Dr. James T. Callow publications
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The James T. Callow Folklore Archive
Your search for P533 returned 1136 results.
BOTTOMLESS LAKE
IN THE EARLY NINETEEN HUNDREDS, A HORSE AND BUGGY STOOD AT THE TOP
OF SAND DUNES OVERLOOKING GRAND SABLE LAKE IN THE U.P. (UPPER
PENINSULA). THE HORSE WAS STARTLED BY SOMETHING AND RAN DOWN THE
DUNE AND INTO THE LAKE. NO TRACE OF EITHER HORSE OR BUGGY HAS
EVER BEEN FOUND.
Submitter comment:
SHE LEARNED THIS UPON SEEING SABLE LAKE FOR THE FIRST TIME (AROUND
1957) AS A VERIFICATION FOR THE DEPTH OF THE LAKE.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; GRAND MARAIS
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Still water Small body. Lake, pond.... BELIEF -- Mammal BELIEF -- Street Trip Relations between relatives, friends, host and guest Social class Rank |
Date learned: 00001957 CA
DEAD MAN'S HILL
THERE IS A HILL FIVE MILES OUTSIDE OF ELMIRA, MICHIGAN WHICH IS
REFERRED TO BY LOCAL INHABITANTS AS "DEAD MAN'S HILL" BECAUSE
SOME TIME DURING THE LOGGING DAYS OF THE TURN OF THE CENTURY
THERE WAS A TRAGIC ACCIDENT INVOLVING SEVERAL DEATHS.
Submitter comment:
INFORMANT LEARNED THE TALE OF THE HILL IN 1960 WHEN HE AND HIS
HIS FAMILY MOVED TO GAYLORD, MICHIGAN.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; Gaylord
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Explanation of a name BELIEF -- Street Trip Relations between relatives, friends, host and guest Social class Rank |
Date learned: 00-00-1960
EXPLANATION OF NAME, "MURDER HILL"
THERE IS A STRETCH OF NARROW, WINDING ROAD ON THE SIDE OF A HILL
JUST OUTSIDE OF LITTLE VALLEY, NEW YORK. SIGNS AT EACH END OF THIS
LONG ROAD CALL IT "MURDER HILL."
ONE EXPLANATION OF THE NAME IS THE FACT THAT A FATAL ACCIDENT
COULD EASILY HAPPEN THERE.
ANOTHER EXPLANATION IS A LEGEND THAT A MAN KILLED HIS WIFE AND
THEN HIMSELF IN A HOUSE NOT FAR FROM THE ROAD.
Data entry tech comment:
Updated by TRD
Where learned: NEW YORK ; FRANKLINVILLE
Keyword(s): Murder Hill ; Origin of Name ; Tale ; Urban Legend
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Street Trip Relations between relatives, friends, host and guest Social class Rank BELIEF -- Death Funeral Burial SPEECH -- S478 |
Entry filtered.
THE CARPENTER'S ROAD LEGEND
TWO COUPLES WENT TO THE PROM AND THEN OUT TO PARK ON CARPENTER'S
ROAD, WHICH IS A DESERTED ROAD IN THE WOODS OF BEAVERCREEK. WHILE
NECKING, THEY HEARD A KNOCKING AND SCRATCHING NOISE OUTSIDE. ONE
OF THE BOYS WENT OUT TO CHECK IT OUT. AND AFTER A LONG WORRISOME
WAIT DURING WHICH HE HADN'T RETURNED, THE SECOND BOY LEFT. AGAIN
AFTER SEVERAL HOURS, THEY STILL HADN'T RETURNED, SO ONE GIRL WENT
FOR HELP WHILE THE OTHER WAITED. THE LAST GIRL FINALLY LEFT AND
FOUND THE POLICE. AFTER A LONG SEARCH, THE THREE WERE FOUND. THE
TWO BOYS WERE ENTIRELY CHEWED UP, BLOODY AND JUST TOTALLY MUTILA-
TED. THE GIRL, WITH HER HAIR, ONCE BRUNETTE, NOW HAD STARK WHITE
HAIR STANDING ON END AND HAD DIED OF FRIGHT. NOW NOBODY KNOWS
IF THIS IS TRUE BUT NO ONE GOES THERE UNLESS HE'S LOOKING FOR A
SCARE.
Where learned: DETROIT ; MICHIGAN, ASSUMED
LEGEND
THERE IS A LEGEND AT KISSING ROCK ON THE GROUNDS OF WEST POINT
THAT IF A FELLOW TAKES HIS HAT OFF AND THE GIRL HE IS WITH REFUSES
TO KISS HIM, THE ROCK WILL FALL AND KILL HER.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Explanation of a name BELIEF -- Street Trip Relations between relatives, friends, host and guest Social class Rank BELIEF -- Marriage |
Date learned: 12-05-1967
PROSE NARRATIVE
A WOMAN, WHOSE SON MARRIED A GIRL SHE DISLIKED, TOOK ALL HER SON'S
POSSESSIONS FROM HER DAUGHTER-IN-LAW ON HER SON'S DEATH. EACH
NIGHT THEREAFTER AT MIDNIGHT ALL THE FURNITURE AND DISHES IN THE
MOTHER'S HOME WOULD RATTLE FOR ONE HOUR. IT WAS SAID TO BE THE
GHOST OF THE DEAD SON. AT LAST THE MOTHER RETURNED ALL TO HER
WIDOWED DAUGHTER-IN-LAW AND PEACE WAS RESTORED AT NIGHT.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Date learned: 09-23-1969
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 |
MYSTERY STREET
THE INFORMANT RELATES BEING TOLD THAT "STRASBURG," A STREET ON THE
EAST SIDE OF DETROIT, WAS A MYSTERY STREET. HE SAID THAT A GIRL
WAS RUN OVER BY A CAR IN 1962 AND THAT THE DRIVER REFUSED TO STOP.
THE GIRL BEAT CONTINUOUSLY ON THE TRUNK UNTIL THE DRIVER STOPPED.
WHEN THE DRIVER DID STOP, THE GIRL WAS DEAD. NOW, EVERY TIME A
CAR GOES DOWN STRASBURG, IT GOES THUMP, THUMP, THUMP.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): KNOCK-KNOCK STREET
Date learned: 03-15-1967
THE HAUNTED STREET
IN DETROIT--STRASBURG. SHE HEARD THE STORY OF A LITTLE GIRL BEING
HIT BY A CAR AND KILLED WHEN SHE WAS YOUNGER.
Where learned: DETROIT ; MICHIGAN, ASSUMED
IF YOU LIFT UP YOUR FEET FROM THE FLOOR AND TOUCH
YOUR HANDS TO THE CEILING WHILE GOING OVER A
RAILROAD TRACK IN YOUR CAR, YOU WILL HAVE GOOD
LUCK.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): POSITION DIRECTION
Date learned: NOT GIVEN
WHEN DRIVING OVER RAILROAD TRACKS, IT IS GOOD LUCK
TO PUT YOUR HAND, PALM SIDE UP, ON THE ROOF OF THE
CAR.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Date learned: NOT GIVEN
IT IS GOOD LUCK TO LEAVE AND ENTER BY THE SAME DOOR.
IT IS EVEN BETTER LUCK, IF YOU DO THIS THE FIRST
TIME YOU ENTER AND LEAVE A STRANGER'S HOUSE.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Date learned: 11-01-1969
TO START DONNA'S CAR, IT IS NECESSARY FOR EVERYONE IN
THE CAR TO SHAKE HER HAND FOR GOOD LUCK, OR ELSE THE
CAR WILL OFTEN NOT EVEN TURN OVER.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Street Trip Relations between relatives, friends, host and guest Social class Rank BELIEF -- Good luck Activities SPEECH -- Gesture |
Date learned: 03-27-1971
IF YOU FIND A PENNY IT IS GOOD LUCK AS LONG AS
YOU KEEP IT. IF YOU CONSISTENTLY FIND PENNIES
WITH A PARTICULAR PERSON, THAT PERSON IS ALSO GOOD
LUCK.
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Street Trip Relations between relatives, friends, host and guest Social class Rank BELIEF -- Good luck Money |
Date learned: NOT GIVEN
DO NOT HAND A PERSON A KNIFE. PUT IT ON THE TABLE
AND LET HIM PICK IT UP. IF YOU DO NOT, A FIGHT
MAY ARISE.
Submitter comment:
INFORMANT SAID HER MOTHER BELIEBED IN THIS SUPER-
STITION, AND ALWAYS PASSED A KNIFE BY FIRST PUTTING
IT ON THE TABLE. THEN THE OTHER PERSON COULD
PICK IT UP.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; OAK PARK
| Subject headings: | Observation BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal BELIEF -- Street Trip Relations between relatives, friends, host and guest Social class Rank |
Date learned: 02-14-1972
HAWAIIAN SUPERSTITION
WHEN THE KINGS AND QUEENS RETURN TO THE ISLANDS, IT IS A GOOD
SIGN WHEN IT RAINS.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; GRAND RAPIDS
| Subject headings: | Observation BELIEF -- Cloud Fog Mist Rain Hail Ice Snow Frost Dew BELIEF -- Street Trip Relations between relatives, friends, host and guest Social class Rank |
Date learned: 04-08-1971
WHEN YOU SEE A RED BREAST ROBIN, IT MEANS YOU WILL
SEE A LOVED ONE BEFORE THE SUN GOES DOWN.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | Observation BELIEF -- Street Trip Relations between relatives, friends, host and guest Social class Rank BELIEF -- Use of Object Animals |
WHEN A BIRD BUILDS A NEST IT MEANS GOOD LUCK.
Submitter comment:
INFORMANT LEARNED THIS SUPERSTITION FROM HIS
MOTHER.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Date learned: 07-00-1964
ARABIAN BELIEF
WHEN WALKING IN THE STREET, IF A BIRD DEFICATES ON
ONE'S HEAD, IT MEANS THAT HE WILL SOON RECEIVE A
SUM OF MONEY.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT
Date learned: 10-00-1967