Dr. James T. Callow publications
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The James T. Callow Folklore Archive
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GHOST OF ROSECRAN
MY INFORMANT SPENT 14 YEARS IN WINCHESTER, TENNESSEE, MOST OF
THEM IN THIS OLD CIVIL WAR BUILDING WHICH WAS THE HEAD-
QUARTERS OF ROSECRAN. AT THIS ONE TIME, THE SISTER WHO WAS
IN CHARGE, FELT VERY STRONGLY ABOUT THE PRESENCE OF THESE
SPIRITS. SHE WOULD NOT ALLOW ANY OF THE SISTERS TO SLEEP IN
THIS ROOM. THEY ALL HAD TO SLEEP IN THE DORMITORY. MY
INFORMANT HAD ASKED IF SHE COULD SLEEP ON THE BACK PORCH.
SHE WAS GIVEN PERMISSION. ONE AFTERNOON AS SHE CAME OUT OF
HER ROOM SHE COULD HEAR A SOUND ACROSS IN THE ROOM. SHE FELT
SURE THAT ALL THE SISTERS WERE IN THE CHAPEL AND THAT NO ONE
WAS UPSTAIRS. SHE WENT TO THE CHAPEL TO SEE. ALL THE SISTERS
WERE THERE. SO SHE WENT BACK UPSTAIRS OUTSIDE THE ROOM AND
FLUNG OPEN THE DOOR. A CAT CAME WALKING OUT. THE CAT PROBABLY
GOT IN THROUGH THE WINDOW ON THE BACK PORCH.
Where learned: TENNESSEE ; NASHVILLE
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Mammal PROSE NARRATIVE -- Product or activity of man or animal BELIEF -- Ghost Spirit Phantom Specter |
Date learned: 08-00-1968
PLAYFUL SPIRIT
"POLTER GEIST" IS A GERMAN TERM THAT MEANS SPIRIT THAT HECKLES
(PLAYFUL). BUT THEY WON'T HARM YOU. WHEN YOU BEGIN TALKING
ABOUT THEM, PEOPLE LOOK AT YOU LIKE YOU ARE CRAZY.
THIS INCIDENT ALSO TOOK PLACE IN WINCHESTER, TENNESSEE. THE
CATHOLIC SCHOOL THERE WAS CALLED WINCHESTER ACADEMY. IT WAS
IN A CIVIL WAR BUILDING, WHICH HAD BEEN THE HEADQUARTERS OF
ROSENCRAN DURING THE CIVIL WAR. FOR MANY YEARS THE SISTERS
HAD LIVED IN THE BUILDING, BUT AROUND 1962 THE OLD BUILDING HAD
BEEN CONDEMNED AND THEY MADE THEIR RESIDENCE IN A SMALL HOUSE
A FEW BLOCKS AWAY FROM THE SCHOOL. THIS HOUSE HAD BELONGED
TO A VETERINARIAN WHO WAS AN ALCOHOLIC. MANY OF HIS INSTRU-
MENTS WERE STILL IN THE HOUSE WHEN THE PARISH BOUGHT IT. THE
PASTOR CLEARED AWAY THE THINGS. THE WIFE HAD TAKEN VERY GOOD
CARE OF THE YARD. THE SISTERS HADN'T DONE AS WELL AS SHE.
WHEN THE PARISH BOUGHT THE HOUSE THEY HAD TO DO SOME REMAKING
SO AS TO MAKE A CONVENT FOR THE SISTERS. THEY HAD PUT THE
CHAPEL RIGHT NEXT TO ONE OF THE BEDROOMS.
ONE NIGHT AROUND 11:30 OR 12:00, THE SISTERS HEARD A SQUEAKING
SOUND, LIKE A DOOR OPENING AND CLOSING. BUT THEY COULD SEE
NO DOOR MOVING; THEN THEY HEARD HEAVY FOOTSTEPS AND WALKING
AROUND. THE SISTERS WERE IN THE SAME ROOM. THEY HEARD "HA,
HA, HA"--SOUNDING LIKE IT WAS IN THE CHAPEL, THE ROOM RIGHT
NEXT TO THEM. THEY WENT AND LOOKED ALL AROUND THE HOUSE,
THINKING SOME ONE WAS IN THE HOUSE. BUT THEY COULD FIND NO
ONE. THEY WENT BACK TO THEIR ROOM AND THEY COULD HEAR THE
SOUNDS AGAIN. SO THE TWO SISTERS DECIDED TO SAY THE ROSARY
OUT LOUD AND THE NOISE STOPPED WITHIN A SHORT TIME.
James Callow Keyword(s): EXORCISM ; POLTERGEIST
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Product or activity of man or animal BELIEF -- Ghost Spirit Phantom Specter |
Date learned: 08-00-1968
POLTERGEIST--MISSING CAR KEYS
TWO SISTERS WENT TO THE WINCHESTER ACADEMY, WHICH WAS HOUSED
IN AN OLD CIVIL WAR BUILDING. THIS BUILDING WAS ROSECRAN HEAD-
QUARTERS, DURING THE CIVIL WAR. SOME MEN HAD BEEN KILLED, THAT
IS, HUNG, IN THIS ROOM WHERE THE MIMEOGRAPH MACHINE WAS. THE
SISTERS HAD COME THERE ONE EVENING AROUND 6:00 P.M. AND HAD
GONE UP TO THIS ROOM TO DO SOME DITTO WORK. ONE OF THE
SISTERS PUT THE CAR KEYS ON THE TABLE NEXT TO THE MIMEOGRAPH
MACHINE. AFTER THEY HAD FINISHED THEIR WORK, SISTER WENT TO
GET THE KEYS, BUT THEY WERE GONE. THEY SEARCHED EVERYWHERE IN
THE ROOM, AND EVEN WENT TO THE CAR AND THE PLAYGROUND. THEY
CALLED THE PASTOR OF THE PARISH AND HE HELPED TO SEARCH.
THEY FINALLY HAD TO GET A SECOND SET OF KEYS FROM THE
JANITOR. THIS WAS A SATURDAY NIGHT. MONDAY MORNING WHEN
THEY WENT BACK TO SCHOOL, ONE OF THE SISTERS WENT TO HAVE
ONE LAST LOOK, SINCE IT WAS DAYLIGHT. SHE WENT TO THE
ROOM AND THE KEYS WERE ON THE TABLE WHERE SISTER HAD
LEFT THEM.
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Product or activity of man or animal BELIEF -- Ghost Spirit Phantom Specter |
Date learned: 08-00-1968
THIS INCIDENT TOOK PLACE IN WINCHESTER, TENNESSEE, AT A CONVENT
OF DOMINICAN SISTERS. THE SISTER TAUGHT AT WINCHESTER ACADEMY.
THEY LIVED AT THE HOUSE ON NORTH HIGH STREET--THE HOUSE OWNED
BY THE VETERINARIAN. (BETWEEN 1964-1966) THE SISTERS WERE
DOING THEIR HOUSE CLEANING AND ONE OF THEM WAS USING WINDEX
AND A SPONGE. SISTER PUT IT DOWN AND LEFT FOR A FEW
MINUTES, WHEN SHE CAME BACK IT WAS GONE. SHE ASKED THE
OTHER SISTERS IF THEY HAD IT. NONE OF THEM HAD IT. THEY
SEARCHED, AND SEARCHED, AND COULD NOT FIND IT. ABOUT A
WEEK OR SO LATER THEY FOUND IT UNDER A CABINET, BOTH THE
WINDEX AND SPONGE TOGETHER, JUST AS IT HAD BEEN LEFT
BEFORE. NO ONE COULD EXPLAIN IT.
Where learned: TENNESSEE ; NASHVILLE
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Product or activity of man or animal BELIEF -- Ghost Spirit Phantom Specter |
Date learned: 08-00-1968
THE GHOST OF CHAPEL HILL
IN CHAPEL HILL, TENNESSEE, THERE IS A SET OF RAILROAD TRACKS
WHERE ONE CAN SEE A GHOST. AT NIGHT, WHEN A TRAIN COMES
THROUGH THE TRACKS, YOU CAN SEE A RED LIGHT, WHICH IS A
LITTLE WAYS BEHIND IT. THE LIGHT FOLLOWS THE TRAIN AT
ABOUT THE SAME DISTANCE ALL THE TIME. NO ONE CAN REALLY TELL
JUST EXACTLY WHAT IT IS. PEOPLE HAVE SHOT AT IT AND NOTHING
HAPPENS. PEOPLE SAY THAT ONE, A LONG TIME AGO, A MAN WAS
SEVERED. SUPPOSEDLY THE GHOST, THE RED LIGHT, KEEPS
RETURNING IN SEARCH OF HIS HEAD.
Where learned: TENNESSEE, ASSUMED ; COLUMBIA
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Ghost Spirit Phantom Specter BELIEF -- Physically handicapped Deformed BELIEF -- Body part Senses BELIEF -- Fire BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal |
THERE IS A CHURCH ON THE MOUNT PLEASANT HIGHWAY WITH AN
ADJACENT GRAVEYARD. IF YOU CAN DRIVE AROUND THE CHURCH
THREE TIMES WITHOUT SEEING A GHOST, YOU'LL HAVE A
HEALTHY LIFE. IF YOU SEE A GHOST, YOU DON'T HAVE LONG
TO LIVE.
Where learned: TENNESSEE ; COLUMBIA
| Subject headings: | 686 Thirds / Thrice / Three / Triple BELIEF -- Ghost Spirit Phantom Specter BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal BELIEF -- Death Funeral Burial |
Date learned: 06-20-1970
IN CHAPEL HILL, TENNESSEE, A MAN WAS ONCE DECAPITATED
BY THE RAILROAD. SINCE THEN, PEOPLE WHO HAVE BEEN BY
THE TRACKS AT NIGHT HAVE REPORTED SEEING A LIGHT MOVING
ALONG THE TRACKS.
Where learned: NASHVILLE ; PEABODY COLLEGE, ASSUMED ; TENNESSEE, ASSUMED
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Ghost Spirit Phantom Specter BELIEF -- Fire |
Date learned: 04-29-1969
ONCE UPON A TIME, THERE WAS A COUPLE ON VACATION, WHO HAD
TRAVELED ALL DAY AND FINALLY CAME UPON AN OLD TOWN. AS THEY
WERE WALKING THROUGH THE TOWN, THEY CAME UPON THE OLDEST
HOUSE THEY HAD EVER SEEN. WHEN THEY WERE MET BY AN OLD
COUPLE WHO OFFERED TO FEED THEM AND LET THEM SLEEP IN THE
UPSTAIRS OF THE HOUSE. THE NEXT MORNING, WHEN THE VISITORS
WOKE UP, IT WAS STILL VERY EARLY, SO THEY LEFT A SILVER
DOLLAR ON THE SMALL MARBLE TABLE IN THE ROOM FOR THE OWNERS
OF THE HOUSE. WHEN THE TWO OF THEM STOPPED DOWN THE STREET
ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE HILL PAST THE OLD TOWN, THEY ASKED
THE GASOLINE STATION ATTENDANT WHO IT WAS THAT LIVED IN THE
OLD HOUSE IN THE DESERTED TOWN BACK THERE. THE MAN TOLD THEM
THAT THAT TOWN AND HOUSE HAD BURNED DOWN OVER A HUNDRED YEARS
AGO AND THERE WAS NO LONGER ANYONE LIVING THERE. SO, THE
COUPLE WENT BACK, AND SURE ENOUGH THERE WAS NOTHING BUT
GREEN GRASS AND TREES GROWING ALL AROUND THE AREA WHERE THEY
HAD JUST BEEN. THE STRANGE THING ABOUT IT WAS THAT WHEN
THEY WENT TO GET A CLOSER LOOK AT THE PLACE WHERE THEY
HAD SPENT THE NIGHT, THEY FOUND THE MARBLE TABLE WITH
THE SILVER DOLLAR ON IT STILL STANDING THERE, ALTHOUGH IT
WAS ALL ALONE.
Where learned: TENNESSEE ; NASHVILLE
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Ghost Spirit Phantom Specter PROSE NARRATIVE -- Product or activity of man or animal BELIEF -- Ghost Spirit Phantom Specter |
THEY SAY THERE IS A SPIRIT KNOWN AS THE BLUE LADY WHO HAUNTS
ONLY NON-BELIEVERS IN GHOSTS. SHE DIED ONE NIGHT ON THE WAY
TO A BALL, MANY YEARS AGO, AND WAS TO HAVE BEEN WEARING A
BEAUTIFUL BLUE DRESS. FOR THIS REASON, WHEREVER SHE APPEARS,
IT IS IN A BLUE HAZE. THE ONLY TIME SHE DOES APPEAR IS WHEN
THERE ARE PEOPLE TRYING TO REACH THE SPIRITS AND THERE IS A
NON-BELIEVER IN THE GROUP.
Where learned: TENNESSEE ; NASHVILLE
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Ghost Spirit Phantom Specter |
Date learned: 07-01-1970
IF IT'S 12 MIDNIGHT AND THE MOON IS OVER THE HILL, YOU CAN
SEE THE HEADLESS HORSEMAN.
Where learned: TENNESSEE ; NASHVILLE
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Ghost Spirit Phantom Specter BELIEF -- Moon BELIEF -- Measure of time WeekDayHour |
"HANTS" APPEAR AT DUSK AND AT NIGHT, AND WILL HARM
PEOPLE WHO ARE OUT ALONE.
Where learned: TENNESSEE ; NASHVILLE
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Ghost Spirit Phantom Specter |
Date learned: 00-00-1969
THE DISMAL SWAMPS ARE LOCATED IN SUFFOLK, VIRGINIA. THERE
ARE PHOSPHOROUS LIGHTS IN MOST SWAMPY AREAS, BUT THERE IS
A LEGEND ABOUT THE LIGHTS IN THE DISMAL SWAMPS. THE LIGHTS
IN THIS SWAMP BELONG TO A GIRL WHO IS LOOKING FOR HER HUSBAND
WHO WAS LOST HUNTING.
Where learned: TENNESSEE ; NASHVILLE
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Ghost Spirit Phantom Specter BELIEF -- Formation |
WILL-O-THE WISP ARE CORPSE CANDLES CARRIED BY GHOSTS.
Where learned: TENNESSEE ; NASHVILLE
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Ghost Spirit Phantom Specter BELIEF -- Fire |
Date learned: 00-00-1972
IF A CHILD IS BORN WITH A VEIL OVER HIS EYES, HE CAN SEE GHOSTS.
Where learned: SOUTH CAROLINA ; GEORGETOWN
Keyword(s): CAUL
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Ghost Spirit Phantom Specter BELIEF -- Body part Senses Eyes, evil eye BELIEF -- Birth |
Date learned: NOT GIVEN
IF A PERSON WANTS TO SEE A GHOST, HE SHOULD RUB HIS FINGER ON A
DOG'S EYE AND THEN RUB HIS FINGERS OVER HIS EYES.
Where learned: SOUTH CAROLINA ; GEORGETOWN
James Callow Keyword(s): CONJURY
| Subject headings: | Charm / Enchantment / Conjuration BELIEF -- Ghost Spirit Phantom Specter BELIEF -- Body part Senses Eyes, evil eye BELIEF -- Mammal |
Date learned: NOT GIVEN
IN ORDER TO KEEP GHOSTS OUT OF YOUR HOUSE, PLACE A HORSESHOE
OVER THE DOOR.
Where learned: SOUTH CAROLINA ; GEORGETOWN
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Ghost Spirit Phantom Specter BELIEF -- Mineral BELIEF -- Home |
Date learned: NOT GIVEN
WHEN DOGS ARE BARKING AT NIGHT, THEY ARE BARKING AT GHOSTS.
Where learned: SOUTH CAROLINA ; GEORGETOWN
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Ghost Spirit Phantom Specter BELIEF -- Mammal BELIEF -- Measure of time WeekDayHour |
Date learned: NOT GIVEN
IF A DEAD PERSON'S SPIRIT VISITS YOU, AND YOU WANT TO GET RID OF IT,
JUST CURSE IT OUT OR SPEAK VERY HASH TO IT. (HARSH HARSHLY)
Where learned: SOUTH CAROLINA ; GEORGETOWN
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Ghost Spirit Phantom Specter BELIEF -- Curse SPEECH -- Formula |
Date learned: NOT GIVEN
IF YOU ARE WITH SOMEONE WHO IS LOOKING AT A GHOST, YOU CAN
SEE IT TOO, IF YOU LOOK OVER HIS LEFT SHOULDER.
Where learned: SOUTH CAROLINA ; GEORGETOWN
James Callow Keyword(s): POSITION DIRECTION
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Ghost Spirit Phantom Specter |
Date learned: NOT GIVEN
OUR GRANDMOTHER BELIEVED THAT LIGHTED LAMPS AND CANDLES AT
NIGHT WOULD KEEP AWAY GHOSTS AND WITCHES.
Where learned: VIRGINIA, ASSUMED ; NORTH GARDEN
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Ghost Spirit Phantom Specter BELIEF -- Witch Shaman BELIEF -- Weather sign or control |
Date learned: 03-29-1969