Dr. James T. Callow publications
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The James T. Callow Folklore Archive
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FARMER BILL'S WILL
THE C.Y.O. BOY'S CAMP IS LOCATED AT PT. SANILAC, MICHIGAN.
MURPHY'S CREEK RUNS THROUGH THE CAMP AND AT ONE POINT, THERE IS A
LARGE SARCOPHAGUS SHAPED STONE IN THE MIDDLE. ON IT ARE A NUMBER OF
SCRAMBLED LETTERS AND NUMBERS. IT IS SAID THAT THIS IS BILL MURPHY'S
GRAVE. HE HAD OWNED AND FARMED THE LAND AT ONE TIME, IF ANY OF THE
CAMPERS STAYED OUT AT NIGHT ON A MOONLESS EVENING, THEY COULD SEE THE
COFFIN LID OPENED. IN THE DISTANCE
A SINGLE FIGURE COULD BE OUTLINED.
IT WAS OLD BILL PLOWING HIS FIELDS. I LEARNED THIS WHEN AT CAMP,
BUT NEVER SAW BILL.
Data entry tech comment:
Updated by TRD
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; Port Sanilac
Keyword(s): Bill ; FARMER ; GHOST ; Haunt ; Legend ; Tale ; Will
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Ghost Spirit Phantom Specter |
BELIEF, GHOST OF TECUMSEH ROAD
IN WINDSOR, ONTARIO THERE IS SUPPOSED TO BE A GHOST THAT
ROAMS AROUND TECUMSEH ROAD,
HE IS SUPPOSED TO HAVE NO HEAD, AND CARRIES
A SICKLE FROM WHICH BLOOD IS DRIPPING. ONE WITNESS SAYS THAT
EVERYTIME HE SEES THE GHOST, SOMEONE IN HIS FAMILY (NOT NECESSARILY
IMMEDIATE FAMILY) DIES.
Submitter comment:
INFORMANT HEARD THIS ON THE RADIO.
Data entry tech comment:
Updated by TRD
James Callow comment:
Windsor is in Canada
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; LAKEWOOD
Keyword(s): BELIEF ; CANADA ; GHOST ; SUPERSTITION
| Subject headings: | Observation BELIEF -- Ghost Spirit Phantom Specter BELIEF -- Death Funeral Burial |
Date learned: 11-05-1971
ON DEATH
WHEN A BELOVED ONE PASSES AWAY, IT IS SAID HE RETURNS TO TAKE
HIS LOVED ONE WITH HIM.
Data entry tech comment:
Updated by TRD
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): BELIEF ; Dead ; GHOST ; SUPERSTITION ; Undead
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Ghost Spirit Phantom Specter |
Date learned: 10-12-1971
GHOST BELIEF
A GHOST IS STANDING OVER YOUR BED IF YOU FIND IT HARD TO WAKE
UP IN THE MORNING.
Data entry tech comment:
Updated by TRD
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): BELIEF ; Dead ; GHOST ; SUPERSTITION ; Undead
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Ghost Spirit Phantom Specter BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal |
Date learned: 11-18-1971
GHOST BELIEF
THE REASON FOR GHOSTS IS THAT WHEN PEOPLE DIE A VIOLENT DEATH
THEY DO
NOT KNOW THAT THEY HAVE DIED, SO THEY GO ABOUT DOING ALL THE
THINGS THEY DID WHEN ALIVE. THE ONLY WAY TO PUT THEM TO REST, IS
TO TELL A GHOST THAT IT IS DEAD.
Submitter comment:
THIS WAS TOLD TO ME WHEN IN HIGH SCHOOL.
Data entry tech comment:
Updated by TRD
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): BELIEF ; GHOST ; Haunt ; SUPERSTITION ; Undead
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Ghost Spirit Phantom Specter |
Date learned: 09-26-1970
SPIRIT TABLE
THIS IS A BELIEF IN INDIA. WE HAVE ALSO A TABLE THAT ATTRACTS DEAD
SOULS. THERE ARE MARKINGS ON IT WHICH SPIRITS USE TO COMMUNICATE
WITH A MEDIUM. HANDS ARE USED, PLACED ON IT. IT IS NOT NECESSARY
TO HAVE A MEDIUM, I AM AFRAID MYSELF. SPIRITS ARE LIKE THE FIVE
ELEMENTS, FIRE, EARTH, AIR, WATER, LIGHT--LIKE
VARIOUS GASES ALL WANDERING
AROUND ETERNALLY, LIKE THE ELEMENTS, IT IS POSSIBLE TO BRING
SOULS TO CAPTURE SOULS.
Data entry tech comment:
Updated by TRD
Where learned: MICHIGAN
Keyword(s): BELIEF ; India ; souls ; SUPERSTITION
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Ghost Spirit Phantom Specter BELIEF -- Word Letter BELIEF -- Sign Geometric figure BELIEF -- Use of Object |
Date learned: 02-04-1968
MAGIC
IN MEXICO IT IS POSSIBLE TO TALK WITH THE DEAD IF YOU USE A
OUIJA TABLE. IT IS EASIER FOR SOME PEOPLE TO DO THIS THAN OTHERS.
YOU PLACE YOUR HANDS ON THE TABLE AND THE SPIRITS OF THE DEAD WILL
COMMUNICATE WITH YOU, AND ANSWER YOUR QUESTIONS, AND VERY OFTEN
TELL YOU OF FUTURE EVENTS. THEY DO THIS BY MOVING
YOUR HANDS ON THE TABLE IN SUCH A WAY THAT THE ANSWER OR INFORMATION
IS SPELLED OUT FOR YOU. PEOPLE WHO ARE LONELY USE THESE TABLES.
Data entry tech comment:
Updated by TRD
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; ANN ARBOR
Keyword(s): BELIEF ; Haunt ; Ouija ; SPIRIT ; SUPERSTITION
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Ghost Spirit Phantom Specter BELIEF -- Word Letter |
Date learned: 02-04-1968
FOOD BELIEF
WHILE LIVING IN JAPAN MY MOTHER OBSERVED THE JAPANESE
CUSTOM OF PUTTING FRUIT AROUND TOMBSTONES IN THE CEMETERIES.
THE JAPANESE DID THIS BECAUSE THEY BELIEVE THAT THE SPIRITS OF THE
DECEASED COME OUT AT NIGHT AND EAT THE FRUIT.
Data entry tech comment:
Updated by TRD
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): BELIEF ; FOOD ; Japan ; SPIRIT ; SUPERSTITION
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Ghost Spirit Phantom Specter BELIEF -- Death Funeral Burial |
Date learned: 03-30-1968
TO KEEP GHOSTS AWAY
TO KEEP YOURSELF FREE FROM GHOSTS PEE IN A CIRCLE AND STAND
IN THE CENTER. THE GHOST WILL NOT COME INSIDE THE CIRCLE
AFTER YOU.
Data entry tech comment:
Updated by TRD
Where learned: UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT
Keyword(s): GHOST ; SUPERSTITION ; SYMBOL ; URINATE ; Ward
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Ghost Spirit Phantom Specter |
Date learned: 03-05-1971
PIPAL TREE
THE PIPAL TREE IS A TREE FOUND IN INDIA WHICH THE PEOPLE BELIEVE IS
A TREE INFESTED WITH GHOSTS.
Data entry tech comment:
Updated by TRD
Where learned: UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT
Keyword(s): BELIEF ; GHOST ; GHOSTS ; India ; Pipal ; SUPERSTITION ; Tree
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Ghost Spirit Phantom Specter BELIEF -- Plant |
Date learned: 03-05-1971
SUPERSTITION
IF YOU BURY A PERSON WITHOUT SHOES, THEY WILL COME BACK AND
HAUNT YOU.
Data entry tech comment:
Updated by TRD
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; SAINT CLAIR SHORES
Keyword(s): Barefoot ; BELIEF ; Bury ; DEATH ; SHOES ; SUPERSTITION
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Ghost Spirit Phantom Specter BELIEF -- Death Funeral Burial |
Date learned: 02-27-1971
PINCH OF THE DEAD
WHEN YOU FIND A BLACK AND BLUE MARK ON YOUR BODY AND
YOU DO NOT KNOW WHERE IT CAME FROM, IT MEANS THAT SOMEONE
WHO IS CLOSE TO YOU, AND THAT DIED, AND THAT NEEDS YOUR PRAYERS
HAS COME BACK AND WANTS TO MAKE YOU AWARE OF THIS NEED.
THEREFORE, HE PINCHES YOU AND LEAVES A BLACK AND BLUE MARK AS A
SYMBOL OR SIGN OF HIS NEED.
Data entry tech comment:
Updated by TRD
Where learned: UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT
Keyword(s): BELIEF ; Dead ; Haunt ; Pinch ; SUPERSTITION ; Undead
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Ghost Spirit Phantom Specter BELIEF -- Body part Senses |
Date learned: 03-31-1970
GHOST IN WHITE
A WOMAN IN WHITE ROAMS THE WOODS OF BELLE ISLE PARK NEAR DOWNTOWN
DETROIT WITH A HOOK-HANDED FRIEND. THIS STORY HAS BEEN AROUND
FOR YEARS.
Data entry tech comment:
Updated by TRD
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT ; NEWSPAPER ; DETROIT FREE PRESS
Keyword(s): Belle Isle ; GHOST ; Haunting ; Legend ; SUPERSTITION ; Tale ; Undead
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Ghost Spirit Phantom Specter BELIEF -- Physically handicapped Deformed |
Date learned: 08-27-1968
CEMETERY STATUE
THERE IS A CEMETERY IN WILMERDING, PENNSYLVANIA WITH A SIX
FOOT STATUE OF A GIRL, DRESSED IN A FLOWING ROBE, CARRYING AN ARMFUL
OF SCHOOL BOOKS, PENCIL CASE, ETC.
THE HISTORY OF THE FIGURE IS AS FOLLOWS:
THE GIRL WAS COMING HOME FROM SCHOOL
ONE DAY WHEN SHE WAS ATTACKED, RAPED, AND KILLED BY TWO HOODLUMS,
ON THE DAY OF HER BIRTHDAY. HER PARENTS HAD A
STATUE MADE IN HER LIKENESS AT THE TIME SHE WAS KILLED, AND PLACED ON
HER GRAVE, WHICH IS ON A HILL OVERLOOKING
A LARGE PART OF THE CEMETERY.
BECAUSE SHE WAS A VIRGIN AT THE TIME OF DEATH, IT IS BELIEVED THAT
ANYONE GOING INTO THE CEMETERY AT THE DEAD OF NIGHT
AND WHO DARES TO WALK THE
LONELY WALK UP TO THE STATUE, AND TOUCH IT WILL DISCOVER WHETHER OR
NOT THEY ARE A VIRGIN. A VIRGIN WILL
RECEIVE NO HARM FROM THE STATUE,
BUT A NON-VIRGIN WILL RECEIVE A SMALL
CUT AND CONSEQUENTLY BLEED FROM TOUCHING THE GARMENT OF THE
STATUE. IN ADDITION, ON THE EVE OF HER BIRTHDAY, THE
STATUE IS BELIEVED TO COME ALIVE AND WALK THE CEMETERY LOOKING
FOR HER MURDERERS.
Data entry tech comment:
Updated by TRD
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; MELVINDALE
Keyword(s): CEMETERY ; GHOST ; Legend ; SUPERSTITION ; Urban Legend ; Virgin
| Subject headings: | Favorites BELIEF -- Ghost Spirit Phantom Specter |
Date learned: 10-15-1965
MAGIC RING
THERE IS A RING--SET ON A TABLE-- THAT ATTRACTS SOULS.
IT IS LIKE WHAT
YOU CALL AN ANTENNA. THE SOULS THAT IT ATTRACTS POSSESS THE BODY
OF A LIVING PERSON. THIS IS VERY
DANGEROUS IF NOT USED PROPERLY, AND IF
USED BY A WEAK MEDIUM.
Submitter comment:
THIS IS A BELIEF IN INDIA.
Data entry tech comment:
Updated by TRD
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; ANN ARBOR
Keyword(s): BELIEF ; India ; MAGIC ; RING ; Soul ; SPIRIT
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Ghost Spirit Phantom Specter BELIEF -- Sign Geometric figure Circle and other round forms |
Date learned: 02-04-1968
SPIRITS
ALL SOULS WANDER AFTER DEATH, INCLUDING ANIMAL SOULS.
THEY WANDER IF THEY HAD AN UNHAPPY LIFE, OR IF THEY WERE UNSATISFIED
BEFORE THEY DIED. THEY KEEP SEARCHING FOR PEACE.
Submitter comment:
THIS IS A BELIEF IN INDIA.
Data entry tech comment:
Updated by TRD
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; ANN ARBOR
Keyword(s): BELIEF ; India ; Soul ; SPIRIT ; SUPERSTITION ; Undead
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Ghost Spirit Phantom Specter BELIEF -- Animal BELIEF -- Magic of Speech, Sign, Color |
Date learned: 02-04-1968
BELIEF
MERMAIDS CAME TO THE HOMESICK SAILORS DURING LONG AND LONELY VOYAGES.
Data entry tech comment:
Updated by TRD
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DEARBORN HEIGHTS
Keyword(s): BELIEF ; Mermaids ; Sirens ; SUPERSTITION
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Ghost Spirit Phantom Specter |
Date learned: 10-29-1968
BOOGIEMAN BELIEF
WHEN I WAS A KID MY PARENTS USED TO TELL ME THAT OLD UNCLE
GEORGE WAS THIS GHOST THAT LIVED IN THE BASEMENT AND
THAT HE WOULD COME UP AT NIGHT AND EAT ME ALIVE IF I WAS BAD.
(I USED TO HAVE A PICTURE IN MY MIND
OF EXACTLY WHAT UNCLE GEORGE LOOKED
LIKE. HE WAS EXTREMELY OLD AND DUMB, LIKE JETHRO.)
Submitter comment:
JETHRO IS A MUSCLE BOUND HILLBILLY OF A SUCCESSFUL TV SHOW CALLED
THE "BEVERLY HILLBILLIES".
Data entry tech comment:
Updated by TRD
Where learned: UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT
Keyword(s): Boogieman ; CHILDREN ; FUNCTION ; Legend ; Scare ; SUPERSTITION ; Tale ; THREAT
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Ghost Spirit Phantom Specter |
Date learned: 11-02-1970
GHOST PROTECTION
WHEN A WOMAN IS SEPARATED, DIVORCED, OR ESTRANGED FROM HER HUSBAND
AND HE DIES, SHE TAKES A RIBBON OFF OF THE FLOWERS ON THE COFFIN AND
HANGS IT ON HER DOOR TO WARD OFF HER HUSBAND HAUNTING HER.
Data entry tech comment:
Updated by TRD
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): DEATH ; Funeral ; Haunting ; HUSBAND ; SPIRIT ; Widow
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Ghost Spirit Phantom Specter BELIEF -- Death Funeral Burial |
Date learned: 03-00-1970
BANSHEE
IN IRELAND, WHEN YOU HEAR THE WAIL OF THE BANSHEE,
YOU KNOW THAT SOMEONE IN THE HOUSE WILL SOON DIE.
THIS WAILING PRECEDES THE COMING OF THE COACH OF DEATH
WHICH IS DRAWN BY FOUR BLACK HORSES. THIS COACH CARRIES THE ONE WHO
IS TO DIE TO THE UNDERWORLD.
Data entry tech comment:
Updated by TRD
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): BANSHEE ; DEATH ; Haunt ; IRELAND ; OMEN ; SIREN ; SUPERSTITION ; Undead ; Underworld
| Subject headings: | Observation BELIEF -- Ghost Spirit Phantom Specter |
Date learned: 00001968 (FALL)