Dr. James T. Callow publications
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The James T. Callow Folklore Archive
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MYSTERY SPOT-GRAVITY
THIS IS A SPOT AT ST. IGNACE MICHIGAN IN THE U.P. WHERE BECAUSE
OF A GHOST HAUNTING THE PARK, THE GRAVITY IS EXTRA-STRONG, AND
YOU CAN STAND ON THE WALL OF A CABIN AND NOT FALL BECAUSE OF THIS
GRAVITY ABNORMAL FORCE.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): ANTI-GRAVITY ; UPPER PENINSULA=U.P.
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Creation and Order of Universe BELIEF -- Ghost Spirit Phantom Specter BELIEF -- Earth |
Date learned: 03-08-1970
HILL LEGEND
THERE IS A CERTAIN HILL AROUND WINSTON SALEM, NORTH CAROLINA
WHERE A CAR WILL ROLL
UPHILL WITH THE DRIVER'S FOOT OFF THE GAS PEDAL.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): ANTI-GRAVITY
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Creation and Order of Universe BELIEF -- Formation |
Date learned: 04-00-1970
THE HILL
THERE IS A HILL IN THE ROSEDALE PARK CEMETERY. WHENEVER ANYONE
PARKED THEIR CAR IN FRONT OF THE HILL, THE CAR WOULD BEGIN
ROLLING UP THE HILL.
Submitter comment:
THIS WAS A STORY WHICH CIRCULATED AROUND MY HIGH SCHOOL. I HAD
HEARD IT ACTUALLY HAPPENED TO SOMEONE, BUT I DID NOT KNOW
ANYONE WHO HAD ACTAULLY EXPERIENCED IT.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; OAK PARK
James Callow Keyword(s): ANTI-GRAVITY
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Formation |
Date learned: 00001960S LATE
SALT
IN IRISH SUPERSTITON: WHEN EATING AT A TABLE AND SOMEONE ASKS
FOR THE SALT, YOU MUST FIRST SET IT DOWN NEXT TO THE PERSON AND
LET HIM PICK IT UP.. IF YOU SHOULD PASS IT TO HIM IT IS SAID THAT
THE TWO WILL GET INTO A FIGHT.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): ADVICE: NEGATIVE ; ADVICE: POSITIVE ; ADVICE: POSITIVE
Date learned: 10-05-1972
WHEN PARENTS WANT TO MAKE THEIR SONS EAT VEGETABLES, THEY TELL
THEM IT WILL PUT HAIR ON THEIR CHEST,
Where learned: UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): FUNCTION
| Subject headings: | Food Drink -- Plant food Vegetable Food Drink -- Special Form and PurposeObject of Bodily Consumption BELIEF -- Body part Senses Upper body, arms, neck BELIEF -- Plant |
Date learned: 11-22-1968
THORN BUSHES
THEY BECOME MORE INVITING.
THE REASON THAT THERE ARE SO MANY THORN BUSHES IN HAWAII, IS WHEN
THE MISSIONARIES FIRST CAME TO HAWAII, THE NATIVES WORE NO
CLOTHING. IN ORDER TO GET THEM TO WEAR CLOTHES, THE MISSIONARIES
PLANTED THORN BUSHES SO THAT THE NATIVES WOULD CUT
THEMSELVES ON THEM,
AND THUS REALIZE THE NEED TO WEAR CLOTHES.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): FUNCTION
| Subject headings: | ART CRAFT ARCHITECTURE -- Dress BELIEF -- Body part Senses BELIEF -- Plant |
Date learned: 04-03-1970
BREAD BELIEF
EATING THE CRUST OF BREAD MAKES YOUR HAIR CURLY.
Where learned: UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): FUNCTION
| Subject headings: | Food Drink -- Plant food Cereal Food Drink -- Special Form and PurposeObject of Bodily Consumption BELIEF -- Body part Senses Hair, on head, mustache, widow's peak BELIEF -- Plant |
Date learned: 11-22-1968
CARROT BELIEF
WHEN A PERSON EATS LOTS OF CARROTS, IT IS SAID THAT HE WILL HAVE
GOOD EYES.
Submitter comment:
WHOEVER SAW A RABBIT WITH GLASSES?
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): FUNCTION
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Body part Senses Eyes, evil eye BELIEF -- Plant |
Date learned: 00-00-1955
HAZELWOOD TREE LEGEND.
THERE IS A LEGEND ABOUT THE HAZELWOOD TREE.
WHEN MARY AND JOSEPH AND JESUS WERE FLEEING TO EGYPT, THEY CAME
TO A POPLAR TREE THAT WAS BIG AND TALL AND STRAIGHT. MARY
ASKED THE POPLAR TREE TO COVER HER UP AND PROTECT HER FROM
THE RAIN. THE POPLAR TREE WOULD NOT. MARY SAID,'MAY YOU NEVER
HAVE YOUR LIMBS DOWN AND MAY YOUR LEAVES NEVER REST.
THIS IS WHY THE POPLAR TREE IS ALWAYS TREMBLING, IN WIND OR NOT.
THE NEXT TREE THAT MARY CAME TO, WAS THE HAZELWOOD TREE.
THEY DO NOT GROW VERY HIGH, ARE SQUATTY, AND ALWAYS HAVE A LOT OF
BRANCHES ON THEM. MARY ASKED THE HAZELWOOD TREE TO COVER HER AND
IT DID. SHE BLESSED THE TREE IN RETURN, SAYING? 'MAY YOU BE BLESSED
FOR ETERNITY BECAUSE YOU HAVE SHELTERED ME. MAY YOUR LEAVES BE A
MEDICINE TO PEOPLE THAT NEED YOU. HEAL THEM OF DISEASES, AND MAY
YOU GROW FRUIT FOR MANKIND AND BEASTS.' SINCE THEN THE HAZELWOOD
TREE HAS PRODUCED LOTS OF NUTS CALLED FILBERTS.
James Callow comment:
POPLAR BRANCHES REACH UP, AS IF ARMS EXTENDED IN PRAYER
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): PLANT ANIMAL
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Religious hero Food Drink -- Plant food Nut BELIEF -- Cloud Fog Mist Rain Hail Ice Snow Frost Dew BELIEF -- Plant |
TOMATO BELIEF
IF YOU EAT MANY TOMATOS, YOUR SKIN WILL TURN RED.
Where learned: OHIO ; NORTH OLMSTED
James Callow Keyword(s): COLOR ; HOMEOPATHIC MAGIC
| Subject headings: | Food Drink -- Plant food Fruit BELIEF -- Body part Senses BELIEF -- Plant |
Date learned: 00-00-1970
GET RID OF THOSE BLACK MUSHROOMS
BOIL MUSHROOMS WITH A COIN AND IF THE COIN TURNS BLACK, THE
MUSHROOMS ARE POISONOUS.
Submitter comment:
WE WERE STUDYING ABOUT MUSHROOMS IN MY EDUCATION CLASS, AND
DR. THORDEN MADE THIS STATEMENT IN A JOKING WAY, SO
I WROTE I DOWN.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): TOADSTOOLS/ UNSAFE PRACTICE
| Subject headings: | Food Drink -- Plant food Vegetable BELIEF -- Mineral BELIEF -- Plant |
TREE BELIEF
TREES WHICH BEAR FRUIT WILL BEAR BETTER FRUIT IF ONE DRIVES A NAIL
INTO THEM.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): IRON?
| Subject headings: | Food Drink -- Plant food Fruit BELIEF -- Mineral BELIEF -- Plant |
Date learned: 02-20-1970
FOOD BELIEF
IF YOU EAT SPINACH, YOU WILL HAVE LONG HAIR AND ROSY CHEEKS.
Where learned: BUFFALO ; NEW YORK
James Callow Keyword(s): ADVICE: POSITIVE ; ADVICE: POSITIVE ; FUNCTION
| Subject headings: | Food Drink -- Plant food Vegetable Food Drink -- Special Form and PurposeObject of Bodily Consumption BELIEF -- Body part Senses BELIEF -- Plant |
Date learned: CHILDHOOD
VITAMIN BELIEF
IF YOU EAT GREEN VEGETABLES, THEY WILL MAKE YOUR HAIR THICK
AND GROW FASTER.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): ADVICE: POSITIVE ; ADVICE: POSITIVE ; FUNCTION
| Subject headings: | Food Drink -- Plant food Vegetable Food Drink -- Special Form and PurposeObject of Bodily Consumption BELIEF -- Plant |
Date learned: 03-31-1971
PLANT BELIEF
PUT A PENNY IN YOUR TULIPS AND THEY WILL KEEP FRESHER IN THE VASE.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; SAINT CLAIR SHORES
James Callow Keyword(s): PLANT MINERAL: COPPER
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Mineral BELIEF -- Plant |
Date learned: 01-20-1971
SHAMROCK BELIEF
THE SHAMROCK HAS BECOME ONE OF THE NATIONAL EMBLEMS OF IRELAND.
THE FOUR LEAFED VARIETY IS MUCH RARER AND IS SAID TO BE FOUND
ONLY WHERE THE MARE DROPS THE FIRST FOAL. IT IS SAID TO
HAVE SPECIAL POWERS.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; HARPER WOODS
James Callow Keyword(s): ANIMAL PLANT
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Plant BELIEF -- Sign Color |
Date learned: NOT GIVEN
DANDELION BELIEF
AS CHILDREN IN MAMARNECK, NEW YORK, WE BELIEVED THAT IF
YOU PICKED A DANDELION, YOU WOULD HAVE TO URINATE.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): PLANT WEED ; YELLOW COLOR ASSOCIATES WITH URINATION?
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Plant |
Date learned: 12-00-1972
VITAMIN BELIEF
IF YOU EAT YELLOW VEGETABLES LIKE CARROTS, SQUASH, WAX BEANS,
YOUR EYES WILL BE STRONG AND YOU WILL HAVE GOOD VISION.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): VITAMIN A CONTENT
Date learned: 03-31-1971
SPINACH BELIEF
IF YOU EAT SPINACH YOU WILL HAVE ROSY CHEEKS AND CURLY HAIR.
Submitter comment:
THE INFORMANT'S MOTHER OFTEN TOLD THE FAMILY THIS TO GET THEM
TO EAT THIS DISTASTEFUL VEGETABLE.
Where learned: UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): FUNCTION
| Subject headings: | Food Drink -- Plant food Vegetable Food Drink -- Special Form and PurposeObject of Bodily Consumption BELIEF -- Body part Senses BELIEF -- Plant |
Date learned: 10-12-1971
A NATURAL TRANSITION
AT ABOUT TEN YEARS, I BEGAN A COLLECTION OF THE WHITE BALLS
OF FUZZ, WHICH COME OFF THE TREES IN OUR OLD NEIGHBORHOOD. WHEN MY
FRIENDS HEARD OF MY COLLECTION, THEY TOLD ME TO RID MYSELF OF IT
BEFORE THE LITTLE BALLS EVOLVED INTO SPIDERS. I RUSHED HOME
AS QUICKLY AS POSIBLE AND SCATTERED THEM FROM MY HOUSE.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): ANIMAL: ARACHNID
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Insect BELIEF -- Plant |
Date learned: NOT GIVEN