Dr. James T. Callow publications
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The James T. Callow Folklore Archive
Your search for B477 returned 559 results.
GHOST BRIDGE
DRIVE DOWN CHERRY HILL ROAD IN DEARBORN UNTIL YOU'RE WAY OUT IN
THE COUNTRY. YOU WILL COME TO A SMALL BRIDGE. WHEN YOU CROSS IT,
YOUR HEADLIGHTS FLICK OFF AND ON SEVERAL TIMES. TURN THE CAR
AROUND UNTIL YOU ARE FACING IN THE DIRECTION IN WHICH YOU CAME
AND LOOK FOR A RED LIGHT IN THE SKY AND FOLLOW IT. SOMETIMES
WHILE YOU'RE STOPPED ON THE BRIDGE SOMETHING WHITE LIKE A DUMMY
COMES FLYING OUT IN FRONT OF THE CAR.
Submitter comment:
INFORMANT WENT THERE--LIGHT FLICKED, AND SAW WHITE FIGURE AND RED
LIGHT, BUT DID NOT FOLLOW LIGHT.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
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
A LEGEND OF POLAND'S BEGINNING
IN THE MOUNTAINS OF CHARWOYA THERE ARE TWO PROMINENT HEIGHTS,
KRAPINA AND PSARY, WITH RUINS OF CASTLES ON THEM. IT IS SAID
THAT THERE LIVED THREE BROTHERS, PAGAN SLAVIC PRINCES--LECH,
CZECH, AND RUS--SONS OF THE NOBLEMAN PANANOW. THEIR SISTER
WYLINDA, WHO FELL IN LOVE WITH AN ENEMY LEADER, CAUSED WAR UPON
THE SLAVIC ARMY AND A GREAT DEFEAT. THEY GAVE THEIR SISTER THE
DEATH PENALTY AND THEN LEFT THEIR HOME FOR GOOD.
THIS (WAS) ABOUT THE YEAR 550 A.D. WHEN THE BROTHERS CROSSED THE
DUNAJ RIVER AND WENT THEIR SEPARATE WAYS. LECH WENT WITH HIS
LEAGUE OF MEN TO THE RIVER WARTA, NEAR THE LAKE GOPTO, WHERE A
SLAVIC GROUP CALLED POLAMIE LIVED. WHEN HE ARRIVED AT SUNSET,
HE SAW A NEST IN THE TREES FROM WHERE A WHITE EAGLE HAD JUST
FLOWN OUT. AT THAT PLACE HE DECIDED TO SETTLE, NAMING THE
PLACE GNIEGNO (MEANING "NEST") AND FOUNDING THE KINGDOM NAMED
POLAKOMI (MEANING "AFTER LECH"). THE KINGDOM THEN TOOK AS THEIR
COAT OF ARMS THE HWITE EAGLE WITH OPEN WINGS FOR FLIGHT IN THE
FIELD OF RED.
IT IS ALSO TOLD THAT, AFTER MANY YEARS, THE BROTHERS OF LECH,
CZECH (FROM WHOM CAME THE CZECHS) AND RUS (THE FOUNDER OF THE
RUSSIAN PEOPLE) MET AGAIN AT THIS SAME PLACE. HERE THERE WAS A
CITY BUILT SOON AFTER IN HONOR OF THIS MEETING CALLED POZNAN.
IN POLISH IT MEANS "A MEETING." THIS CITY EXISTS TO THIS DAY,
POZNAN OR POSEN, POLAND.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DEARBORN
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Bird PROSE NARRATIVE -- Product or activity of man or animal PROSE NARRATIVE -- Explanation of a name CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- F535 |
Date learned: NOT GIVEN
PHANTOM SHIP
THE FLYING DUTCHMAN WAS A PHANTOM SHIP THAT HAD TO ROVE THE SEAS
FOREVER WITHOUT TOUCHING LAND BECAUSE HER CAPTAIN HAD OFFENDED A
SEA GOD.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DEARBORN HEIGHTS
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 |
HAUNTED HOUSE
THE INFORMANT'S HUSBAND CLAIMED THAT HE LIVED IN A HAUNTED HOUSE.
IN THIS HOUSE WERE UNDERGROUND CHAMBERS WHERE THE BOYS USED TO
SLEEP. ONE NIGHT, THE INFORMANT'S HUSBAND AWOKE AND SAW A LITTLE
MAN WITH A TURBAN AND A LONG RED ROBE UNROLLING A RUG. HE WOKE
HIS BROTHER AND THEY BOTH WITNESSED THE LITTLE MAN. THEY TOLD
THEIR MOTHER AND SHE WOULD NEVER ALLOW THEM TO SLEEP DOWN THERE
AGAIN.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Ghost Spirit Phantom Specter PROSE NARRATIVE -- Product or activity of man or animal |
Date learned: 03-08-1970
MYSTERIOUS LIGHTHOUSE
DURING A FOG, A SHIP SPOTTED A LIGHTHOUSE NEAR THE COAST OF MAINE.
SEVERAL OF THE MEN LEFT THE SHIP IN A SMALL BOAT AND HEADED TO THE
LIGHTHOUSE. WHILE THEY WERE THERE, TWO OF THE MEN DECIDED TO
HAVE A RACE FROM THE TOP OF THE LIGHTHOUSE TO THE BOTTOM. THEIR
BET, WHICH CONSISTED OF A KNIFE, A COMPASS, AND SEVERAL COINS, WAS
TIED IN A HANDKERCHIEF AND DROPPED TO THE FLOOR. ONE OF THE MEN
STARTED DOWN THE STEPS AND THE OTHER JUMPED OUT OF THE WINDOW.
WHEN THE MAN WHO USED THE STEPS REALIZED THIS, HE RAN BACK UP THE
STEPS AND LOOKED OUT OF THE WINDOW. HE COULD NOT SEE THE OTHER
MAN. WHEN HE WENT TO THE BOTTOM OF THE LIGHTHOUSE, THE HANDKER-
CHIEF WAS ALSO GONE.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT
Date learned: 11-20-1968
U OF D LEGEND
IT IS SAID BY SOME STUDENTS AT THE UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT THAT THE
BELL IN THE TOWER CHIMES EVERY TIME A VIRGIN PASSES BY. IT HAS
NOT AS YET SOUNDED ITS MELODIC CHIMES.
Submitter comment:
THE INFORMANT REMEMBERS HEARING THIS WHEN HE BEGAN U OF D AS A
FRESHMAN IN SEPTEMBER OF 1962.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Product or activity of man or animal CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- School |
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
PROSE NARRATIVE
WHEN WALKING THROUGH A CEMETERY, COMING HOME FROM WORK, A MAN WAS
ATTACKED BY WILD DOGS AND KNOCKED DOWN. THE NEXT DAY HE WENT WITH
HIS DOG FOR PROTECTION, BUT WAS AGAIN ATTACKED AND KNOCKED DOWN.
FINALLY ON THE THIRD NIGHT HE WENT ALONE AND WAS FOLLOWED THROUGH
THE CEMETERY BY TWO LARGE WAGON WHEELS WHICH CALLED HIM BY NAME.
THIS WAS THE LAST INCIDENT. AFTERWARDS NOTHING UNUSUAL OCCURRED.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Mammal PROSE NARRATIVE -- Product or activity of man or animal ART CRAFT ARCHITECTURE -- Cemetery |
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 |
HAUNTED CABIN
THERE IS AN OLD LOGGING CABIN IN EAST TAWAS ON ONE OF THE BACK
LOGGING ROADS DATING BACK TO AROUND CIVIL WAR TIME, AND THE CABIN
IS IN VERY GOOD SHAPE FOR HOW OLD IT IS. THE LEGEND GOES THAT THE
PERSON WHO ONWED THE PLACE DIED IN A STABLE JUST OFF ONE ROOM,
ALONG WITH HIS DOG AND HORSE. PRIOR TO OUR ARRIVAL IN EAST TAWAS
(ABOUT 1953), A GROUP OF PEOPLE APPROACHED THE CABIN. ONE PERSON
FROM THE GROUP OPENED THE TOP PART OF THE DUTCH-DOOR AND CLIMBED
OVER AND INTO THE CABIN. HE SEARCHED THE CABIN AND FOUND THE
BONES OF A HUMAN BEING, A HORSE AND A DOG, IN THE STABLE AREA.
WHEN HE CAME OUT OF THE CABIN HE TOLD THE GROUP WHAT HE HAD FOUND
AND IMMEDIATELY KEELED OVER DEAD. THE GROUP FLED, LEAVING THE
TOP PART OF THE DOOR OPEN AND NO ONE HAS ENTERED THE CABIN SINCE
THEN. ALL THE UTENSILS USED BY THE DEAD OWNER COULD BE SEEN IN
THE CABIN IN 1958--THE TIME WHEN THE INFORMANT WAS THERE. THE
INFORMANT BELIEVES THAT THIS REALLY HAPPENED.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; EAST TAWAS
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Ghost Spirit Phantom Specter PROSE NARRATIVE -- Mammal PROSE NARRATIVE -- Product or activity of man or animal BELIEF -- Death Funeral Burial |
Date learned: 00-00-1958
HOUSE OF DAVID TREASURE
IN BENTON HARBOR, MICHIGAN, IN THE HOUSE OF DAVID (KING BEN
PURNELL'S RELIGIOUS SECT), IT IS BELIEVED THAT A SUM OF TEN
MILLION DOLLARS IS HIDDEN BEHIND A PANEL WITH A SECRET SPRING.
PURNELL IS REPORTED TO HAVE COLLECTED MANY MILLIONS THROUGH
HIS ENTERPRISE AND THE MONEY HAS BEEN CHECKED AND TRACED, BUT
TEN MILLION DOLLARS ARE UNACCOUNTED FOR.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DEARBORN
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Product or activity of man or animal PROSE NARRATIVE -- Ordinary Tale CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Measure of quality Medium of exchange |
Date learned: 03-00-1968
PAYROLL TREASURE
VARIOUS TALES TELL ABOUT A "POT OF GOLD" BURIED ON DRUMMOND
ISLAND, MICHIGAN, BY A BRITISH COMMISSARY OFFICER TO INSURE ITS
SAFETY. HOWEVER, DURING HIS STAY ON THE ISLAND, HE HAD SO MUCH
TO WORRY ABOUT THAT HE BECAME MENTALLY DERANGED AND AS A RESULT
WAS UNABLE TO RECALL THE LOCATION OF HIS HIDDEN TREASURE.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DEARBORN
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Physically handicapped Deformed PROSE NARRATIVE -- Product or activity of man or animal CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Measure of quality Medium of exchange |
Date learned: NOT GIVEN
HERMIT ISLAND TREASURE
ON HERMIT ISLAND, ONE OF THE APOSTLE GROUP IN LAKE SUPERIOR, A
SHORT DISTANCE OUT OF BAYFIELD, WISCONSIN, IS BURIED A BRITISH
PAYROLL. IT WAS BURIED TO KEEP IT FROM HOSTILE INDIANS, WHO
RAIDED THE OUTPOST AND MASSACRED ALMOST ALL OF THE TROOPS
STATIONED THERE. TWO MEN SURVIVING TOLD OF THE BURIAL OF THE
MONEY BUT DID NOT KNOW WHERE THE OFFICERS BURIED IT.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DEARBORN
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Product or activity of man or animal CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Measure of quality Medium of exchange BELIEF -- Death Funeral Burial |
Date learned: NOT GIVEN
THE BELLS OF GLEN LEE
THE INFORMANT WENT TO LONDON WITH THE LAIRD'S FAMILY WHILE HER
FAMILY STAYED BEHIND AT GLEN LEE, THE COUNTRY ESTATE, AS CARE-
TAKERS. THEY SLEPT IN THE SERVANTS' QUARTERS ABOVE THE KITCHEN
WHERE THE BELLS WERE TO CALL THE SERVANTS. THERE WAS NO ONE ELSE
IN THE HOUSE, BUT SEVERAL TIMES THEY HEARD THE BELLS RING. THE
INFORMANT'S FATHER ATTEMPTED TO DISCOVER A CAUSE, BUT WAS UNABLE
TO DO SO. THIS WAS ABOUT 1917. GLEN LEE IS IN NEW GALLOWI,
KIRKCUDBRIGHTSHIRE IN SCOTLAND.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DEARBORN
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Product or activity of man or animal CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Home |
Date learned: 03-00-1968
ST. GERTRUDE CHURCH
THERE IS A LOCAL LEGEND IN THE PARISH OF ST. GERTRUDE (BUILT
IN 1887) IN ST. CLAIR SHORES THAT THE BODIES OF SAINTS MARTYRED
BY THE INDIANS ARE BURIED INTO THE BASEMENT OF THE CHURCH.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; SAINT CLAIR SHORES
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Product or activity of man or animal BELIEF -- Church |
GHOST HILL
MY INFORMANT WORKED AT CAMP SEMECONON OUTSIDE BUTLER, PENNSYLVANIA
ONE SUMMER AND TOLD ME OF THIS OLD LADY THAT LIVED ON TOP OF THIS
VERY HIGH HILL WITH HER BROTHER WHO WAS ALSO AGED. ON THE WAY TO
THIS OLD LADY'S LOG CABIN THERE WAS AN OLD GRAVE YARD JUST OFF THE
PATH ABOUT 3/4 UP THE HILL. SOME OF THE TOMBSTONES WERE DATED IN
THE LATE 1700'S. THE OLD LADY WOULD TALK ABOUT HOW THE SPIRITS
OF THE PEOPLE BURIED IN THIS GRAVEYARD WOULD START YELLING AND EVEN
FIGHTING AMONG THEMSELVES. THE LADY SEEMED TO BELIEVE IN WHAT SHE
WAS SAYING AND EVERY TIME MY INFORMANT WOULD ASK HER BROTHER ABOUT
THESE THINGS, HE WOULDN'T SAY A WORD AND SEEMED TO GET FRIGHTENED
WHENEVER THE SUBJECT WAS BROUGHT UP.
Where learned: PENNSYLVANIA ; PITTSBURGH
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Ghost Spirit Phantom Specter PROSE NARRATIVE -- Product or activity of man or animal ART CRAFT ARCHITECTURE -- Cemetery |
HAUNTED HOUSE
THERE WAS A HAUNTED HOUSE AT GRATIOT AND HARPER IN DETROIT IN THE
1930'S. A FAMILY LIVED IN IT BUT WERE SCARED OUT BY THE GHOST.
THE GHOST WOULD TAKE TOBACCO OUT OF THE POCKET OF THE FATHER OF
THE FAMILY. AFTER THE FAMILY MOVED OUT NO ONE WOULD MOVE INTO
THE HOUSE. AFTER THE HOUSE STOOD VACANT FOR A COUPLE OF YEARS,
THE CITY WIDENED HARPER AND TORE THE HOUSE DOWN EXCEPT FOR ONE
CORNER OF THE HOUSE WHICH THEY LEFT FOR THE GHOST.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; Mount Clemens
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Ghost Spirit Phantom Specter PROSE NARRATIVE -- Product or activity of man or animal |
Date learned: 11-08-1968
VOICES
ON THE COAST OF RHODE ISLAND, THERE ARE CONCRETE BUNKERS AND PILL-
BOXES LEFT OVER FROM WWII THAT WERE USED TO DEFEND THE COAST.
PEOPLE SAY THAT ONE CAN HEAR THE VOICE OF THE RADIO MAN AND THE
VOICES OF THE MEN THAT WERE STATIONED THERE.
Where learned: NEW YORK ; ENDWELL
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Ghost Spirit Phantom Specter PROSE NARRATIVE -- Product or activity of man or animal ART CRAFT ARCHITECTURE -- Occupation War |