Dr. James T. Callow publications
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The James T. Callow Folklore Archive
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GHOST STORY
"I COME FROM A VERY OLD TOWN IN NEW JERSEY THAT WAS
SETTLED BEFORE THE REVOLUTIONARY WAR. IT WAS ISOLATED
AND THE PEOPLE THERE WERE VERY STRICT. THERE WAS
A CURFEW AND OTHER VERY STRICT LAWS. THERE WAS ALSO A
TRUANT OFFICER THAT EVERYONE CALLED 'OLD NED.' OLD
NED WOULD RIDE AROUND THE STREETS AT NIGHT AT A CERTAIN
TIME OF CURFEW AND COLLECT ALL OF THE LITTLE CHILDREN
THAT WERE STILL OUT PLAYING AND HE WOULD SCOLD THEM
OR TAKE THEM HOME OR TAKE THEM TO JAIL. THE CHILDREN
WOULD GET INTO TROUBLE BY THEIR PARENTS. HE WAS A
ROTTEN, MEAN OLD MAN. AND IT IS SAID THAT AT CERTAIN
TIMES OF THE NIGHT YOU CAN STILL HEAR OLD NED RIDING
AROUND THE STREETS YELLING AT THE KIDS." CN[ CHRISTIAN, SHIRLEY 832917
C1[ 1780 CASGRAIN
Where learned: NEW JERSEY ; CARTERET
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Ghost Spirit Phantom Specter PROSE NARRATIVE -- Human Being |
Date learned: 00001973CA
URBAN BELIEF TALE--LADY WITH SPIDER BITE
ONE DAY, A LADY WAS WORKING AT FARMER JACKS. SHE WAS GIVEN THE
TASK OF PUTTING CRATES ON THE SHELVES. AS SHE WAS ARRANGING A
CRATE, SHE GOT BIT ON THE FOREHEAD BY A SPIDER. THE LADY THOUGHT
NOTHING OF IT AND CONTINUED WORKING. A WEEK LATER HER FOREHEAD
HAD A HUGE BUMP ON IT ABOUT THE SIZE OF A GOLFBALL. AS THE LADY
WAS ARRANGING THE CRATES AGAIN, ONE SLIPPED AND HIT HER RIGHT
ON HER BUMP ON HER FOREHEAD. WHEN THIS HAPPENED, A MILLION
LITTLE SPIDERS CAME CRAWLING OUT OF THE BUMP. TERRIFIED, THE
LADY FAINTED AND HAD TO GO TO THE HOSPITAL FOR TREATMENT.
Submitter comment:
THIS STORY WAS WIDESPREAD IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD. EVERYONE HAS
HEARD ABOUT IT AND BELIEVES IT TO BE TRUE.
James Callow comment: FARMER JACKS IS A GROCERY STORE CHAIN.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Human Being PROSE NARRATIVE -- Animal |
Date learned: 00-00-1977
URBAN BELIEF TALE--BUGS IN CANDY BARS
WHAN I WAS IN GRADE SCHOOL, MY ENGLISH TEACHER WENT TO GET A
CANDY BAR OUT OF THE MACHINES ON HER STUDY HOUR. SHE CHOSE A
REESE'S PEANUT BUTTER CUP AND UNWRAPPED IT. SUDDENLY WE ALL
HEARD A SCREAM FROM THE HALL. MY TEACHER HAD BITTEN INTO THE
CHOCOLATE ONLY TO TASTE SOMETHING FOUL. THERE WERE TONS OF
WHITE MAGGOTS ALL OVER THE CANDY. MY TEACHER WENT HOME SICK.
Submitter comment:
A WEEK AFTER THIS INCIDENT OCCURRED, MY TEACHER RECEIVED TWO
FREE CASES OF CANDY FROM HERSHEY'S WITH A LONG APOLOGY.
SHE GAVE EVERY BAR OF CANDY AWAY AND REFUSES TO EAT IT EVER AGAIN.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Human Being |
WHATEVER YOU DO YOU SHOULD NEVER HARM ANOTHER
PERSONS ANIMAL. PEOPLE HAVE STRONG BONDS WITH
THEIR ANIMALS, SOME PEOPLE WILL EVEN KILL YOU
ABOUT THEIR ANIMALS. I KNOW THIS TO BE TRUE
BECAUSE MY MOTHER TOLD ME ABOUT A WOMAN AND THE
LOVE SHE HAD FOR HER HORSE. WELL, THIS WOMAN HAD
HER HORSE TEN YEARS BEFORE SHE TOOK A HUSBAND. THAT
OLE HORSE WAS REALLY MEAN. TIME CAME WHEN THAT HORSE
KICKED THAT WOMAN'S HUSBAND, SO THE HUSBAND SHOT THE
HORSE. WELL, THAT WOMAN DIDN'T TAKE THE DEATH OF HER
HORSE EASY. AFTER SHE FOUND OUT WHAT HER HUSBAND DID
SHE TOOK A PIECE OF LOG AND CRACKED HER HUSBAND'S SKULL
AND HE DIED. THERE IS A LESSON TO BE LEARNED, NEVER
HARM ANYONE'S ANIMAL.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): CRUELTY TOWARD ANIMALS ; THERIONICIDE HOMICIDE
| Subject headings: | Favorites PROSE NARRATIVE -- Human Being PROSE NARRATIVE -- Product or activity of man or animal BELIEF -- Animal BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal |
Date learned: 00-00-1985
THE LEGEND OF REDFORD POOL.
ABOUT 15 YEARS AGO WHEN THE REDFORD PUBLIC POOL HAD A 25 FOOT
HIGH DIVING PLATFORM THERE WAS THIS ADVENTUROUS MAN WHO
WISHED TO DIVE OFF THE 25 FOOT PLATFORM. AFTER A BIT OF
NEGOTIATION THE LIFE GUARD AT THE POOL ALLOWED THE MAN
TO DIVE OFF THE HIGH DIVE. WELL, IT HAPPENED TO BE A VERY
WINDY DAY THAT DAY AND JUST AS THE MAN LEAPED OFF THE HIGH
DIVE A HUGE GUST OF WIND CAME BY AND SAILED HIM ACROSS
THE POOL AND DASHED HIS GUTS ALL OVER THE SIDEWALK.
Submitter comment: THIS STORY IS TO BE TAKEN AS TRUE.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; REDFORD
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Human Being PROSE NARRATIVE -- Product or activity of man or animal |
"SHINEYMAN"
THE SHINEYMAN WAS A JUNKMAN, NO, CAN'T SAY THAT CAUSE THEY'RE NOT THE SAME. HE WAS MORE OF A CELEBRITY. HE ALWAYS WORE A FUNNY OLD HAT. HE HAD LARGE TRINKETS AND USED BROOMS HANGING FROM HIS WAGON. HE ALWAYS TOOTED A FUNNY HORN. I THOUGHT HE WAS A KIDNAPPER BECAUSE HE WAS UGLY, DIRTY, AND SMELLY. HE WAS A REGULAR AND HAD HIS OWN ROUTE. EVERYDAY HE WOULD COME UP AND DOWN GRANDMA'S ALLEY AND PICK UP OLD CARPETS, AND OTHER USED OBJECTS WHICH PEOPLE HAD DISCARDED I DON'T KNOW HOW HE GOT HIS TITLE BUT WE JUST CALLED HIM THE SHINEYMAN, AND NEVER ASKED WHY.
APPARENTLY, EACH NEIGHBORHOOD HAD ITS OWN SHINEYMAN.
Submitter comment: PRONOUNCED "SHEE-NEE"
Where learned: DETROIT ; MOTHERS GRANDMOTHERS HOME
James Callow Keyword(s): SHEENY MAN
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Human Being BELIEF -- Outlaw Criminal Bandit Pirate |
Date learned: 00001940S
"SILVERKING"
THIS STORY WAS PASSED DOWN FROM GENERATION TO GENERATION.
IT TOOK PLACE SOMEWHERE IN THE OLD WEST, AROUND 1830.
MY FATHER TOLD IT TO ME, AND HIS FATHER TOLD IT TO HIM.
IT IS AN EXPLANATION FOR HOW MY GREAT-GREAT GRANDFATHER
MET HIS BRIDE.
GREAT-GREAT GRANDMA (BEFORE MEETING GREAT-GREAT GRANDPA) WAS
CAPTURED BY THE AMERICAN INDIANS. THEY TOOK HER BACK TO
THEIR CAMP AND TIED HER UP. SHE BECAME ENSLAVED TO THE REDMEN.
THEN, GREAT-GREAT GRANDPA CHARGED IN, RIDING HIS ARABIAN
STALLION NAMED SILVERKING. HE SAW GRANDMA, SWOOPED HER
UP, AND RESCUED HER. THEY WENT RIDING OFF, AND HE WAS A
HERO TO HER. SHE IMMEDIATELY MARRIED HIM, AND THE INDIANS
NEVER CAPTURED HER AGAIN.
Submitter comment: THE INFORMANT WAS EXCITED IN RETELLING THIS STORY!
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; Sterling Heights
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Human Being PROSE NARRATIVE -- Secular hero BELIEF -- Human Being BELIEF -- Secular hero |
"AGNUS DUKE"
YOU HAVE TO SEE AGNUS TO SEE HER. BELIEVING HER IS A
DIFFERENT STORY. SHE WAS CREATED BY JAMES WITH HELP FROM
HIS MOTHER. AGNUS DUKE IS A PERFORMER WHO CAN'T HOLD A
TUNE, MUCH LESS SING ONE. SHE STARRED IN HER FIRST VIDEO
UNDER THE POINTLESS PRODUCTIONS LABEL, WHICH WAS OUT IN
APRIL OF 1985. FORTUNATELY, IT WAS BANNED FROM NETWORK
TELEVISION BEFORE ITS FIRST SCHEDULED AIR DATE. UNFORTUNATELY,
POINTLESS PRODUCTIONS IS NOW IN THE PROCESS OF SHOOTING
A NEW, BIOGRAPHICAL-FEATURE FILM ALL ABOUT AGNUS. IT WILL
BE OUT IN APRIL OF 1986. HER LIFE HAS SO MUCH VALUABLE LORE
IN IT THAT I WILL NOT BEGIN TO ENTER IT NOW. FRANKLY, I AM
COMPUTER TERMINALLY ILL, SO I WON'T FINISH IT NOW EITHER.
INSTEAD, I WILL SUBMIT THE TAPES INTO THE FOLKLORE ARCHIVES.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; Sterling Heights
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Human Being |
Date learned: 00-00-1984
NO FUTURE
THERE ONCE WAS A FORTUNE TELLER WHO READ PALMS. SHE NEVER SPOKE OF
ANY BAD OCCURENCES SHE SAW, ONLY GOOD ONES. ONE DAY A BEAUTIFUL
YOUNG GIRL WALKED IN AND REQUESTED HER PALM BE READ. THE FORTUNE
TELLER ATTEMPTED TO READ HER PALM BUT COULD NOT AND SHE WAS VERY
PUZZLED. "I CAN'T SEEM TO READ YOUR PALM, I HAVE NEVER EXPERIENCED
THIS BEFORE." THE GIRL, FURIOUS, LEFT THE HOME OF THE PALM READER.
AS THE GIRL WAS CROSSING THE STREET TO GET TO HER CAR,
ALL OF A SUDDEN OUT OF NOWHERE A CAR APPEARED AND STRUCK
HER DOWN DEAD. THE FORTUNE TELLER COULD NOT READ HER PALM
BECAUSE THE YOUNG GIRL HAD NO FUTURE TO READ.
| Subject headings: | Prophet / Seer / Soothsayer Favorites PROSE NARRATIVE -- Human Being |
On February 16, 1970 a baby girl was born,
bringing tremendous joy to her parents, Charlie
and Rosemary. They named her Stephanie. The
Millers typified the perfect family. They lived
in a small ranch house in Dearborn, close to the
Allen Park and Melvindale borders. This home was
the picture of gaiety and happiness, abundant with
plenty of flowers in the garden, and the sound of
a baby's laughter. "It was a family right out of
a storybook, all they needed was a white picket
fence...," reminisced Rosemary's sister Claire.
Every story must have an ending, though, and
this one happened to be tragic instead of happy.
On September 3, 1972, Rosemary died, and Charlie's
life was shattered. "If it had not been for
Stephanie, he would have fell off the deep end
right then," commented Claire. It was a horrible
tragedy for everyone concerned.
Charles dedicated all his energy and love on
Stephanie after Rosemary's death, really spoiled
her, and never let her out of his sight. He
even called her Rosie sometimes. In this way,
Stephanie became her father's entire world.
Nearly three years had passed after Rosemary's
death, when yet another tragedy took place as told
by Claire:
It was a real foggy and rainy day, just like
in those late night movies, and Charles and
Stephanie were playing inside. Well, as far
as I figured it, something happened that made
him (Charles) mad at Stephanie. Anyhow, he
yelled at her, which he rarely did, and she
ran outside, right into the street. There
was this big truck coming, one of those
dump trucks. Anyhow, Stephanie ran right
in front of it. It weren't his (the truck
driver's) fault. He slammed on his brakes,
but the road being wet and all... well she
was hit and killed right away.
Stephanie's death not only altered Charles' life,
but Charles himself. According to Claire, he ceased to
speak of anything coherently, and just sat around
rambling on and on about his lost daughter. "Then
one day, he got up, got dressed, and announced he
was going shopping," related Claire.
When he returned from his excursion, he had
purchased a plastic life-sized doll, which from then
on became his daughter Stephanie. Charles set the doll
in front of the picture window to show everyone that
she was still alive. "He was insane with guilt; he
just reverted to a fantasy world, because he could
not deal with the reality," explained Claire.
Charles formed a daily ritual of dressing, feeding
and playing with his substitute for Stephanie, and
has kept this up religiously for over nine years.
But, there is yet another twist to this sad story:
He (Charles) claims that every rainy day at 5 p.m.,
the time of Stephanie's death, you can actually hear
the tires of the truck screeching and squealing.
He runs to the window with the doll to make sure she
stays inside. But what gets me, is that others that
are in the area at that time have claimed that
they heard sounds also...
The flower gardens are now barren, and the house
seems dead in itself. The only visible sign of life
is a motionless child in the window, and the faint
sounds of tires screeching in the distance, believe
it or not.
Submitter comment:
I was able to speak with "Charles" himself, but his
sister-in-law who has lived with him since his wife's
death, helped fill me in on the details of this
story. I was also asked to leave out the actual
names of the people involved for discretion's sake.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT AREA
| Subject headings: | Favorites PROSE NARRATIVE -- Ghost Spirit Phantom Specter PROSE NARRATIVE -- Human Being |
Date learned: 02-00-1984
The Mummy's Hand
An editor of a London newspaper bought a box
containing a mummy's hand which had a scarab that
read: "He who removes these names to a foreign land
shall be met with flood, fire, slaughter and in
the end his very bones will be ground to dust."
At first the editor was skeptical but twice his house
was destroyed, first by fire then by flood, and his best
friend was stabbed for no apparent reason and that
hand clenched every time has to foretell him of the
prophecy. He returned it to Egypt and while on a hunting
expedition was trampled to death fulfilling the curse.
Submitter comment:
Each time a prediction would come true the hand would clench
as though in defiance of the bearer.
Where learned: MICHIGAN
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Human Being |
Date learned: 00001980S
The Flaming Scar
An archeologist had a dream which said that if he gave
a proper burial to an ancient Egyptian king he would be
saved from death by a sign of a flaming scar. One day
he was to take an elevator in Cairo and he spotted a man
with a flaming scar and avoided the elevator. Moments later,
it fell four stories. In Paris on his way to a charity bazaar
he again spotted a man with a flaming scar and avoided him
for later he heard that a fire where he was to speak had
killed dozens. In Chicago the same occurrence and the same
happening (Iroquois Theatre, 1903, hundreds killed) and on
his honeymoon he spotted him again and took his bags off
for had he got on he would have boarded the Titanic, saving
himself not once but four times.
Submitter comment: Brian told me these two stories from his archeology class.
Where learned: MICHIGAN
| Subject headings: | Favorites PROSE NARRATIVE -- Human Being |
Date learned: 00001980S
Wild Rat Hunting
One day there was an African guy, who lived in the city. One day
he went to the village for the holidays to visit his three cousin.
His cousins went and stole a neighbor's hunting dog. They went deep
into the bush. They decided to hunt rat. They found an entrance to a
rat hole. This particular rat had three exits. The dog was placed
to guard one hole and two of the cousins were on the other holes.
They proceeded to poke in the hole to get the rat to come out. The
rat jumped out of the hole where the dog was. When it jumped out,
the dog ran one way and the rat went the other way. The four cousins
called the dog to go after the rat. The rat ran up a tree out of the
reach of the boys and the dog. The cousins got angry with the dog
and continued their hunt grudgedly. They found another rat entrance
and this time the rat bit the dog and the dog began running crazily
and screaming, causing the boys to lose another rat. After about
four hours of hunting the boys spotted a big squirrel and once again
the squirrel escaped the dog. The boys were extremely mad and
decided to do something about it. They climbed half way up bamboo
trees (in case the dog tried to bite anyone) while the one who knew
the dog called it as if he was going to reward it. The guy whipped
the dog really good with a large bamboo branch. The dog began to run
around in great pain. The cousin whipped the dog three times. Once
for every catch they lost. Following this incident, the cousin from
the city abandoned the hunt and returned home disgusted. After about
ten hours of hunting they went home with three big rats. This ten
hours according to standards was too long for only three rats. As
tradition goes, the dog was given the insides of the rats to make
sure he stays a good hunting dog.
Submitter comment:
Do not generalize this story to all Africans. All Africans do
not eat rat. Rats in the jungle are different from house rats, which
are not edible.
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Human Being PROSE NARRATIVE -- Mammal |
Date learned: 08-00-1980
Did I tell you about the time I embarrassed my uncle? We were
on a train in England and I asked the waiter for a napkin. He and
my uncle began laughing and asked why I would want a napkin. It
turns out that "napkin," the way the British use it, means "diaper"
for a baby. The correct way to ask for an "American napkin" if you
are in England, is to ask for a "serviette."
Submitter comment:
Lillian is 86 years old; she was a woman before her time as she
was growing up. I would have liked to know her when she still
remembered everything she had done in her life; now her memory has
faded badly. She only has 3 stories which she tells you over and
over again, and 4 or 5 phrases which she constantly says. This
story is one of the stories.
Where learned: ENGLAND
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Human Being SPEECH -- Common Word |
Grandma and Grandpa's Wedding
It all started when my grandma, then Genevieve Witkowski,
asked my great-grandpa for an orange pop. My grandpa, Steve
Jekielek, overheard and decided to bring her the pop himself. That
began a happily-ever-after that culminated in a wartime wedding.
Weddings were hard to arrange during the war because of
rationing and restrictions. However, everyone chipped in to help
by sharing their ration stamps so their food could be used for the
reception. My great-grandpa went up north to get chickens. Others
stood in lines every day to get liquor allotments.
In the end, on May 8, 1943, the group effort resulted in a
Cinderella wedding with everyone enjoying the ball. It meant more,
because it took more.
Forty-nine years, five kids, and 17 grandchildren later, they
have managed to pass down the values that made their wedding and
their lives a success. They have taught two generations that
sharing, caring and chipping in is what makes life worthwhile, and
that even when chicken is sparse, it sure tastes better when it's
shared. And perhaps, even most unique of all, after 48 years, my
grandpa still brings her orange pop.
Submitter comment:
This wedding story is very special in our family; next year,
the year of my grandparents' fiftieth wedding anniversary, and my
parents' twenty-fifth wedding anniversary, I will be married so as
to continue this tradition.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; Mount Clemens
James Callow Keyword(s): Family values
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Human Being |
Date learned: 00001970S
FATHER RYAN (POET-PRIEST) WAS SAID TO HAVE BEEN BROUGHT BEFORE
THE UNION OFFICERS AFTER NASHVILLE HAD GONE INTO UNION HANDS.
THEY QUESTIONED HIM FOR HAVING SAID THAT HE REFUSED TO BURY
UNION SOLDIERS. FATHER RYAN REPLIED THAT HE'D BE WILLING TO
BURY ALL OF THEM.
Where learned: TENNESSEE ; NASHVILLE
James Callow Keyword(s): CIVIL WAR ; HUMOR
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Human Being |
Date learned: 07-00-1968
UNION PROTECTION FOR REBEL
THIS INCIDENT ACTUALLY HAPPENED. MY INFORMANT'S GRANDMOTHER
AND FAMILY WERE LIVING IN COLUMBUS, GEORGIA, DURING THE
CIVIL WAR. GOVERNOR BROWN HAD KEPT A LOT OF THE GEORGIA
SOLDIERS HOME TO GUART COLUMBUS. WHEN COLUMBUS FELL TO THE
UNION, THE UNION OFFICER IN CHARGE OF UNION TROOPS THERE,
WAS THE COUSIN OF MY INFORMANTS' GRANDMOTHER. THEIR HOUSE
WAS NOT TOUCHED, BUT THEY HAD TO FEED THE SOLDIERS.
IN THE COURSE OF A DAY, ALL OF A SUDDEN THEY HEARD A SHOT
FIRED. IMMEDIATELY THE UNION SOLDIERS SURROUNDED THE PLACE--
THEY FOUND A HALF-WIT BOY WANDERING AROUND WHO HAD FIRED
THE SHOT.
Where learned: TENNESSEE ; NASHVILLE
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Human Being |
Date learned: 07-00-1968
MY MATERNAL GREAT GRANDPARENTS DIED OF TYPHOID FEVER WHEN MY
GRANDMOTHER WAS FIVE YEARS OLD. THERE WERE SEVEN CHILDREN LEFT,
AND THEY WERE GIVEN TO VARIOUS RELATIVES AND ACQUAINTANCES.
MY GRANDMOTHER AND HER BROTHER, BOB, WERE TAKEN BY AN OSBORN
FAMILY IN FLOYD COUNTY, KENTUCKY. THE OSBORNS DECIDED TO
MOVE TO TEXAS, SO THEY TOOK MY GRANDMOTHER AND BOB WITH THEM.
THEY DIDN'T LIKE TEXAS ONCE THEY GOT THERE, SO THE OSBORNS
AND MY GRANDMOTHER RETURNED TO KENTUCKY. MR. OSBORN OWED A
MERCHANT A DEBT, SO HE LEFT BOB (THE REST OF THEM SLIPPED
OFF) TO WORK OFF THE DEBT. BOB WAS ABOUT THIRTEEN AT THE
TIME.
YEARS WENT BY AND MY GRANDMOTHER HAD MARRIED AND HAD THREE
CHILDREN. SHE AND MY GRANDFATHER LIVED AT THE FOOT OF THE
NANCY P. HILL, WHICH IS JUST BELOW PRESTONBURG, KENTUCKY.
MY GRANDMOTHER WAS SITTING IN THE YARD WITH A NEIGHBOR
AND THEY COULD SEE A GREAT DISTANCE DOWN THE ROAD. A MAN
RIDING A HORSE APPEARED DOWN THE ROAD. MY GRANDMOTHER
SAID TO THE NEIGHBOR, "THAT'S MY BROTHER, BOB." SURE
ENOUGH, IT WAS. HE HAD GROWN UP AND MARRIED AND HAD THREE
CHILDREN. HIS WIFE HAD DIED AND HE DECIDED TO RETURN TO
EASTERN KENTUCKY. HE BOUGHT A FARM ON BRANDY KEG AND
SPENT THE REST OF HIS LIFE THERE. I DOUBT IF HE EVER LEFT
FLOYD COUNTY AGAIN.
MY GRANDMOTHER TOLD THIS TALE MANY TIMES. SHE ALSO CLAIMED
TO KNOW WHEN ANY TYPE OF DISASTER WAS ABOUT TO STRIKE HER
FAMILY.
Where learned: KENTUCKY ; ASHLAND
| Subject headings: | Prophet / Seer / Soothsayer PROSE NARRATIVE -- Human Being |
Date learned: NOT GIVEN
MY MOTHER TOLD ME ABOUT A DUMB SUPPER THAT HER GRANDMOTHER
ATTENDED. MY GREAT-GRANDMOTHER, SARAH HOLBROOK, LIVED IN
TAZEWELL COUNTY, VIRGINIA. SHE AND SOME OF HER GIRLFRIENDS
HAD A "DUMB SUPPER." THE IDEA WAS TO COOK A MEAL WITH
NONE OF THE GIRLS SPEAKING A WORD. THEN AT MIDNIGHT, THEY
SAT DOWN AND ATE THE MEAL, STILL WITHOUT SPEAKING. MY
GREAT-GRANDMOTHER WAS FIFTEEN YEARS OLD AT THE TIME AND I
SUPPOSE THE OTHER GIRLS WERE ABOUT THE SAME AGE, SO THIS WAS
NO EASY JOB. IF YOU DID THIS, THE NEXT MAN YOU SAW WOULD
BE YOUR FUTURE HUSBAND.
MY GREAT-GRANDMOTHER'S FATHER RAN AN INN, AND PEOPLE GOING
WEST WOULD STOP THERE BEFORE GOING ON THROUGH THE CUMBERLAND
GAP AND ON INTO THE BLUE GRASS REGION OF KENTUCKY OR THE
NASHVILLE BASIN. GABRIEL VAUGHAN AND HIS TWO BROTHERS EACH
HAVING A WAGON FILLED WITH SUPPLIES STOPPED THERE.
GABRIEL WAS THE FIRST MAN SARAH SAW. SHE MARRIED HIM THE
NEXT DAY AND THEY LEFT FOR KENTUCKY. WHEN THEY WERE GOING
DOWN THE BIG SANDY VALLEY, THEIR WAGON GOT IN A MUDHOLE AND THE
AXLE BROKE WHEN THEY PULLED IT OUT. GABE DECIDED TO STAY
THERE IN FLOYD COUNTY. ONE BROTHER WENT ON TO MISSOURI AND
THE OTHER FINALLY ENDED UP IN CALIFORNIA, ACCORDING TO A
COUSIN OF OURS WHO HAS TRACED THE FAMILY TREE. MY GREAT-
GRANDMOTHER WAS OVER NINETY WHEN SHE DIED AND I REMEMBER
HER SITTING IN HER POKE BONNET AND LONG DRESSES ROCKING.
SHE WAS SENILE AND SLAPPED AT ANY OF US YOUNGER ONES
WHO WENT NEAR HER. SHE COULD SPELL UNCOMMONLY LONG WORDS,
AND U SUPPOSE SHE TOLD MY MOTHER THIS STORY BEFORE SHE
GOT SO OLD.
Where learned: VIRGINIA ; TAZEWELL COUNTY
| Subject headings: | 862 Use of object for determining future spouse PROSE NARRATIVE -- Human Being Food Drink -- Manner of preparation BELIEF -- Marriage |
Date learned: NOT GIVEN
DURING THE 1930'S THE FAD OF TREE SITTING SWEPT THE COUNTRY.
PRACTICALLY EVERY COMMUNITY HAD A TREE SITTER, AND THERE WAS
A CONTEST OF TRYING TO BREAK PREVIOUS RECORDS. IN ASHLAND,
KENTUCKY, WE HAD SEVERAL TREE SITTERS OVER A PERIOD OF TWO OR
THREE YEARS. THE ONE I REMEMBER MOST VIVIDLY ENDED IN TRAGEDY.
A BOY WHO HAD FINISHED HIGH SCHOOL BUT WAS NOT ABLE TO FIND A
JOB DUE TO THE DEPRESSION, BUILT A PLATFORM ABOUT THIRTY FEET
FROM THE GROUND IN A LARGE TREE. HE MADE SOME PROVISION FOR
SHELTER AND HAD DEVISED A PULLEY BY WHICH HIS FAMILY SENT HIS
FOOD AND OTHER NECESSITIES UP IN A BUCKET. THE TOWN PEOPLE
WOULD DRIVE BY AND TALK TO HIM OR WALK UP AND SPEND AN HOUR
OR SO IN THE AFTERNOON OR EARLY EVENING. HE HAD BEEN
UP THE TREE FOR ABOUT FORTY DAYS AND A STORM CAME UP ONE
NIGHT. EVIDENTLY THE STORM FRIGHTENED HIM DURING THE NIGHT
AND HE FELL FROM THE PLATFORM. HIS FAMILY FOUND HIS
CRUMPLED BODY ON THE GROUND THE NEXT MORNING.
Where learned: KENTUCKY ; TENNESSEE ; NASHVILLE ; ASHLAND
Keyword(s): POLE SITTING
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Human Being PROSE NARRATIVE -- Man |
Date learned: 00001930 CA.