Dr. James T. Callow publications
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The James T. Callow Folklore Archive
Your search for LIGHT returned 69 results.
THIS WAS AT MY GRANDMOTHER'S HOUSE ON THE EAST SIDE
OF DETROIT. WHENEVER THERE WAS A THUNDERSTORM SHE WOULD
SING CHRISTIAN SONGS AND WALK THROUGH THE HOUSE. I DON'T
REMEMBER EXACTLY WHAT THE SONGS WERE. SHE WALKED THROUGH
THE HOUSE CARRYING LIT PALM LEAVES WHICH WERE BLESSED
ON PALM SUNDAY. LATER, MY MOTHER WOULD LIGHT CANDLES.
TO THIS DAY, AUNT JUDY (SISTER) IS PETRIFIED OF STORMS AND
STILL LIGHTS CANDLES.
Submitter comment: THE BURNING WAS SUPPOSED TO KEEP EVIL FROM HAPPENING.
Where learned: HOME ; MICHIGAN ; Sterling Heights
Keyword(s): LIGHTNING
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Lightning Thunder |
Date learned: 00001940S
DIET
DOWN SOUTH PEOPLE USE TO EAT A DISH CALLED LIVER AND LITES.
THIS WAS A DISH THAT CONSISTED OF LIVER AND THE LUNGS OF SOME
ANIMAL. ANOTHER DISH THAT USE TO BE EATEN WAS CALVES BRAINS,
WITH A SIDE DISH OF HOT BISCUITS AND GRAVY.
Where learned: TENNESSEE ; MARTIN
James Callow Keyword(s): CALVES' BRAINS ; LIGHTS=AN ANIMALS LUNGS
| Subject headings: | Food Drink -- Food Food Drink -- Kind of Food and Its Preparation Food Drink -- Meat |
Date learned: 00001947CA
Bad Luck. Anyone who is in possession of a yellow lighter will
have bad luck and misfortune. It does not matter whether the
lighter is found, purchased or received as a gift, the owner of the
lighter will have bad luck. The only way to rid yourself of the
bad luck is to destroy the lighter by blowing it up!
Submitter comment:
The informant claims not to believe this story to be true, but
laughingly stated that she will never own, or even use, a yellow
lighter just in case it has some validity.
Where learned: DETROIT AREA ; stranger in a night club
Keyword(s): Cigarette Lighters
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal BELIEF -- Color BELIEF -- Bad luck |
Date learned: 00001990s
YOU SHOULD PLANT COTTON WHEN THE LIGHTENING BUGS COME OUT.
Where learned: ALABAMA ; ALBERTVILLE
Keyword(s): LIGHTNING
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Insect BELIEF -- Plant husbandry Farming |
Date learned: 06-17-1972
WHEN YOU SEE A ONE-EYED CAR, KISS YOUR KNEE AND THE FIRST PERSON
YOU SEE WILL BE YOUR SWEETHEART.
Where learned: TENNESSEE ; NASHVILLE
Keyword(s): HEADLIGHT ONE HEADLIGHT OUT
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Body part Senses Feet, toes, toenails BELIEF -- Use of Object Manufactured objects, homemade, machined BELIEF -- Use of object for determining future spouse |
Date learned: 06-18-1973
IF A SNAPPING TURTLE LATCHES ON TO YOU, IT WON'T LET GO UNTIL
IT THUNDERS AND LIGHTENINGS.
Where learned: TENNESSEE ; NASHVILLE
Keyword(s): LIGHTNING
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Animal BELIEF -- Weather sign or control BELIEF -- Sign or prediction through Natural atmospheric phenomenon |
Date learned: 07-25-1968
IT IS DANGEROUS TO STAND IN A SCREEN DOOR DURING A
THUNDERSTORM.
Where learned: PARIS ; TENNESSEE
Keyword(s): LIGHTNING
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Sign Geometric figure |
Date learned: 06-16-1973
SPEED
QUICK AS LIGHTENING.
Where learned: TENNESSEE ; PRIMM SPRINGS
Keyword(s): LIGHTNING
| Subject headings: | PROVERB -- Proverbial Comparison |
Date learned: 08-06-1968
THE GHOST OF CHAPEL HILL, TENNESSEE
DURING THE CIVIL WAR, A BRAKEMAN ON A TRAIN FELL OFF
AND HAD HIS HEAD CUT OFF. HE GOES OUT EVERY NIGHT
WITH HIS LANTERN LOOKING FOR HIS HEAD. A LIGHT CAN
BE SEEN SWINGING ALONG THE TRACKS IN GREEN, WHITE,
AND RED, THE COLORS OF A BRAKEMAN'S LANTERN.
Where learned: TENNESSEE ; NASHVILLE
James Callow Keyword(s): GHOSTLY LIGHT
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Ghost Spirit Phantom Specter |
Date learned: 11-10-1973
THE INFORMANT WAS DRIVING NEAR A RAILROAD TRESTLE WHEN SHE
SAW SOME LIGHTS, SO SHE DROVE ONTO A FIELD WHERE THE GHOST
GOT INTO THE BACK SEAT OF HER CAR ALONG WITH HER SISTER.
THE GHOST WAS A GIRL WITH NO HEAD. STORY HAS IT THAT SHE
WAS HIT BY THE TRAIN AND IS STILL LOOKING FOR HER HEAD.
SHE HAS A BAD HABIT OF GETTING INTO CARS THAT ARE PASSING
BY. AS FAR AS I KNOW, THIS IS STILL GOING ON.
Submitter comment:
Svrcek, Lia: 20 years old. Student: English. Donora, Penn. Lia had this happen to her as she was driving home one night, She told me this before I left to go to Canada.
Where learned: PENNSYLVANIA ; DONORA
James Callow Keyword(s): MYSTERIOUS LIGHTS
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Ghost Spirit Phantom Specter BELIEF -- Ghost Spirit Phantom Specter |
Date learned: 08-00-1973
GERMAN GRAVEYARD
IN A GRAVEYARD IN GERMANY, THERE WERE STRANGE
LIGHTS SHINING. THE PEOPLE SAID IT WAS THE
PEOPLE BURIED THERE WALKING AROUND.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; GERMANY ; WARREN
Keyword(s): GHOSTLY LIGHTS
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Ghost Spirit Phantom Specter |
Date learned: 01-00-1968
JACK O'LANTERN
THE SOUL OF SOMEONE CONDEMNED TO WANDER FOR HAVING MOVED
OR ALSO FOR HAVING DISREGARDED A BOUNDARY MARK.
Submitter comment:
INFORMANT JUST REMEMBERS HEARING THIS LEGEND, MANY
YEARS AGO.
Where learned: DETROIT ; COULD NOT REMEMBER WHERE OR WHEN LEARNED
Keyword(s): MYSTERIOUS LIGHTS
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Ghost Spirit Phantom Specter |
Date learned: 03-30-1970
TOMBSTONE IN CEMETERY
THIS IS THE ONLY ONE I CAN REMEMBER CHRIS TELLING ME
BECAUSE I HAD ORIGINALLY COME TO HER HOME TO TALK
WITH HER MOTHER ABOUT FOLKLORE AND EVERY SO OFTEN
CHRIS WOULD THROW SOMETHING INTO THE CONVERSATION.
MANY OF THE THINGS I WAS TOLD THAT EVENING WOULD
SUDDENLY COME OUT OF THIN AIR, WHILE WORKING ON AN
ENTIRELY DIFFERENT SUBJECT.
THIS IS TOLD OF A TOMBSTONE IN MT. OLIVE CEMETERY IN
DETROIT {MICHIGAN}, AT OUTER DRIVE AND SIX MILE.
UP UNTIL A FEW YEARS AGO, ONE PARTICULAR TOMBSTONE
WOULD ALWAYS GLOW AN EERIE RED ALL NIGHT LONG, BUT
DURING THE DAY IT LOOKED LIKE ANY ORDINARY TOMB-
STONE. MOST PEOPLE SEEM TO BE A BIT CAREFUL WHEN TALKING
ABOUT IT, I GUESS IT WAS REAL. THE STONE, FROM WHAT
CHRIS SAID, HASN'T GLOWED SINCE A MAUSELEUM WAS BUILT
VERY CLOSE TO IT. EVERYONE OLD ENOUGH REMEMBERS SEEING
THE GLOWING TOMBSTONE. CHRIS'S HOME IS APPROXIMATELY
200 FEET FROM THE CEMETERY.
Data entry tech comment: THIS IS CONFUSING: PERHAPS MRS. MARSHAL'S DAUGHTER
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): GHOSTLY LIGHTS
James Callow Keyword(s): MAUSOLEUM MT. OLIVET CEMETERY
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Product or activity of man or animal |
Date learned: 11-00-1968
MYSTERIOUS LIGHT
JUST OUTSIDE OF THE CITY OF SAGINAW, MICHIGAN, IN A
SMALL VILLAGE CALLED SHIELDS, THERE IS A LEGEND OF THE
DISAPPEARING LIGHT. THE STORY GOES THAT OUTSIDE OF
SHIELDS CITY LIMITS, IN THE FORESTS THERE IS A LIGHT
WHICH APPEARS FROM A SMALL HILL IRREGULARLY. NO ONE TO
THIS DAY HAS BEEN ABLE TO ISOLATE WHERE THE LIGHT IS
COMING FROM OR WHO CAUSES IT. PEOPLE, ESPECIALLY HIGH
SCHOOL AGE CHILDREN, HAVE TRIED TO FIND THE SOURCE, AND
COME SO FAR AS TO CAPTURE IT BETWEEN TWO CARS. WHEN
THE CARS CREPT TOGETHER, HOWEVER, THE LIGHT DISAPPEARED
AND BOTH CARS HAD ELECTRICAL SHORTAGES. EVEN PROFESSIONAL
ELECTRICIANS HAVE COMBED THE COUNTRYSIDE BUT TO NO GOOD
SO FAR. PEOPLE IN AND AROUND THE CITY OF SAGINAW STILL
TRAVEL OUT ON THE HOPE OF SEEING THE MYSTERIOUS LIGHT.
Submitter comment:
THIS LEGEND WAS TOLD TO ME AT ST. STEPHEN HIGH SCHOOL,
SAGINAW, MICHIGAN, BY SEVERAL DIFFERENT INFORMANTS
IN 1969.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; SAGINAW ; SAINT STEPHEN HIGH SCHOOL
Keyword(s): PHANTOM LIGHT
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Legend |
Date learned: 00-00-1969
THERE IS A RED LIGHT ON HAGGERTY ROAD THAT SEEMS TO
CHASE YOU. IT DOESN'T BLINK ON OR OFF OR GET
BIGGER OR SMALLER WHILE YOU DRIVE ALONG THE ROAD,
BUT IT SEEMS AS IF IT FOLLOWS YOU ALL THE WAY DOWN
HAGGERTY ROAD TO A CERTAIN POINT.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; REDFORD
James Callow Keyword(s): MYSTERIOUS LIGHT
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Product or activity of man or animal |
Date learned: 11-01-1968
GHOST STORY
ON A STREET CALLED TANGLEWOOD ON BELLE ISLE IN DETROIT
{MICHIGAN}, TEENAGERS USUALLY WENT AT NIGHT TO HAVE
DRINKING PARTIES. THEY SAID THEY ALWAYS SAW A GHOST
DRIVING A WHITE OLDSMOBILE. ONE NIGHT A TEENAGE GIRL
WAS DRIVING ALONE--OUT TO MEET HER FRIENDS ON TANGLEWOOD.
AS SHE WAS DRIVING SHE SAW THIS OLDSMOBILE WITH A GHOST
WHITE DRIVER AND SHE GOT SO SCARED SHE CRASHED INTO A
TREE AND GOT KILLED. NOW THE KIDS SAW THIS AND THEY
SAY THAT IF YOU GO THERE AT NIGHT AND TURN YOUR HEAD-
LIGHTS ON INTO THE WOOD YOU CAN SEE THE YOUNG GIRL
WANDERING AROUND. THEY ALSO SAY THAT HER MOTHER WENT
CRAZY AND ALSO WANDERS AROUND IN THE WOODS AT NIGHT
DRESSED IN WHITE.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): TANGLEWOOD, BELLE ISLE, DETROIT, OLDSMOBILE, HEADLIGHTS
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Ghost Spirit Phantom Specter |
Date learned: 04-05-1972
GERMAN GRAVEYARD
IN A GRAVEYARD IN GERMANY, THERE WERE STRANGE
LIGHTS SHINING. THE PEOPLE SAID IT WAS THE
PEOPLE BURIED THERE WALKING AROUND.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; GERMANY ; WARREN
Keyword(s): GHOSTLY LIGHTS
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Ghost Spirit Phantom Specter |
Date learned: 01-00-1968
JACK O'LANTERN
THE SOUL OF SOMEONE CONDEMNED TO WANDER FOR HAVING MOVED
OR ALSO FOR HAVING DISREGARDED A BOUNDARY MARK.
Submitter comment:
INFORMANT JUST REMEMBERS HEARING THIS LEGEND, MANY
YEARS AGO.
Where learned: DETROIT ; COULD NOT REMEMBER WHERE OR WHEN LEARNED
Keyword(s): MYSTERIOUS LIGHTS
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Ghost Spirit Phantom Specter |
Date learned: 03-30-1970
TOMBSTONE IN CEMETERY
THIS IS THE ONLY ONE I CAN REMEMBER CHRIS TELLING ME
BECAUSE I HAD ORIGINALLY COME TO HER HOME TO TALK
WITH HER MOTHER ABOUT FOLKLORE AND EVERY SO OFTEN
CHRIS WOULD THROW SOMETHING INTO THE CONVERSATION.
MANY OF THE THINGS I WAS TOLD THAT EVENING WOULD
SUDDENLY COME OUT OF THIN AIR, WHILE WORKING ON AN
ENTIRELY DIFFERENT SUBJECT.
THIS IS TOLD OF A TOMBSTONE IN MT. OLIVE CEMETERY IN
DETROIT {MICHIGAN}, AT OUTER DRIVE AND SIX MILE.
UP UNTIL A FEW YEARS AGO, ONE PARTICULAR TOMBSTONE
WOULD ALWAYS GLOW AN EERIE RED ALL NIGHT LONG, BUT
DURING THE DAY IT LOOKED LIKE ANY ORDINARY TOMB-
STONE. MOST PEOPLE SEEM TO BE A BIT CAREFUL WHEN TALKING
ABOUT IT, I GUESS IT WAS REAL. THE STONE, FROM WHAT
CHRIS SAID, HASN'T GLOWED SINCE A MAUSELEUM WAS BUILT
VERY CLOSE TO IT. EVERYONE OLD ENOUGH REMEMBERS SEEING
THE GLOWING TOMBSTONE. CHRIS'S HOME IS APPROXIMATELY
200 FEET FROM THE CEMETERY.
Data entry tech comment: THIS IS CONFUSING: PERHAPS MRS. MARSHAL'S DAUGHTER
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): GHOSTLY LIGHTS
James Callow Keyword(s): MAUSOLEUM MT. OLIVET CEMETERY
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Product or activity of man or animal |
Date learned: 11-00-1968
MYSTERIOUS LIGHT
JUST OUTSIDE OF THE CITY OF SAGINAW, MICHIGAN, IN A
SMALL VILLAGE CALLED SHIELDS, THERE IS A LEGEND OF THE
DISAPPEARING LIGHT. THE STORY GOES THAT OUTSIDE OF
SHIELDS CITY LIMITS, IN THE FORESTS THERE IS A LIGHT
WHICH APPEARS FROM A SMALL HILL IRREGULARLY. NO ONE TO
THIS DAY HAS BEEN ABLE TO ISOLATE WHERE THE LIGHT IS
COMING FROM OR WHO CAUSES IT. PEOPLE, ESPECIALLY HIGH
SCHOOL AGE CHILDREN, HAVE TRIED TO FIND THE SOURCE, AND
COME SO FAR AS TO CAPTURE IT BETWEEN TWO CARS. WHEN
THE CARS CREPT TOGETHER, HOWEVER, THE LIGHT DISAPPEARED
AND BOTH CARS HAD ELECTRICAL SHORTAGES. EVEN PROFESSIONAL
ELECTRICIANS HAVE COMBED THE COUNTRYSIDE BUT TO NO GOOD
SO FAR. PEOPLE IN AND AROUND THE CITY OF SAGINAW STILL
TRAVEL OUT ON THE HOPE OF SEEING THE MYSTERIOUS LIGHT.
Submitter comment:
THIS LEGEND WAS TOLD TO ME AT ST. STEPHEN HIGH SCHOOL,
SAGINAW, MICHIGAN, BY SEVERAL DIFFERENT INFORMANTS
IN 1969.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; SAGINAW ; SAINT STEPHEN HIGH SCHOOL
Keyword(s): PHANTOM LIGHT
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Legend |
Date learned: 00-00-1969