Dr. James T. Callow publications
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The James T. Callow Folklore Archive
Your search for B423 returned 49 results.
IN ANCIENT CELTIC LORE THEY HAD GREAT RESPECT FOR SPIRITS.
CLEAN WATER WOULD BE LEFT AT NIGHT FOR THE FAIRIES TO WASH.
IF A WOMAN OF THE HOUSE WAS THROWING OUT DIRTY WATER, SHE
WOULD SAY, "FAG A BEALAC, UESGE SALAC," WHICH MEANT--"LEAVE
THE WAY, DIRTY WATER!" AS A WARNING TO THE SPIRITS NOT TO GET
HIT.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT ; BISHOP BORGESS HIGH SCHOOL
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Fairy Elf Goblin Gnome |
Date learned: 11-00-1970
AS A CHILD, WHENEVER I LOST A TOOTH I WOULD PLACE
IT UNDER MY PILLOW OVERNIGHT. THE NEXT DAY I WOULD
FIND SOME MONEY IN ITS PLACE, WHICH MY FAIRY
GODMOTHER WAS SUPPOSED TO HAVE LEFT FOR ME.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Fairy Elf Goblin Gnome |
Date learned: NOT GIVEN
THE DEVIL ON SEYBURN
AS A LITTLE GIRL THE INFORMANT LIVED ON SEYBURN IN DETROIT. ON
ONE OF THE CORNERS OF SEYBURN THERE WAS A HOUSE WHICH HAD BEEN
POSSESSED BY THE DEVIL. WHEN THE PRIEST DROVE THE DEVIL FROM THE
HOUSE, HE CHASED IT INTO THE GARAGE. THE DEVIL RAN ACROSS THE
FLOOR UP THE WALL AND HALF WAY ACROSS THE CEILING BEFORE LEAVING.
THERE ARE IMPRINTS OF HIS FOOT IN THE CEMENT FLOOR OF THE GARAGE.
ON THE WALL AND ON THE CEILING THERE ARE HAND AND BELLY PRINTS.
THESE PRINTS CANNOT BE REMOVED WITH PAINT OR BY RECEMENTING THE
FLOOR. THEY ALWAYS REAPPEAR. THE INFORMANT HAS SEEN THE PRINTS
HERSELF.
Where learned: DETROIT ; MICHIGAN, ASSUMED
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Fairy Elf Goblin Gnome PROSE NARRATIVE -- Product or activity of man or animal BELIEF -- Sign Color |
Date learned: 03-31-1967
TOOTH
WHEN I WAS A KID, WHEN A TOOTH CAME OUT, I'D PUT IT IN A SUNDAY
ENVELOPE. THEN I'D TAKE A NAP AND THE TOOTH FAIRY WOULD LEAVE
COOKIES ON THE KITCHEN TABLE.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Fairy Elf Goblin Gnome PROSE NARRATIVE -- Body part Senses Mouth, teeth, lips, tongue |
Date learned: 03-11-1970
SHANNON AIRPORT
IN THE 1940S IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT SHANNON AIRPORT WAS TOO
SMALL TO HANDLE THE LARGE NEW JETS, SO IT WAS DECIDED TO
EXTEND THE RUNWAYS. THEY HIRED A GERMAN ARCHITECT AND AN
ENGLISH CONSTRUCTION COMPANY AND WERE USING IRISH WORKERS.
THE STRIP WAS BEGUN AND A LITTLE MORE THAN 100 YARDS WERE
COMPLETED, WHEN THE WORKERS STOPPED AND NOTHING COULD MAKE
THEM CONTINUE. SO IT WAS DECIDED TO GO OUT TO THE COUNTRY
SIDE AND GET SOME MORE. WHEN THESE WORKERS ARRIVED THEY
WOULD NOT CONTINUE THE STRIP EITHER. SO THE COMPANY WENT
WAY UP TO THE ORANGE COUNTRY IN IRELAND TO GET
Submitter comment: ITEM CONTINUED ON ONE OR MORE CARDS THAT HAVE BEEN LOST.
James Callow comment: INCOMPLETE--SOME FIVE X 8 CARDS MISSING.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Fairy Elf Goblin Gnome |
Date learned: 09-22-1970
IT WAS THE NIGHT OF THE ST. THOMAS HIGH SCHOOL REUNION
DANCE, HELD AT THE ST. THOMAS THE APOSTLE PARISH IN
DETROIT {MICHIGAN}. A FEW OF MY OLD CLASSMATES GOT BORED
WITH THE DANCE AND DECIDED TO GO FOR A RIDE. THEY LATER
CAME BACK WITH A RATHER STRANGE ACCOUNT OF THAT RIDE.
JOE, LOU, AND DAVE WERE RIDING AROUND IN GROSSE POINT
WHEN THEY FOUND THEMSELVES IN A PRIVATE DRIVE THAT LED TO A
PRIVATE GOLF COURSE. SO THEY FIGURED THAT WHILE THEY WERE
THERE, THEY WOULD GO AND SEE WHAT THE COURSE LOOKED LIKE.
THEY PULLED UP A FEW HUNDRED FEET, STOPPED, AND SHUT OFF
THE HEADLIGHTS. IN THE DARKNESS, THEY COULD MAKE OUT
SHAPES MOVING AROUND, SHAPES WHICH LOOKED LIKE LITTLE
MEN RUNNING AROUND--LIKE PIGMIES. THE THREE OF THEM WERE
GOING TO GET OUT OF THE CAR TO GET A CLOSER LOOK, BUT THE
FLASHLIGHT DIDN'T WORK, SO THEY DECIDED TO STAY INSIDE.
LATER, THEY LEFT TO COME BACK TO THE DANCE WITH THE
INTENTION OF GOING BACK WITH A WORKING FLASHLIGHT.
ON HEARING THEIR STORY WHEN THEY RETURNED, WE WANTED TO GO
AND SEE FOR OURSELVES, BUT JOE, LOU, AND DAVE DIDN'T
FEEL UP TO DIRECTING US. SO WE ENDED UP TALKING ABOUT
IT ALL NIGHT AND FOR SOMETIME AFTER.
ABOUT A YEAR LATER, I FOUND THAT THERE REALLY WERE NO
PIGMIES AT ALL. IT WAS ALL A BIG JOKE THAT THE THREE
FELLOWS HAD COME UP WITH TO PLAY ON US ALL.
NOW THOUGH, THE STORY OF THE PIGMY GOLF COURSE LIVES
ON. IF YOU ASK ANY OF MY FRIENDS ABOUT IT, THEY WILL TELL
YOU ABOUT THE SAME STORY.
Submitter comment:
STORY OF LITTLE MEN (PYGMIES) RUNNING AROUND A GOLF COURSE AT NIGHT
TOLD AS HOAX, STORY SURVIVES, THOUGH MADE UP FOR THE OCCASION.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Fairy Elf Goblin Gnome PROSE NARRATIVE -- Formula tale |
Date learned: NOT GIVEN
Goblin Story
A few years ago, in the main plant of Valente's Men's Formal Wear, the general manager, Marty Rapp, and David Palm were cleaning out the drainage wells beside the 50 pound washers down in the laundry. These wells are about 3 feet in diameter and 6 feet deep. Marty, being general manager, directed, while Dave did the cleaning. All of a sudden, Dave found himself being pulled into the well. He was waist deep in the murky water before Marty pulled him out by the arm. Maybe it was well that Marty was there directing, far Max, a vile, loathsome creature that lives in the sewers under Valente's had tried to pull Dave down into his submarine lair. For what purpose, no one knows, but it is certain it wouldn't have been pleasant. From then on, people are cautioned not to walkalone in the laundry in the dark.
Submitter comment:
For us at Valente's, Max is something to blame accidents on. Dave didn't really get pulled into the well, Marty pushed him in. Though, if you ask anyone there about Dave falling into the well, you will probably get the version with Max in it, then the real one.
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs added by TRD
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT ; VALENTES MENS FORMALWEAR
Keyword(s): FANTASY ; Goblin ; Lore ; Mischief ; OMEN ; SEWER ; Submarine ; SUPERNATURAL ; TRICKSTER ; WATER
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Fairy Elf Goblin Gnome |
Ethnic: Irish
Some more: when these men arrived they would not work either - it seems the air strip went over a large mound and this is Ireland is recognized as a grave yard for the "Little People" and to disturb it is unheard of. So to this day the strip is still uncompleted. [sic]
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs and BN added by TRD
James Callow comment:
Card was located in a pile marked with [?].
Where learned: UNKNOWN
Keyword(s): Airport ; Airstrip ; BELIEF ; BURIAL ; ETHNIC ; GRAVEYARD ; IRELAND ; Irish ; Legend ; Little People ; Mound ; SYMBOL
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Fairy Elf Goblin Gnome |
Elves
Idea tht elves come in when no one is about to do household chores, etc. -Ireland
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs Added by TRD
Where learned: TENNESSEE ; NASHVILLE
Keyword(s): Chores ; Clean ; Cultural ; Domestic ; Elves ; ETHNIC ; FANTASY ; IRELAND ; MYTH ; REGIONAL
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Fairy Elf Goblin Gnome |