAD A GHASTLY LOOK ON HER
FACE AND SAID THAT IT WAS HER DAUGHTER WHO HAD DIED SOME TIME
AGO AND THE GRAVEYARD THAT HE PASSED EVERYDAY WAS THE GRAVEYARD
THAT HER DAUGHTER WAS BURIED IN."

Where learned: NEW JERSEY ; CARTERET

James Callow Keyword(s): VANISHING HITCHHIKER

Date learned: 00001973CA

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GHOST STORY

"I COME FROM A VERY OLD TOWN IN NEW JERSEY THAT WAS
SETTLED BEFORE THE REVOLUTIONARY WAR. IT WAS ISOLATED
AND THE PEOPLE THERE WERE VERY STRICT. THERE WAS
A CURFEW AND OTHER VERY STRICT LAWS. THERE WAS ALSO A
TRUANT OFFICER THAT EVERYONE CALLED 'OLD NED.' OLD
NED WOULD RIDE AROUND THE STREETS AT NIGHT AT A CERTAIN
TIME OF CURFEW AND COLLECT ALL OF THE LITTLE CHILDREN
THAT WERE STILL OUT PLAYING AND HE WOULD SCOLD THEM
OR TAKE THEM HOME OR TAKE THEM TO JAIL. THE CHILDREN
WOULD GET INTO TROUBLE BY THEIR PARENTS. HE WAS A
ROTTEN, MEAN OLD MAN. AND IT IS SAID THAT AT CERTAIN
TIMES OF THE NIGHT YOU CAN STILL HEAR OLD NED RIDING
AROUND THE STREETS YELLING AT THE KIDS." CN[ CHRISTIAN, SHIRLEY 832917
C1[ 1780 CASGRAIN

Where learned: NEW JERSEY ; CARTERET

Date learned: 00001973CA

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ONE NIGHT MY UNCLE SAID HE WENT TO A PARTY AND HE JUST SAT AROUND
WATCHING EVERYONE HAVE A GOOD TIME. EVERYONE WAS HAVING A GOOD
TIME DANCING. MY UNCLE WAS VERY SHY AND HE COULDN'T DANCE VERY
WELL. ALL OF A SUDDEN, HE LOOKS ACROSS THE ROOM AND SEES THIS
GIRL AND THE GIRL CAUGHT HIS EYE AND SHE BEGIN TO STARE AT HIM.
HE KEPT STARING AT HER. SOMETHING DREW HIM TO HER AND SHE GOT HIM
HIM TO DANCE. NO ONE EVER GOT HIM TO DANCE. HE HAD A GOOD TIME
DANCING WITH HER. SHE WAS PRETTY. HE TOLD HER HE WOULD LIKE TO
TAKE HER HOME AFTER THE DANCE. SHE SAID OKAY. SO AFTER THE DANCE
HE TOOK HER HOME. WHEN THEY GOT IN FRONT OF HER HOUSE, SHE TOLD
MY UNCLE TO CALL HER AS SOON AS HE GOT HOME. HE SAID OKAY AND
SHE GAVE HIM HER PHONE NUMBER. THEN SHE KISSED HIM GOOD NIGHT.
HE RUSHED HOME AND CALLED HER. HER MOTHER ANSWERED THE PHONE. HE
SAID, "HELLO! IS ALICIA HOME?" AND THE LADY SAID, "WHO? I DON'T KNOW
WHAT KIND OF GAME YOU'RE PLAYING AND HUNG UP THE PHONE. THINKING
HE HAD THE WRONG NUMBER, HE CALLED BACK. THE LADY ANSWERED THE
PHONE AGAIN AND SAID: "I DON'T KNOW WHAT KIND OF GAME YOU'RE
PLAYING, BUT I'M GOING TO CALL THE OPERATOR AND HAVE HER CALL
THE POLICE AND HAVE YOU ARRESTED IF YOU KEEP CALLING HERE." HE
SAID: "ISN'T THIS ALICIA'S HOUSE?" THE LADY HUNG UP THE PHONE
AGAIN. SO HE DECIDED TO GO OVER HER HOUSE TO FIND OUT WHAT WAS
GOING ON. HE KNOCKED ON THE DOOR AND THE LADY ANSWERED THE DOOR.
HE SAID, "IS ALICIA HERE?" SHE SAID: "ARE YOU THE GUY WHO KEPT
CALLING HERE ALL DAY?" HE SAID, "YEAH. I'M TRYING TO SEE IF
ALICIA IS HERE. I DROPPED HER OFF FROM THE PARTY A LITTLE WHILE
AGO." THE LADY SAID: "I DON'T KNOW WHAT KIND OF GAME YOU'RE
PLAYING," AND HE CUT HER OFF SAYING: "WAIT A MINUTE, NOW, THAT'S
HER PICTURE ON THE MANTLE PIECE." AND SHE SAID: "I'M SORRY!
ALICIA HAS BEEN DEAD FOR FIVE YEARS."

Submitter comment: HE SAID THIS ACTUALLY HAPPENED TO HIS UNCLE.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

James Callow Keyword(s): BELIEF ; VANISHING HITCHHIKER

Date learned: 00-00-1956

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FOR THE PAST TWO OR THREE YEARS I WAKE UP ABOUT THREE OR FOUR
IN THE MORNING AND I COULD SEE A SMALL WHITE BOY, ABOUT EIGHT OR
NINE YEARS OLD, WEARING A PLAID SHIRT AND BLUE-JEANS, STANDING
IN THE DOORWAY OF MY ROOM. I'M THINKING, IT'S A DREAM, BUT IT
HAPPENS SO MANY TIMES. THERE ARE TIMES WHEN THINGS IN MY ROOM ARE
MOVE AND I KNOW THEY SHOULDN'T HAVE BEEN MOVED. I HAVE A WEIGHT
BENCH AT THE BOTTOM OF MY BASEMENT STAIRS AND ONE DAY MY SON,
QUINTON, WAS IN THE BASEMENT AND HE CAME UPSTAIRS AND ASKED ME
WHO WAS THAT LITTLE BOY SITTING ON THE WEIGHT-BENCH. I ASKED MY
SON WHAT DID THE LITTLE BOY HAVE ON. MY SON SAID A PLAID SHIRT
AND BLUE-JEANS. WE WENT BACK DOWN STAIRS, BUT THE LITTLE BOY WAS
GONE. ONE DAY MY FRIEND AND HIS SON WAS OVER MY HOUSE TAPING SOME
VIDEOS. MY FRIEND'S SON WAS FIVE YEARS OLD. THEY HAD TO STOP
TAPING TO USE THE BATHROOM. SO MY FRIEND'S SON WAS WANDERING
AROUND UPSTAIRS IN MY BEDROOM AND HE SAW THE LITTLE BOY. SO HE
ASKED HIS FATHER, "DADDY, WHO IS THAT BOY IN DELFORD'S ROOM?"
HIS FATHER WENT TO THE ROOM, BUT THE LITTLE BOY WAS GONE.
WE HAVE A WEIGHT GYM IN OUR BASEMENT AND AT TIMES ME AND MY
MOTHER COULD BE WATCHING TELEVISION AND WE WOULD HEAR THINGS
(WEIGHTS) BEING MOVED AROUND. YOU CAN HEAR SOMEONE DOWN STAIRS
AS THOUGH THEY WERE LIFTING WEIGHTS. I TALKED TO THIS GUY WHO
KNOW A LITTLE BIT ABOUT GHOST AND HE THINKS THE LITTLE BOY COULD
HAVE BEEN HURT IN THE HOUSE OR HE IS TRYING TO TELL ME WHO HURT
HIM OR MAYBE HE WAS BURIED IN THE HOUSE. I KNOW A LITTLE
HISTORY ON OUR HOUSE. THE THREE FAMILIES WHO LIVED HERE, EACH
OF THE HUSBANDS DIED--MY MOTHER'S HUSBAND, THE LADY BEFORE
THAT AND THE LADY BEFORE THAT.
A MONTH AGO, MY MOTHER HAD TAPED A MOVIE CALLED "CHIEFS" ON
THE VIDEO TAPE RECORDER. THEN SHE PUT ALL THE TAPES UP IN THEIR
PROPER PACKAGING. THE NEXT DAY SOMEBODY HAD TAPED "BENSON" OVER
THE MOVIE "CHIEFS." BESIDES THAT, ALL THE TAPES HAD BEEN
UNPACKAGED. JUST THE OTHER DAY, MY MOTHER GOT UP ABOUT 5:30 A.M.
AND SHE TOOK A SHOWER. I DON'T GET UP THAT EARLY FOR WORK.
AFTER SHE SHOWERED SHE WOKE ME UP AND ASKED WHY WAS I KNOCKING
ON THE DOOR WHEN SHE WAS IN THE SHOWER. I TOLD HER I WAS STILL
SLEEP (SIC) AND I NEVER KNOCKED ON THE DOOR.

Submitter comment: HE CLAIMS THIS IS A TRUE STORY.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

James Callow Keyword(s): VANISHING HITCHHIKER

Date learned: 00-00-1956

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MY MOTHER PASSED AWAY AND THEN MY BROTHER TAKEN SICK. THEN
MY MOTHER CAME TO MY BEDSIDE AND STOOD IN THE DOOR ONE MORNING.
I WAS LAYING THERE, I WASN'T SLEEP, AND SHE CALLED MY NAME THREE
TIMES...MARTHA...MARTHA...MARTHA. SHE SAID GO AND SEE ABOUT
BUDDY. BUDDY WAS MY BROTHER, BUT HIS NAME WAS CHARLIE. SHE SAID
HE'S SICK AND I WENT OVER TO SEE ABOUT HIM AND HE WAS SICK.
HE WAS LYING THERE SO SICK, I ASKED HIM, BUDDY, WHY DIDN'T YOU
LET ME KNOW YOU WERE SICK. HE SAID, WELL I DIDN'T WANT TO BOTHER
YOU. I SAID THAT'S NOT BOTHERING ME, I'M SUPPOSE TO HELP YOU
WHEN YOU GET SICK AND WHEN I GET SICK YOU SUPPOSE TO TAKE CARE OF
ME. IT HURTED ME SO BAD I CRIED BECAUSE HE WAS SO SICK I COULDN'T
HELP HIM. I WASHED CLOTHES AND IRONED FOR HIM AND DID OTHER
THINGS TOO. BUT HE BECAME MORE SICK AND HE PASSED AWAY AND THAT
WAS THE END OF THAT.

Submitter comment: MY GRANDMOTHER ALSO TOLD ME THAT HER SECOND HUSBAND HAD VISITED
HER AFTER HE DIED. SHE SAID SHE TOLD THE PASTOR'S WIFE ABOUT IT,
BUT SHE DIDN'T BELIEVE IT. MY GRANDMOTHER SAID IT WAS TRUE. SHE
SAID HER FIRST HUSBAND ALSO CAME TO SEE ABOUT HER. SHE SAID SHE
HAD NO REASON TO LIE. IT REALLY DID HAPPEN. SHE SAID THEY BOTH
TALKED TO HER AND JUST VANISHED AWAY.

Where learned: MICHIGAN, ASSUMED ; ECORSE

Date learned: NOT GIVEN

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IN THE TOWN MY FATHER GREW UP IN, EVERYONE WOULD GO TO
TOWN ON SATURDAY NIGHTS. THERE WAS A SUPERSTITION THAT IF YOU
WOULD PASS BY THE CEMETERY ON YOUR WAY TO TOWN, THE SPIRIT
OF AN OLD MAN (NEVER DID GET HIS NAME OR HOW HE DIED) WOULD
CHASE YOU ALL THE WAY TO TOWN AND ON YOUR WAY HOME HE WOULD
CHASE YOU BACK TO YOUR HOUSE. IT TURNS OUT THAT ON SATURDAYS MY FATHER AND HIS FRIENDS WOULD WEAR CORDUROY PANTS. BY WALKING
PAST THE CEMETERY AT AN ACCELERATED PACE, THEIR PANTS WOULD
BEGIN TO MAKE THE CERTAIN NOISE (SWOOSH, SWOOSH).
THIS NOISE WOULD SCARE THEM SO THEY BEGAN TO RUN TO TOWN
BECAUSE THEY THOUGHT THE MAN WAS AFTER THEM. CONSEQUENTLY,
BECAUSE OF THEIR RUNNING THE NOISE WOULD BECOME LOUDER.

Where learned: ILLINOIS ; TAYLOR

Keyword(s): GHOSTS ; SPIRITS

James Callow Keyword(s): HUMOR

Date learned: 06-00-1975

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AT THE WIDE SPOT IN THE RIVER, MAKOKABATAN, A YOUNG
INDIAN BRAVE, DROWNED. WHILE HE WAS PADDLING DOWN
THE RIVER, A FAR OFF VOICE SEEMED TO BE CALLING
HIM. AFTER TALKING WITH THE VOICES, HE FOUND HIM-
SELF IN THE RIVER. THE GODS HAD DECIDED THAT THE
BOY WAS TO STAY WITH THE RIVER AND GUARD ALL
TRAVELERS FROM THE PERILS OF THE WATER.

Submitter comment: I WAS FISHING ON THIS RIVER ONE NIGHT, BY MY-
SELF, WHEN I THOUGHT I HEARD A VOICE CALLING
MY NAME. WHEN I CAME BACK TO CAMP, SAMMY ASKED ME
IF I HAD FUN, I TOLD HIM THAT THE WIND TALKED.
THIS IS WHEN HE TOLD ME THE LEGEND. HE SAID THAT
THE BOY GETS LONELY, AS ANYONE WOULD, SO HE
TALKS TO THE RIVER TRAVELERS.

Where learned: CANADA ; ONTARIO

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"LADY IN WHITE"

IN THE WOODS ON BELLE-ISLE, ONE
COULD GO TO A TREE STUMP MARKED
CR + TL. STOP YOUR CAR, FLASH YOUR
LIGHTS THREE TIMES, SHUT THEM OFF, GO
OUTSIDE TO YOUR LEFT FRONT TIRE, KICK
IT THREE TIMES, GO BACK INTO YOUR CAR
AND BEEP YOUR HORN THREE TIMES. THE
LADY IN WHITE WILL APPEAR TO YOU. DO THIS
ONLY AT THE BEWITCHING HOUR.

Submitter comment: TOLD AT A TEENAGE HOMECOMING PARTY.
IT WAS SAID THAT THE LADY IN WHITE WAS
A GIRL WHO GOT KILLED BY HER BOYFRIEND ON
HOMECOMING AND (HE) STUFFED HER IN THE TREE STUMP
AND MARKED THEIR INITIALS. SHE WAS WEARING
A WHITE GOWN.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

James Callow Keyword(s): MIDNIGHT

Date learned: 00-00-1985

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IN 1975, AN L1011 AIRPLANE CRASHED INTO THE FLORIDA EVERGLADES.
ONE CREW MEMBER WAS KILLED INSTANTLY. WHEN THE SALVAGEABLE
PARTS FROM THE AIRPLANE WERE PUT ONTO OTHER PLANES, THE MAN'S
GHOST BEGAN TO APPEAR. HIS FELLOW CREW MEMBERS HELD A
SEANCE TO GET RID OF THE GHOST. DURING THE SEANCE, THE GHOST
APPEARED AND TOLD THEM THAT ANOTHER L1011 WOULD NOT CRASH
FOR ANOTHER TEN YEARS.

Submitter comment: IN 1985, AN L1011 CRASHED IN DALLAS. IT WAS THE FIRST L1011
TO CRASH SINCE THE INCIDENT IN 1975.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Date learned: 11-00-1985

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A WOMAN CARRYING HER BABY WAS WALKING DOWN CODY ROAD (A BACK
ROAD NEAR LATONIA, KENTUCKY). THEY WERE HIT BY A TRAIN AND
KILLED INSTANTLY. IF SOMEONE IS AT THE LOCATION OF THE ACCIDENT
AT MIDNIGHT, HE WILL HEAR THE BABY CRYING. IF HE STAYS TOO
LONG, THE MOTHER APPEARS, AND SHE TRIES TO KILL EVERYONE
SHE SEES.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Date learned: 11-00-1985

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"SLEEPY HOLLOW"

A MADMAN ESCAPED FROM A MENTAL INSTITUTION. HE WAS RUNNING
AND REACHED AN OLD BRIDGE ON SLEEPY HOLLOW ROAD. THE MADMAN
THEN KILLED ANOTHER MAN AND HUNG HIM FROM THE BRIDGE. IF
ANYONE GOES TO THE BRIDGE ON HALLOWEEN NIGHT, HE WILL SEE
THE MAN HANGING FROM THE BRIDGE, AND IF HE STAYS VERY LONG,
THE MADMAN WILL APPEAR AND TRY TO KILL HIM.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Date learned: 11-00-1985

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02011986 SD[ 02011986
ONE NIGHT, A MAN WAS DRIVING IN THE ELMWOOD CEMETERY. SUDDENLY,
A LADY WALKED OUT OF NOWHERE, SHE WAS DRESSED IN A FLOWING
WHITE GOWN. THE MAN ASKED HER WHAT SHE WAS DOING IN
A "NICE PLACE LIKE THIS." SHE SAID SHE WAS LOOKING FOR A RIDE
HOME. THE MAN OBLIGED. THEY INSTANTLY WERE ATTRACTED TO EACH
OTHER. THE MAN, UPON ARRIVING AT HER HOUSE, ASKED IF HE
COULD TAKE HER OUT THE NEXT NIGHT. SHE AGREED.
WHEN THE MAN ARRIVED AN OLD WOMAN ANSWERED THE DOOR. SHE TOLD
HIM THAT THE GIRL HE SAW THE PREVIOUS EVENING DIED TEN
YEARS AGO. THE MAN WENT INTO SHOCK AND IS NOW A RESIDENT
AT NORTHVILLE.

Submitter comment: I MET THIS GIRL (THE INFORMANT) AS SHE WAS PEERING OVER MY
SHOULDER READING MY ITEM #16. SHE IMMEDIATELY TOLD ME HER TALE.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT ; ENGINEERING BUILDING

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IN THE BARRIO (CORK TOWN), THE NEIGHBORHOOD KIDS WOULD
GATHER TOGETHER, AND GO TO THE COUNTRY. THEY WOULD TRY
TO EARN EXTRA MONEY PICKING CROPS IN THE SUMMER WHILE
SCHOOL WAS OUT. ONE GROUP WENT UP TO TRAVERSE CITY,
MICHIGAN TO PICK THE CHERRY CROPS. THEY BUNKED IN SHACKS
WHERE THE PICKERS WERE HOUSED, OUT IN THE COUNTRY.
ONE STILL, QUIET, BLACK SUMMER NIGHT FRAN HEARD A SCREAMING
OR CRYING WOMAN. FRAN ASKED HER BROTHER ERNIE TO
INVESTIGATE. ERNIE WOULDN'T GO, HE WAS SCARED TOO. IT
WASN'T A WOLF, AND IT COULDN'T HAVE BEEN A DEER OR RACCOON.
THE CRYING LASTED FOUR TO FIVE MINUTES; THEN IT WOULD STOP.
AN HOUR LATER THE CRYING WOULD START AGAIN FOR ABOUT
FIVE MINUTES. THE NEXT DAY, FRAN AND ERNIE ASKED ABOUT THE
CRYING WOMAN. THEY WERE TOLD THAT THERE WAS ONCE A MURDER
IN A COTTAGE NEARBY, AND THAT YOU HEAR THE CRYING ONCE A
MONTH. THE RESIDENTS OF THE AREA HAVE BECOME USED TO THE
CRYING SOUND. THE POLICE WERE TIRED OF COMING OUT TO
INVESTIGATE.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Date learned: 00-00-1950

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THERE WAS ONCE A MAN WHO ALWAYS WAS LOOKING FOR A
GOOD TIME; A GOOD PARTY. ONE NIGHT HE WAS DRUNK AND
HE HEARD MUSIC AND VOICES IN THE WOODS. IT SOUNDED FUN
SO HE WANTED TO GO TO THIS PARTY. SO, HE WALKED, AND
WALKED, AND WALKED, UNTIL HE FOUND THE HOUSE WHERE THE MUSIC
WAS COMING FROM. HE ENTERED THE HOUSE AND JOINED THE
PARTY. HE TALKED TO PEOPLE, AND SOON HE BEGAN TO
RECOGNIZE PEOPLE. HE SAID, "I KNOW HIM. WAIT, HE'S SUPPOSED
TO BE DEAD. IT CAN'T BE HIM." HE BEGAN TO REALIZE
THAT ALL THE PEOPLE AT THE PARTY WERE PEOPLE WHO HAD DIED.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Date learned: 00-00-1950

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A MAN WAS WALKING DOWN A COUNTRY ROAD ONE NIGHT WHEN HE SAW
A HOTEL IN THE DISTANCE. FEELING TIRED, HE DECIDED TO STOP FOR
THE NIGHT.
"CAN I HELP YOU?" ASKED THE INNKEEPER AS THE MAN WALKED
INTO THE LOBBY.
"I COULD USE A ROOM," THE MAN REPLIED.
"I GOT ONE ROOM LEFT," ANSWERED THE INNKEEPER. "MY
DAUGHTER'S SLEEPING IN THERE, BUT I'LL LET YOU HAVE IT ANYWAY,
SO DON'T YOU GET NO IDEAS."
THE MAN AGREED, AND PICKED UP THE KEY. WHILE UNDRESSING
FOR BED, HE NOTICED THAT THE INNKEEPER'S DAUGHTER WAS QUITE
BEAUTIFUL, SO HE FIGURED THAT A GOOD-NIGHT KISS COULDN'T
HURT.
HE AWOKE THE NEXT MORNING, AND AS HE CHECKED OUT, HE ASKED THE
INNKEEPER WHY HIS MOUTH HAD BECOME FULL OF RICE WHEN HE KISSED
HIS DAUGHTER.
"YOU PEOPLE NEVER LISTEN," SIGHED THE INNKEEPER. "THAT
WASN'T RICE. IT WAS MAGGOTS. MY DAUGHTER'S BEEN DEAD FOR
SEVEN YEARS."

Submitter comment: I REPEATED THE STORY TO TWO FRIENDS. BOTH HAD ALREADY
HEARD A SIMILAR VERSION.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; ROSEVILLE

Date learned: 05-00-1980 ; 07-00-1980

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PRESTON TOLD ME THAT THERE WAS A JAPANESE FAMILY
WHO WERE BUDDHISTS, BUT WERE GOING TO CONVERT TO CHRISTIANITY
IN A FEW MONTHS. THEY HAD A STATUE OF BUDDHA IN THEIR HOUSE,
AND EVERY NIGHT THE EYES BEGAN TO GLOW. THEY WOULD SEE
SEVERAL BODIES AROUND THEIR HOUSE, AND THE DECOMPOSING
CORPSE OF A YOUNG CHILD WOULD ASK THEM WHY THEY WANTED TO
BECOME CHRISTIANS. THEY ASKED A PRIEST HOW TO STOP IT,
AND HE TOLD THEM TO REMOVE THE STATUE FROM THEIR HOUSE.
THEY DID AND THEY HAVE HAD NO SUCH INCIDENTS SINCE THEN.

Submitter comment: PRESTON SAYS THAT THIS FAMILY LIVED ACROSS THE STREET
FROM HIM IN HIS OLD NEIGHBORHOOD, AND HE HAS LOST CONTACT
WITH THEM.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Date learned: 00-00-1982 ; 11-13-1987

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SPIRITUAL PRESENCE

I WAS LAYING IN MY MOTHER'S BED SOME TIME AFTER MY FATHER
DIED AND HER ROOM WAS DIRECTLY ACROSS FROM HIS. I WASN'T
QUITE ASLEEP YET WHEN I SAW A TRANSPARENT PERSON ABOUT THE
SIZE AND SHAPE OF MY FATHER COME OUT OF THAT ROOM. I WAS
NOT SCARED BECAUSE IN LIFE MY FATHER WAS A VERY KIND MAN
THAT WOULD NOT HURT ME AND HE WOULD BE THE SAME IN DEATH.
I WENT TO SLEEP FEELING VERY COMFORTED.

Where learned: HOME ; MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Date learned: 00-00-1986

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