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The James T. Callow Folklore Archive

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Your search for S478 returned 9 results.

showing 9 items

EXPLANATION OF NAME, "MURDER HILL"

THERE IS A STRETCH OF NARROW, WINDING ROAD ON THE SIDE OF A HILL
JUST OUTSIDE OF LITTLE VALLEY, NEW YORK. SIGNS AT EACH END OF THIS
LONG ROAD CALL IT "MURDER HILL."
ONE EXPLANATION OF THE NAME IS THE FACT THAT A FATAL ACCIDENT
COULD EASILY HAPPEN THERE.
ANOTHER EXPLANATION IS A LEGEND THAT A MAN KILLED HIS WIFE AND
THEN HIMSELF IN A HOUSE NOT FAR FROM THE ROAD.

Data entry tech comment:

Updated by TRD

Where learned: NEW YORK ; FRANKLINVILLE

Keyword(s): Murder Hill ; Origin of Name ; Tale ; Urban Legend

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Street Trip Relations between relatives, friends, host and guest Social class Rank
BELIEF -- Death Funeral Burial
SPEECH -- S478

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PONTIAC ROAD

OFF OF PONTIAC ROAD, THERE IS SUPPOSED TO BE AN OLD HOUSE WHICH
WAS A DROP OFF STATION FOR RUNAWAY SLAVES. PONTIAC'S NAME IS
SUPPOSED TO BE DERIVED FROM THIS HOUSE.

Submitter comment:

MIKE WASN'T TOO SURE WHERE HE GOT THIS INFORMATION, BUT HE WAS
CERTAIN THAT THIS WAS TRUE.

Data entry tech comment:

Updated by TRD

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT

Keyword(s): Origin ; Pontiac ; Slaves ; Underground Railroad

Subject headings: SPEECH -- S478

Date learned: 10-07-1967

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ORIGIN OF "LYNCHING"

MANY YEARS AGO, WHEN IRELAND WAS UNDER THE RULE
OF THE SPANIARDS, THE SON OF A MAYOR LYNCH IN
IRELAND FELL IN LOVE WITH A MAIDEN WHO WAS BETROTHED,
AGAINST HER WILL, TO A SPANIARD. THE LYNCHED BOY KILLED
THE SPANIARD AND, ACCORDING TO LAW, SHOULD HAVE BEEN HUNG
FOR HIS CRIME. BUT THE PEOPLE OF THE TOWN THOUGHT SO HIGHLY
OF HIM THAT THEY REFUSED TO HAVE A TRIAL TO HANG HIM,
HIS FATHER WAS VERY CONSCIENTIOUS AND FELT THAT AS MAYOR
HE HAD A DUTY TO PERFORM. SO HE TOOK THE LAW INTO HIS OWN HANDS
AND HUNG HIS OWN SON. AND THAT IS HOW THE WORD "LYNCHING"
CAME TO HAVE THE MEANING IT HAS TODAY.

Submitter comment:

MRS MCCLOSKEY HEARD THIS WHEN SHE LIVED IN BELFAST, IRELAND.
ABOUT 1915

Data entry tech comment:

Updated by TRD

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Keyword(s): ETYMOLOGY ; IRELAND ; Lynch ; Lynching ; Origin

Subject headings: SPEECH -- S478

Date learned: 01-13-1964

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Entry filtered.

FOLK ETYMOLOGY: SHYSTER

THIS WORD IS THE CURRENT NAME OF AN UNSCRUPULOUS LAWYER. A
GERMAN LAWYER OF NEW YORK ONCE APPLIED FOR A WARRANT FOR A
CLIENT WHO HAD SLANDERED HIM BY CALLING HIM A VULGAR NAME
WHICH, AS PRONOUNCED BY THE LAWYER, SOUNDED LIKE SHYSTER.

Data entry tech comment:

Updated by TRD

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Keyword(s): Anti-Semitic ; ETYMOLOGY ; Lawyer ; Offensive term ; Origin

Subject headings: CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Common law
SPEECH -- S478

Date learned: 11-29-1969

View just this record

EXPLANATION OF NAME, "MURDER HILL"

THERE IS A STRETCH OF NARROW, WINDING ROAD ON THE SIDE OF A HILL
JUST OUTSIDE OF LITTLE VALLEY, NEW YORK. SIGNS AT EACH END OF THIS
LONG ROAD CALL IT "MURDER HILL."
ONE EXPLANATION OF THE NAME IS THE FACT THAT A FATAL ACCIDENT
COULD EASILY HAPPEN THERE.
ANOTHER EXPLANATION IS A LEGEND THAT A MAN KILLED HIS WIFE AND
THEN HIMSELF IN A HOUSE NOT FAR FROM THE ROAD.

Data entry tech comment:

Updated by TRD

Where learned: NEW YORK ; FRANKLINVILLE

Keyword(s): ETYMOLOGY ; Murder Hill ; Origin ; Urban Legend

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Street Trip Relations between relatives, friends, host and guest Social class Rank
BELIEF -- Death Funeral Burial
SPEECH -- S478

Date learned: 06-00-1968

View just this record

PONTIAC ROAD

OFF OF PONTIAC ROAD, THERE IS SUPPOSED TO BE AN OLD HOUSE WHICH
WAS A DROP OFF STATION FOR RUNAWAY SLAVES. PONTIAC'S NAME IS
SUPPOSED TO BE DERIVED FROM THIS HOUSE.

Submitter comment:

MIKE WASN'T TOO SURE WHERE HE GOT THIS INFORMATION, BUT HE WAS
CERTAIN THAT THIS WAS TRUE.

Data entry tech comment:

Updated by TRD

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT

Keyword(s): ETYMOLOGY ; Origin ; Pontiac ; Slavery ; Slaves ; Underground Railroad

Subject headings: SPEECH -- S478

Date learned: 10-07-1967

View just this record

Entry filtered.

FOLK ETYMOLOGY: SHYSTER

THIS WORD IS THE CURRENT NAME OF AN UNSCRUPULOUS LAWYER. A
GERMAN LAWYER OF NEW YORK ONCE APPLIED FOR A WARRANT FOR A
CLIENT WHO HAD SLANDERED HIM BY CALLING HIM A VULGAR NAME
WHICH, AS PRONOUNCED BY THE LAWYER, SOUNDED LIKE SHYSTER.

Data entry tech comment:

Updated by TRD

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Keyword(s): Anti-Semitic ; ETYMOLOGY ; INSULT ; Jewish ; Origin ; Slur

Subject headings: CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Common law
SPEECH -- S478

Date learned: 11-29-1969

View just this record

EXPLANATION OF NAME, "MURDER HILL"

THERE IS A STRETCH OF NARROW, WINDING ROAD ON THE SIDE OF A HILL
JUST OUTSIDE OF LITTLE VALLEY, NEW YORK. SIGNS AT EACH END OF THIS
LONG ROAD CALL IT "MURDER HILL."
ONE EXPLANATION OF THE NAME IS THE FACT THAT A FATAL ACCIDENT
COULD EASILY HAPPEN THERE.
ANOTHER EXPLANATION IS A LEGEND THAT A MAN KILLED HIS WIFE AND
THEN HIMSELF IN A HOUSE NOT FAR FROM THE ROAD.

Data entry tech comment:

Updated by TRD

Where learned: NEW YORK ; FRANKLINVILLE

Keyword(s): ETYMOLOGY ; Murder Hill ; Origin ; Urban Legend

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Street Trip Relations between relatives, friends, host and guest Social class Rank
BELIEF -- Death Funeral Burial
SPEECH -- S478

Date learned: 06-00-1968

View just this record

PONTIAC ROAD

OFF OF PONTIAC ROAD, THERE IS SUPPOSED TO BE AN OLD HOUSE WHICH
WAS A DROP OFF STATION FOR RUNAWAY SLAVES. PONTIAC'S NAME IS
SUPPOSED TO BE DERIVED FROM THIS HOUSE.

Submitter comment:

MIKE WASN'T TOO SURE WHERE HE GOT THIS INFORMATION, BUT HE WAS
CERTAIN THAT THIS WAS TRUE.

Data entry tech comment:

Updated by TRD

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT

Keyword(s): ETYMOLOGY ; Origin ; Pontiac ; Slavery ; Slaves ; Underground Railroad

Subject headings: SPEECH -- S478

Date learned: 10-07-1967

View just this record

showing 9 items

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