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The James T. Callow Folklore Archive
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I REMEMBER THE ONE, THERE WAS A MAN WHO WENT TO COMMUNION AND
HE DIDN'T BELIEVE THAT IT WAS REALLY GOD. SO WHEN THE PRIEST
GAVE HIM THE HOST, HE HURRIED UP AND TOOK IT OUT OF HIS
MOUTH AND PUT IT IN A HANDKERCHIEF, WRAPPED IT UP AND PUT
IT IN HIS POCKET. AND WHEN HE GOT HOME, HE WENT IN HIS
ROOM AND CLOSED THE DOOR, TOOK A HAMMER AND A NAIL, AND HE
NAILED THE HOST TO THE WALL, AND IT BEGAN TO BLEED. HE
DROWN {DROWNED} IN THE BLOOD.
Where learned: HARPER WOODS ; MICHIGAN, ASSUMED
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Religious hero PROSE NARRATIVE -- Religious PROSE NARRATIVE -- Man CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Church CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Death Funeral Burial |
Date learned: 10-00-1970
INFORMANT TOLD ME OF HOW IN HER KENTUCKY CHILDHOOD, HER PARENTS
WOULD HAVE THE MINISTER FROM THEIR CHURCH THEY ATTENDED COME
OVER FOR A CHICKEN DINNER ON SUNDAY AFTRNOON. ON ONE PARTICU-
LAR SUNDAY, SHE AND HER BROTHER THOUGHT OF A WAY TO MAKE THE
MINISTER (WHOM THEY BOTH FOUND INSUFFERABLE) LEAVE EARLY.
THAT MORNING, BEFORE CHURCH, THE INFORMANT'S BROTHER STUCK
A PAIR OF HUGE SCISSORS UNDER THE THIN CUSHION THAT WAS ON THE
MINISTER'S FAVORITE CHAIR HE ALWAYS CHOSE TO SIT ON WHENEVER
HE VISITED THEIR HOME. LATER THAT AFTERNOON, AFTER DINNER,
THE FAMILY RETIRED TO THE PARLOR. THE MINISTER WAS NOTICE-
ABLY UNCOMFORTABLE, AND EVENTUALLY GOT UP TO LEAVE. AFTER
TH MINISTER LEFT, THEY ADMITTED TO THEIR GRANDMOTHER WHAT
THEY HAD DONE AFTER SHE FOUND THE SCISSORS, AND THEY RECEIVED
THEIR DUE PUNISHMENT. HOWEVER, THE GRANDMOTHER SAID, "I HOPE
HE WASN'T TOO UNCOMFORTABLE, BUT I NEVER LIKED HIM TOO MUCH
ANYWAY."
Submitter comment:
THIS STORY IS COMPARABLE TO "THE PRINCESS AND THE PEA" IN
CONTENT.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT ; KENTUCKY
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Religious PROSE NARRATIVE -- Jest Anecdote CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Home CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Church ART CRAFT ARCHITECTURE -- Occupation Food Drink -- Food |
Date learned: 11-29-1971
ST. HUGO OF THE HILLS
THIS CHURCH IS LOCATED JUST OFF OF WOODWARD ON UPDYKE ROAD. IN
ITS BASEMENT ARE FOUND BURIAL VAULTS OF THE CLERGY OF THAT ORDER.
THE SPIRITS OF THESE PRIESTS ROAM THE CHURCHYARD AT NIGHT PROTECT-
ING THE PROPERTY AGAINST ANY EVIL DOERS.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Ghost Spirit Phantom Specter CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Church |
Date learned: NOT GIVEN
OUR LADY OF LOURDES CHURCH
OUR LADY OF LOURDES CHURCH IN PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, IS A
QUAINT LITTLE CHURCH LOCATED ON LANCASTER AVENUE AT 63RD STREET.
THE TRADITION AROUND THERE IS THAT THIS CHURCH WAS BUILT BY ALL
THE MAIDS OF THE SURROUNDING RICH FAMILIES (ALTHOUGH IT IS NO
LONGER A RICH SECTION). IT WAS TO BE JUST THEIR OWN LITTLE
CHURCH, BUT IT IS EVEN USED TODAY (AND BY EVERYBODY).
Data entry tech comment:
Updated by TRD
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): CHURCH ; Origin ; Wealthy
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Church ART CRAFT ARCHITECTURE -- Holy placeChurchTemple |
Date learned: 10-28-1968
LEGEND: PROHIBITION
THERE IS A METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH ON THE CORNER OF GARLAND
AND JEFFERSON IN DETROIT. DURING THE YEARS OF PROHIBITION THE
PASTOR THERE WAS REVEREND STIDGER, KNOWN TO THE PUBLIC AS AN
ARDENT PROHIBITIONIST. ON TOP OF HIS CHURCH WAS A REVOLVING
CROSS THAT WAS ILLUMINATED AND COULD BE SEEN FROM THE RIVER.
IT IS ALLEGED THAT WHEN THIS CROSS WAS LIT AND REVOLVING, THIS
WAS A SIGNAL TO THE RUM-RUNNERS ON THE RIVER CONCERNING WHETHER
THE GUARDS WERE ON DUTY OR NOT, SO THAT THEY COULD MOVE THE
CONTRABAND ACROSS THE RIVER.
Submitter comment:
MY GRANDFATHER (MR. VAN ANTWERP) HAS TOLD ME OTHER STORIES OF THE
RUM-RUNNING DURING PROHIBITION. HE SAYS HE KNOWS FOR A FACT IT
WAS GOING ON, BUT AS TO WHETHER THE CROSS ON THE CHURCH HAD ANY-
THING TO DO WITH IT, HE THINKS IT WAS ONLY A RUMOR. HE DID SAY
THAT IT POSSIBLY COULD HAVE HAPPENED.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; GROSSE POINTE PARK
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Product or activity of man or animal CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Church Food Drink -- Pastry Sweet Dessert |
NEW PROVIDENCE, NEW JERSEY
NEW PROVIDENCE WAS ORIGINALLY KNOWN AS TURKEY TOWN IN THE 17TH
CENTURY. IN THE 18TH CENTURY, A BALCONY IN THE EPISCOPAL CHURCH
FELL DOWN DURING A SUNDAY SERVICE, BUT NO ONE WAS HURT. SINCE THE
PEOPLE IN THE CHURCH FELT THAT THIS WAS AN ACT OF PROVIDENCE,
THEY NAMED THE TOWN, NEW PROVIDENCE.
Submitter comment:
LEE LEARNED THIS WHILE LIVING IN NEW PROVIDENCE DURING HIS JUNIOR
HIGH YEARS.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Explanation of a name CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Church |
Date learned: 09-25-1967
LEGEND
THERE IS A HOUSE IN DETROIT THAT IS SUPPOSEDLY THE HAUNTED HOUSE
TO END ALL HAUNTED HOUSES. IT WAS BUILT BY A RATHER WELL-TO-DO
MAN WHO HAD A WIFE AND DAUGHTER. IT'S LOCATED ON HUBBELL JUST
PAST PURITAN. NEXT TO THE HOUSE HE BUILT A CHAPEL. IT'S ONE OF
THOSE SMALL STONE FAMILY AFFAIRS. BEFORE THE CHAPEL WAS COMPLETED
HIS WIFE DIED. HE HAD HER BURIED UNDER THE ALTAR. SHORTLY AFTER
THIS SAD EVENT, THE ARMS OF THE MADONNA ON THE SIDE ALTAR, WHICH
HAD PREVIOUSLY BEEN RAISED, WERE NOW DOWN TOWARD THE GROUND. NO
CRACKS IN THE MARBLE COULD BE FOUND, NO CONCRETE REASON FOR THE
PHENOMENON. (PARDON THE PUN.) AFTER THE DEATH OF HIS WIFE AND
THE EPISODE OF THE MADONNA, HIS DAUGHTER WAS KILLED IN SOME TRAGIC
MANNER. HER BODY WAS INTERRED BENEATH THE ORGAN. SINCE THEN THE
MAN HAS MOVED TO FLORIDA, BUT NEIGHBORS HAVE REPORTED STRANGE
HAPPENINGS IN THE VICINITY OF THE CHAPEL AND HOUSE. ONE WOMAN
ACROSS THE STREET HAS REPORTED SEEING A WHITE FIGURE ROAMING ABOUT
IN THE TREES BESIDE THE CHAPEL.
THE CHAPEL IS A FAVORITE SPOT FOR NEIGHBORHOOD CHILDREN TO EX-
PLORE, USUALLY IN LARGE GROUPS IN BROAD DAYLIGHT AND NEVER ON
HALLOWEEN.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Ghost Spirit Phantom Specter PROSE NARRATIVE -- Product or activity of man or animal CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Church BELIEF -- Death Funeral Burial |
Date learned: 10-00-1968
FOLLOW THAT DREAM
THERE IS A BEAUTIFUL CHURCH IN HAWAII WHOSE WALLS ARE COVERED WITH
PAINTINGS IN BEAUTIFUL WATER COLOR. THERE IS A LEGEND WHICH SAYS
THAT A YOUNG PRIEST WAS SENT TO THE ISLAND MANY YEARS AGO TO BUILD
THE CHURCH. ONCE BUILT, HOWEVER, HE COULDN'T GET THE NATIVES TO
ATTEND. HE HAD A DREAM IN WHICH HE SAW HIMSELF PAINTING. HE TOOK
IT AS A SIGN FROM GOD, AND NEXT DAY HE BEGAN PAINTING PICTURES
NEAR HIS CHURCH. THE NATIVES, CURIOUS, WOULD COME EACH DAY AND
WATCH HIM, EVENTUALLY ACCEPTING HIM AS THEIR FRIEND. THE
PAINTINGS STILL HANG IN THE CHURCH.
Submitter comment: HEARD AT SCHOOL SEVERAL YEARS AGO.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Product or activity of man or animal CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Church ART CRAFT ARCHITECTURE -- Art Craft |
Date learned: 08-08-1964
CHURCH SINKS
THERE IS A CHURCH IN SPAIN THAT WAS HIT BY A TIDAL WAVE AND SUNK
BENEATH THE GROUND. PEOPLE WHO WALK ON THE SHORE WHERE IT ONCE
STOOD SAY THEY CAN STILL HEAR THE ANGELUS BELLS RING AT NOON.
Submitter comment: HEARD FROM A GUIDE WHILE ON A TOUR OF EUROPE.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Product or activity of man or animal CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Church BELIEF -- Measure of time WeekDayHour |
Date learned: 06-00-1964
CHURCH
WHEN NAPOLEON CAME TO INVADE MALTA OF ITS CHURCHES' RICHES, A
SACRISTAN OF ST. JOHN'S CATHEDRAL PAINTED THE SOLID SILVER DOOR
BLACK. NAPOLEON WAS FOOLED AND JUST RECENTLY THE BLACK PAINT
HAS BEGUN TO CHIP OFF.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Product or activity of man or animal CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Church ART CRAFT ARCHITECTURE -- Metal Stone Bone |
Date learned: 03-08-1970
I REMEMBER THE ONE, THERE WAS A MAN WHO WENT TO COMMUNION AND
HE DIDN'T BELIEVE THAT IT WAS REALLY GOD. SO WHEN THE PRIEST
GAVE HIM THE HOST, HE HURRIED UP AND TOOK IT OUT OF HIS
MOUTH AND PUT IT IN A HANDKERCHIEF, WRAPPED IT UP AND PUT
IT IN HIS POCKET. AND WHEN HE GOT HOME, HE WENT IN HIS
ROOM AND CLOSED THE DOOR, TOOK A HAMMER AND A NAIL, AND HE
NAILED THE HOST TO THE WALL, AND IT BEGAN TO BLEED. HE
DROWN {DROWNED} IN THE BLOOD.
Where learned: HARPER WOODS ; MICHIGAN, ASSUMED
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Religious hero PROSE NARRATIVE -- Religious PROSE NARRATIVE -- Man CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Church CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Death Funeral Burial |
Date learned: 10-00-1970
INFORMANT TOLD ME OF HOW IN HER KENTUCKY CHILDHOOD, HER PARENTS
WOULD HAVE THE MINISTER FROM THEIR CHURCH THEY ATTENDED COME
OVER FOR A CHICKEN DINNER ON SUNDAY AFTRNOON. ON ONE PARTICU-
LAR SUNDAY, SHE AND HER BROTHER THOUGHT OF A WAY TO MAKE THE
MINISTER (WHOM THEY BOTH FOUND INSUFFERABLE) LEAVE EARLY.
THAT MORNING, BEFORE CHURCH, THE INFORMANT'S BROTHER STUCK
A PAIR OF HUGE SCISSORS UNDER THE THIN CUSHION THAT WAS ON THE
MINISTER'S FAVORITE CHAIR HE ALWAYS CHOSE TO SIT ON WHENEVER
HE VISITED THEIR HOME. LATER THAT AFTERNOON, AFTER DINNER,
THE FAMILY RETIRED TO THE PARLOR. THE MINISTER WAS NOTICE-
ABLY UNCOMFORTABLE, AND EVENTUALLY GOT UP TO LEAVE. AFTER
TH MINISTER LEFT, THEY ADMITTED TO THEIR GRANDMOTHER WHAT
THEY HAD DONE AFTER SHE FOUND THE SCISSORS, AND THEY RECEIVED
THEIR DUE PUNISHMENT. HOWEVER, THE GRANDMOTHER SAID, "I HOPE
HE WASN'T TOO UNCOMFORTABLE, BUT I NEVER LIKED HIM TOO MUCH
ANYWAY."
Submitter comment:
THIS STORY IS COMPARABLE TO "THE PRINCESS AND THE PEA" IN
CONTENT.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT ; KENTUCKY
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Religious PROSE NARRATIVE -- Jest Anecdote CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Home CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Church ART CRAFT ARCHITECTURE -- Occupation Food Drink -- Food |
Date learned: 11-29-1971
MAKING THE SIGN OF THE CROSS
THIS IS USED IN DRIVING OFF THE DEVIL, ACCORDING TO
THE CATHOLIC CHURCH.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT
Date learned: 03-10-1971
BLESSING YOURSELF OR MAKING SOME FORM OF THE CROSS
WHEN YOU PASS A CATHOLIC CHURCH.
Where learned: PENNSYLVANIA ; SCRANTON
Date learned: 00001950S LATE
IT IS CORRECT TO TIP YOUR HAT WHEN PASSING A CHURCH.
Where learned: DETROIT ; MICHIGAN, ASSUMED
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Street Trip Relations between relatives, friends, host and guest Social class Rank CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Church ART CRAFT ARCHITECTURE -- Dress Head SPEECH -- Religious |
Date learned: NOT GIVEN
AS A SIGN OF RESPECT MEN TIP THEIR HATS WHENEVER THEY
PASS A CHURCH.
Submitter comment:
THIS CUSTOM IS NOT SO PREVALENT AMONG YOUNGER CATHOLICS
BUT IT WAS AND IS STILL PRACTICED AMONG THE OLDER MEN.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Date learned: NOT GIVEN
A BOW TO THE BLESSED SACRAMENT
IN BYZANTINE CATHOLIC CHURCHES TODAY, SOME PEOPLE
STILL PRACTICE AN OLD CUSTOM OF GETTING DOWN ON ALL
FOURS AND TOUCHING THE FLOOR WITH THEIR BROWS,
THUS SIGNIFYING A BOW TO THE BLESSED SACRAMENT.
Where learned: HAMTRAMCK ; MICHIGAN, ASSUMED
| Subject headings: | 602 Body Parts 686 Fourths / Quarters CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Church SPEECH -- Body parts involved S602.3 SPEECH -- Religious |
Date learned: NOT GIVEN
IT WAS CUSTOMARY TO COVER HANDS WITH THE COMMUNION RAIL
CLOTH DURING THE RECEPTION OF THE SACRAMENT UNTIL
ABOUT 1964.
Data entry tech comment: IS THIS PECULIAR TO MICHIGAN? NOT DONE IN TOLEDO, OHIO
Where learned: NOT GIVEN
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Church SPEECH -- Religious |
Date learned: 00-00-1964
WHENEVER PASSING A CHURCH, NOD YOUR HEAD OR TIP YOUR HAT.
Where learned: NOT GIVEN
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Street Trip Relations between relatives, friends, host and guest Social class Rank CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Church ART CRAFT ARCHITECTURE -- Dress Head SPEECH -- Religious |
Date learned: 09-24-1969
IT IS A CUSTOM TO MAKE THE SIGN OF THE CROSS AS YOU PASS
A CHURCH. THIS IS DONE TO SHOW HONOR FOR GOD.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Date learned: 03-19-1970