Dr. James T. Callow publications
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The James T. Callow Folklore Archive
Your search for B478 returned 313 results.
MONONAGHELA RIVER
THE LEGEND IS THAT A CHIEF OF AN INDIAN TRIBE NAMED THE RIVER
AFTER HIMSELF. THE TRIBE WAS OF FIERCE WARRIORS AND RULED ALONG
MOST OF THE RIVER BEFORE THE LAND WAS EVER SETTLED.
Submitter comment: INFORMANT USED TO LIVE ON THIS RIVER AS A CHILD IN PENNSYLVANIA.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Explanation of a name |
Date learned: 10-07-1970
"HOBSON'S CHOICE"
"MY GRANDFATHER ALWAYS USED TO SAY "HOBSON'S CHOICE ". HE SAID THAT
ONE TIME THERE WAS THIS STABLE OWNER NAMED HOBSON, AND HIS STABLE HAD
GOOD HORSES AND ALSO SOME THAT WERE NOT SO GOOD. AND PEOPLE WOULD
ALWAYS COME IN AND ASK FOR THE GOOD HORSES. BUT THE GOOD HORSES WERE
GETTING WORN OUT. SO HE GAVE THEM THE NEXT HORSE THAT WAS IN LINE,
AND IT WAS "HOBSON'S CHOICE" WHAT HORSE THEY GOT."
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Explanation of a name |
LE GNOMME ROUGE
THE CITY OF DETROIT HAS A FRENCH ORIGIN. BOTH CADILLAC AND
FATHER RICHARD GREATLY AIDED THE CITIES FOUNDING. BOTH OF
THESE MEN WERE ADVISED BY 'LE GNOMME ROUGE.' THIS LITTLE
MAN HELPED IN MAKING IMPORTANT DECISIONS . MANY OF THE CITIZENS
SAW HIM FROM TIME TO TIME. HE WAS LAST SEEN IN 1806 DURING THE
DETROIT FIRE AND IN 1943 DURING THE RACE RIOTS. AT THAT TIME,
SOME CITIZENS SAW HIM, OPENLY SOBBING, WALKING THE STREETS
OF DOWNTOWN. BILL GORMAN HEARD THIS, I WOULD THINK, FROM TRADITIONAL
SOURCES.
Data entry tech comment:
Updated by TRD
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DEARBORN
Keyword(s): Cadillac ; Detroit ; ETYMOLOGY ; FESTIVAL ; FRENCH ; Gnomme Rouge ; Legend ; Nain Rouge ; Origin ; RACE ; Riots
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Ghost Spirit Phantom Specter PROSE NARRATIVE -- Explanation of a name |
Date learned: 07-08-1964
LEGEND
IF YOU WERE A BAD BOY WHEN YOU WERE YOUNG AND YOUR PARENTS
COULDN'T CONTROL YOU THEY WOULD SEND YOU AWAY TO THIS OLD
MAN'S HOUSE WHERE HE WOULD BEAT YOU AND MAKE YOU LISTEN. YOUR
PARENTS WOULD ALSO CALL HIM ON THE PHONE AND TELL HIM
YOU WERE
BAD AND HE WOULD COME TO YOUR HOUSE IF YOUR PARENTS WANTED HIM.
HIS NAME WAS MR. SKEEZIX. TO GET Y,OU TO OBEY YOUR PARENTS WOULD
SAY: ' DO YOU WANT ME TO GET MR. SKEEZIX?'
THAT WAS ENOUGH TO MAKE YOU LISTEN.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; HARPER WOODS
James Callow Keyword(s): THREAT
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Explanation of a name BELIEF -- Human Being |
BUTTERFLIES:
THE LORD HAD CLIPPED PIECES FROM EVERYTHING. THESE CLIPPINGS WERE
CALLED FLUTTER-BYS BY WHITE FOLKS. THESE FLUTTER-BYS GOT OVER TO OUR
PART OF THE WORLD AND WELL, YOU KNOW HOW US BLACK FOLKS ARE; WE
GOTTA' SAY THINGS OUR WAY OR DIE TRYING; SO WHEN WE LOOKED UP AND
SAW THESE THINGS COME FLOATING BY, WE HEARD WHITE FOLKS CALL 'EM
FLUTTER-BYS" AND WE FELL OUT LAUGHING. "FLUTTER-BYS! WHITE FOLKS PUT
THEIR TONGUES THROUGH ALL KINDS OF CHANGES TRYING TO TALK. FLUTTER-
BYS, NOW WHO COULD SAY THAT?" SO WE TURNED THAT THING AROUND AND
CALLED THEM BUTTERFLIES. THAT SOUNDED A WHOLE LOT BETTER; IT WAS
EASY ON THE TONGUE AND EASY ON THE EAR, AND THAT'S THE WAY THE WORDS
WERE 'SPOSED TO BE. BUTTERFLIES!
Submitter comment:
THIS IS A VARIANT OF FLUTTER-BYS WHICH IS SEQENCE NUMBER 731772 - 2
IN MY COLLECTION.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | Favorites PROSE NARRATIVE -- Explanation of a name PROSE NARRATIVE -- Tale BELIEF -- Legend SPEECH -- Group of Vowels and Consonants, and of Words |
Date learned: 00-00-1950
LEGEND
AN ISLAND CALLED BELLE ISLE IN DETROIT USED TO BE CALLED SNAKE'S
ISLAND BECAUES THERE WERE LOTS OF SNAKES ON THE ISLAND, BUT LATER
LARGE HOGS WERE PUT OUT THERE TO KILL UP ALL THE SNAKES AND THEY
DID SO, LATER IT BECAME KNOWN AS HOG'S ISLAND.
TIME GOES ON AND THE HOG'S POPULATION DIES OUT AND PEOPLE BEGAN
COMING TO THE ISLAND FIXING IT UP SO THEY LATER CHANGE THE NAME
AGAIN,
Submitter comment:
THE WORDS BELLE ISLES ARE FRANCES.
THIS STORY WAS PASSED DOWN TO MY MOTHER FROM HER MOTHER WHO LIVED AT
TIME THIS WAS TAKING PLACE AROUND 1919 OR SOMETHING.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Explanation of a name |
Date learned: 11-04-1977
HOW NOVI, MICHIGAN GOT ITS NAME
ACCORDING TO MY LATE FATHER, THE CITY OF NOVI, MICHIGAN GOT
ITS NAME BY ACCIDENT. ACCORDING TO THE STORY, A MAP MAKER
MISTOOK A SURVEYOR'S NOTATION ON A ROUGH, EARLY MAP OF THE AREA.
THE SURVEYOR HAD MARKED "NO. VI" ON THE MAP, DESIGNATING THE
LOCATION OF STAGE COACH STOP NUMBER SIX ON THE RUN BETWEEN
DETROIT AND CHICAGO. THE MAP MAKER THOUGHT THE NOTATION WAS A
WORD AND RAN ALL THE LETTERS TOGETHER. THUS, "NO. VI" BECAME NOVI.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | Favorites PROSE NARRATIVE -- Explanation of a name SPEECH -- Folk etymology |
Date learned: 00-00-1968
MURDER MOUNTAIN.
THERE'S THIS HILL NEAR CHELSEA, MICHIGAN, THAT EVERYONE CALLS
" MURDER MOUNTAIN." THE WAY I HEARD IT, THERE WAS THIS YOUNG
COUPLE WHO WENT OUT THERE FOR A PICNIC IN THE MOONLIGHT. I GUESS
THEY WERE MAKING OUT OR SOMETHING, WHEN SOMEBODY OR SOMETHING
ATTACKED THEM. THERE WAS NO SIGN OF A STRUGGLE, WHEN TWO LITTLE
BOYS FOUND THEIR BODIES THE NEXT DAY. THEY WERE STILL IN AN
EMBRACE, BUT THEY WERE BLOODIED UP SOMETHING AWFUL. THE COPS NEVER
FOUND OUT WHO DID IT, BUT EVER SINCE THEN THAT HILL'S BEEN CALLED
" MURDER MOUNTAIN ". I GUESS THIS HAPPENED ABOUT 1930.
Submitter comment:
THE INFORMANT REMEMBERS SOME OF HIS CLASSMATES TELLING THIS AT
SCHOOL.
Where learned: NOT KNOWN
Keyword(s): MURDER- UNSOLVED.
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Formation PROSE NARRATIVE -- Explanation of a name |
Date learned: 00-00-1930
"MAUMEE RIVER LEGEND"
"ONCE UPON A TIME, A LONG, LONG TIME AGO, AN INDIAN FAMILY
WAS TRAVELING DOWN THE RIVER. ONE NIGHT, THERE WAS A TERRIBLE
STORM AND THE LITTLE INDIAN BOY BECAME LOST. THE MOTHER AND
FATHER LOOKED HIGH AND LOW FOR HIM BUT COULDN'T FIND HIM. ALL THEY
HEARD WAS A FAINT CRY " MOMEE " EVEN TO THIS DAY, YOU CAN STILL
HEAR HIM CALL " MOMEE." "
Where learned: OHIO ; PEMBERVILLE
Keyword(s): CALLING GHOST.
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Ghost Spirit Phantom Specter PROSE NARRATIVE -- Explanation of a name |
DEVIL'S GORGE
BY NIAGARA FALLS THERE IS A LARGE GORGE NEAR THE WHIRLPOOL IN WHICH
A REGIMENT OF BRITISH WERE SUPPOSEDLY WIPED OUT BY AN INDIAN AND
FRENCH AMBUSH. THIS IS HOW IT GOT ITS NAME.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): WAR- AMBUSH
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Explanation of a name BELIEF -- Formation |
Date learned: 11-15-1968
LEGEND
IN THE BLUE RIDGE MOUNTAINS OF VIRGINIA, THERE IS A PLACE CALLED
DEVIL'S DEN. LEGEND HAS IT THAT WHEN LUCIFER WAS CAST OUT OF
HEAVEN THAT IS THE PLACE HE WAS THROWN INTO. THE PIT IS BOTTOMLESS,
SO IT'S SAID. YOU CAN DROP A STONE INTO THE PIT AND NEVER HEAR IT
HIT BOTTOM. THEY'VE CALLED IT DEVIL'S DEN AS LONG AS ANYONE
REMEMBERS.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): BOTTOMLESS PIT.
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Explanation of a name BELIEF -- Devil Demon BELIEF -- Formation |
Date learned: 03-01-1971
THE DEVIL'S HOLE ROAD LEGEND.
" THE AREA IN WHICH I LIVE USED TO BE ALL SWAMPY. THE INDIANS
BELIEVED THAT WHEN AN INDIAN OR WHITE MAN WENT INTO THE AREA AND DID
NOT RETURN THAT THE DEVIL HAD CAPTURED HIM. SO THAT IS HOW DEVIL'S
HOLE ROAD GOT ITS NAME. "
Where learned: OHIO ; PEMBERVILLE
Keyword(s): CAPTURED BY DEVIL
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Devil Demon PROSE NARRATIVE -- Explanation of a name BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal |
PINGREE'S POTATOE PATCH
THE CITY OF DETROIT USED TO BE KNOWN AS PINGREE'S POTATOE PATCH.
Submitter comment: THE INFORMANT SAID THIS NAME CAME ABOUT BECAUSE OF A MAYOR OF DETROIT
Where learned: LOCATION NOT RECORDED BY COLLECTOR
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Explanation of a name |
Date learned: 04-13-1967
Entry filtered.
Entry filtered.
SOMERSET, MICHIGAN WAS AN OLD INDIAN BURYING GROUND,
AND WAS NAMED AFTER SOME INDIAN.
Where learned: NOT RECORDED BY COLLECTOR
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Explanation of a name |
Date learned: NOT RECORDED BY COLLECTOR
DEVIL'S LAKE, MICHIGAN WAS SO NAMED BECAUSE TWO INDIANS WHO WERE
IN LOVE WITH THE SAME SQUAW FOUGHT FOR HER IN CANOES IN THE
MIDDLE OF THE LAKE. ONE DROWNED AND THEY THOUGHT THAT THE DEVIL
GOT HIM SO THEY CALLED IT DEVIL'S LAKE.
Where learned: NOT RECORDED BY COLLECTOR
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Explanation of a name |
Date learned: NOT RECORDED BY COLLECTOR
BAW BEESE LAKE, SOUTH OF JACKSON WAS NAMED FOR SOME INDIAN.
Where learned: NOT RECORDED BY COLLECTOR
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Explanation of a name |
Date learned: NOT RECORDED BY COLLECTOR
EAGLE POINT AT CLARK LAKE GOT ITS NAME FROM AN EAGLE THAT
USED TO INHABIT A BIG SWAMP WILLOW TREE ON THE POINT.
SOMEHOW OR OTHER THEY GOT THE EAGLE AND HAD IT MOUNTED IN THE LODGE
AND THAT IS HOW THE PLACE GOT ITS NAME.
Where learned: NOT RECORDED BY COLLECTOR
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Explanation of a name |
Date learned: NOT RECORDED BY COLLECTOR
CLARK LAKE RECEIVED ITS NAME FROM A MR. CLARK WHO WAS A
GOVERNMENT SURVEYOR. HE WAS SO IMPRESSED BY ITS NATURAL BEAUTY
THAT HE ASKED TO HAVE HIS CREMATED ASHES SPREAD ON THE LAKE WHEN
HE DIED. THIS WAS DONE AND THE LAKE WAS NAMED AFTER HIM.
Where learned: NOT RECORDED BY COLLECTOR
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Explanation of a name |
Date learned: NOT RECORDED BY COLLECTOR