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The James T. Callow Folklore Archive

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IT IS BAD LUCK TO CUT A FRAME FOR A WINDOW OR A DOOR
INSIDE A HOUSE.

Data entry tech comment:

Updated on 09-01-11

Where learned: MISSISSIPPI ; BELZONI

Keyword(s): BAD LUCK ; Carpentry ; Craft ; Cut ; Door ; frame ; House ; Indoors ; Inside ; LUCK ; Window

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Bad luck Activities

Date learned: 11-22-1972

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IT IS BAD LUCK TO OPEN AN UMBRELLA IN THE HOUSE.

Data entry tech comment:

Updated by TRD

Where learned: TENNESSEE ; NASHVILLE

Keyword(s): BAD LUCK ; House ; Indoors ; LUCK ; Open ; UMBRELLA

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Fate Destiny Luck Chance
BELIEF -- Bad luck Umbrella

Date learned: 06-25-1973

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I'M GOING TO GRANDMOTHER'S HOUSE AND I AM GOING TO TAKE A
----- (EACH PERSON ADDS AN ITEM, REPEATING ALL PRECEEDING
ITEMS UNTIL SOMEONE FORGETS, THEN THE STORY BEGINS AGAIN).

Data entry tech comment:

Updated by TRD

Where learned: OHIO ; TROTWOOD

Keyword(s): GAME ; Grandmother ; House ; Language ; MEMORY

Subject headings: PROSE NARRATIVE -- Formula tale

Date learned: 04-00-1972

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SPIRIT OF THE HOUSE

IT IS AN ITALIAN BELIEF THAT EVERY HOUSEHOLD HAS A GOOD
SPIRIT THAT REMAINS WITH IT, AND CAN SOMETIMES BE SEEN.

Data entry tech comment:

Updated by TRD

Where learned: NEW YORK ; AUBURN

Keyword(s): GHOST ; Haunt ; HAUNTED HOUSE ; Home ; House ; Italian ; SPIRIT

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Ghost Spirit Phantom Specter

Date learned: 12-00-1971

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KITCHEN BELIEF

PUT UTENSILS IN A WARM OVEN FOR A FEW MINUTES AFTER YOU
HAVE WASHED AND DRIED;THIS KEEPS THEM FROM RUSTING.

Data entry tech comment:

Updated by TRD

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; GROSSE POINTE PARK

Keyword(s): ADVICE ; BELIEF ; Household ; Housekeeping ; Lore ; Maintenance ; Rust ; UTENSILS

James Callow Keyword(s): ADVICE ; FUNCTION ; Positive

Subject headings: Custom

Date learned: 01-25-1971

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SUPERSTITION

THERE IS A RIGHT AND WRONG WAY TO SWEEP YOUR FLOOR. YOU ARE SUPPOSED
TO SWEEP TOWARD THE BACK DOOR AND NOT THE FRONT DOOR.

Data entry tech comment:

Updated by TRD

Keyword(s): ; Back ; DIRECTION ; Domesticity ; Door ; Dust ; Front ; HOUSECLEANING ; SUPERSTITION ; Sweep

James Callow Keyword(s): INTERNAL RHYME ; OPPOSITES ; POSITION DIRECTION

Subject headings: Daily Life

Date learned: 11-10-1970

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CUSTOM

A LEMON CUT OPEN IN AN ICEBOX IS SUPPOSED TO KEEP THE
ICEBOX SMELLING FRESH.

Data entry tech comment:

Updated by TRD

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; GROSSE POINTE

Keyword(s): Cleaning ; Domestic ; Household ; Housekeeping ; Icebox ; Lemon ; Scent

Subject headings: Food Drink -- Plant food Fruit
BELIEF -- Home

Date learned: 04-00-1971

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SUPERSTITION

DO NOT SWEEP FLOORS AFTER THE LIGHTS ARE LIT IN THE HOME.
THIS WOULD MEAN SWEEPING HEALTH AND WEALTH FOR THE FAMILY OUT.

Data entry tech comment:

Updated by TRD

Where learned: ILLINOIS ; WESTCHESTER

Keyword(s): DIRECTION ; Domesticity ; Housekeeping ; Lights ; LUCK ; SUPERSTITION ; Sweep

James Callow Keyword(s): BROOM

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Home
BELIEF -- P87O
BELIEF -- Bad luck

Date learned: 10-26-1968

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BED BELIEF

LEAVE YOUR BEDS UNCOVERED IN THE MORNING FOR A WHILE
TO LEAVE THE IMPURE ELEMENTS THAT LEFT YOUR BODY DURING THE
NIGHT OUT.

Data entry tech comment:

Updated by TRD

Keyword(s): Bed ; BELIEF ; Detox ; ELEMENTS ; Energy ; Housekeeping ; Impurity ; SUPERSTITION

James Callow Keyword(s): ADVICE ; FUNCTION ; Positive ; SANITATION

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Body part Senses
BELIEF -- Home

Date learned: 04-00-1968

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BELIEF

ONE MUST NEVER SWEEP TOWARD A DOOR.
YOU MUST SWEEP TOWARDS THE MIDDLE OF THE ROOM TO PREVENT YOURSELF
FROM SWEEPING OUT MONEY AND GOOD FORTUNE OUT THE DOOR.

Submitter comment:

A BELIEF PASSED DOWN FROM GRANDFATHER.

Data entry tech comment:

Updated by TRD

Where learned: DETROIT ; MI

Keyword(s): BELIEF ; CLEANLINESS ; DIRECTION ; Domesticity ; fortune ; Housekeeping ; LUCK ; SUPERSTITION ; Sweep

James Callow Keyword(s): BROOM ; DIRECTION ; POSITION

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Home

Date learned: 09-20-1967

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STAIN REMOVER

USE A PEELED POTATO TO REMOVE ANY STUBBORN INK STAINS.

Data entry tech comment:

Updated by TRD

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; BIRMINGHAM

Keyword(s): Domestic ; Domesticity ; Household ; Ink ; POTATO ; Stain ; Stain Remover ; Tip ; TRICK

James Callow Keyword(s): ADVICE ; Positive

Subject headings: Food Drink -- Special Form and PurposeObject of Bodily Consumption
BELIEF -- Home

Date learned: 11-00-1968

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HOME STAIN REMOVER

USE CORN STARCH ON A FRESH STAIN TO REMOVE THE STAIN
 

Submitter comment:

I've seen corn starch remove a red wine stain from a white carpet.

Data entry tech comment:

Updated by TRD

Where learned: BIRMINGHAM

Keyword(s): Corn Starch ; Domesticity ; Household ; Stain ; Stain Remover ; Tip ; TRICK

Subject headings: Food Drink -- Plant food
Food Drink -- Alcoholic beverage Fermented
BELIEF -- Home

Date learned: 00-00-1967

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FOLK DEODORANT

USE BAKING SODA AS A DEODORANT FOR UNDERARMS
AND FEET. USE BAKING SODA ON VOMIT TO ELIMINATE THE
UNPLEASANT ODOR.

Data entry tech comment:

Updated by TRD

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; BIRMINGHAM

Keyword(s): Baking Soda ; Deodorant ; Domesticity ; Household ; HYGIENE ; Odor ; REMEDY ; Smell ; Tip ; TRICK ; Vomit

James Callow Keyword(s): SODIUM BICARBONATE

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Mineral
BELIEF -- Home

Date learned: 11-00-1968

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ENTERING AND LEAVING A HOUSE

MANY SLAVIC PEOPLE TODAY BELIEVE THAT IF A PERSON
DOES NOT LEAVE SOMEONES HOUSE BY THE SAME DOOR THAT THEY CAME IN,
THEN THEY WILL BRING BAD LUCK TO THEMSELVES AND THE PEOPLE OF THAT
PARTICULAR HOME.

Data entry tech comment:

Updated by TRD

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Keyword(s): BELIEF ; Entrance ; Exit ; fortune ; Guests ; HOSPITALITY ; House ; LUCK ; SUPERSTITION

James Callow Keyword(s): DIRECTION ; POSITION

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Street Trip Relations between relatives, friends, host and guest Social class Rank
BELIEF -- Bad luck

Date learned: 09-14-1969

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IF YOU VISIT PEOPLE IN A NEW HOME, BRING BREAD AND SALT
AS A GIFT, AND THE PEOPLE WILL ALWAYS HAVE PLENTY TO EAT.

Data entry tech comment:

Updated by TRD

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; NATIONAL MANUFACTURING COMPANY ; UTICA

Keyword(s): BELIEF ; BREAD ; Eat ; FOOD ; GIFT ; Housewarming ; Salt ; SUPERSTITION ; SYMBOL

James Callow Keyword(s): HOMEOPATHIC

Subject headings: 686 Properties attributed to specific numbers or numerals individually.
BELIEF -- Plant
BELIEF -- Street Trip Relations between relatives, friends, host and guest Social class Rank

Date learned: 10-31-1969

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HAUNTED HOUSE

ABOUT 20 YEARS AGO, A MAN LIVING IN A COTTAGE ON WAMPLER'S LAKE IN
MICHIGAN'S IRISH HILLS AREA BEGAN TO HAVE STRANGE EXPERIENCES. A
PIANO ON THE SECOND FLOOR WOULD BEGIN TO PLAY MYSTERIOUSLY, AND
A COLD WIND WOULD BLOW THROUGH THE HOUSE. HE MOVED OUT, AND THE
COTTAGE GOT A REPUTATION OF BEING HAUNTED. THE MATTER RECEIVED
MUCH PUBLICITY, AND NO ONE WOULD MOVE INTO THE HOUSE.
IT IS SAID THAT EVENTUALLY ONE MAN MUSTERED UP SOME COURAGE,
ENTERED THE COTTAGE, AND SAID, IN THE NAME OF JESUS CHRIST, I
COMMAND YOU TO STOP. THE SOUNDS WERE NEVER HEARD AGAIN, BUT THE
COTTAGE IS STILL KNOWN AS THE HAUNTED HOUSE OF WAMPLER'S LAKE.

Submitter comment:

I LEARNED THIS STORY FROM MY AUNT, WHO USED TO VACATION AT
WAMPLER'S LAKE. I ALSO SAW THE HAUNTED COTTAGE.

Data entry tech comment:

Updated by TRD

James Callow comment:

Corrected spelling and eliminated some commas

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; WAMPLERS LAKE

Keyword(s): HAUNTED HOUSE ; MANIFESTATIONS ; Wamplers Lake

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal P477.2

Date learned: 00-00-1958

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When you clear the table you should never put
the crumbs on the floor so that you won't go
hungry. You should never sweep the dirt and
crumbs from the floor directly out the door;
you should always use a dustpan.

Data entry tech comment:

Updated by TRD

Where learned: KANSAS ; Manhattan

Keyword(s): BELIEF ; CUSTOM ; Domesticity ; Housekeeping ; SUPERSTITION

James Callow Keyword(s): DIRECTION ; POSITION

Subject headings: BELIEF -- Measure of time Eating For menu, see N222.

Date learned: 00001920S

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When I was a little girl our family used to sit
together on Friday nights and tell stories. One of
these stories was told in my family to at least 3 or
4 generations. It was a true story. My great, great
grandparents lived in a house that was moved from a
cemetery to its current spot. Unexplained noises and
voices could be heard coming from the attic and
therefore no one would go up to the attic because it
was strongly believed that there were ghosts up there.

Submitter comment:

Informant still believes that this is a true story.

Data entry tech comment:

Updated by TRD

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Keyword(s): CEMETERY ; HAUNTED ; House

Subject headings: Favorites
PROSE NARRATIVE -- Ghost Spirit Phantom Specter
PROSE NARRATIVE -- Product or activity of man or animal

Date learned: 00001940S

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