Dr. James T. Callow publications
Browse by
Questions or comments on this site? Please email davidsor@udmercy.edu.
The James T. Callow Folklore Archive
Your search for 4277 returned 3614 results.
SAVING YOUR LANTERN
ON A DARK, STORMY NIGHT MANY YEARS AGO, A TRAIN HIT
AN AUTOMOBILE AT A CROSSING NEAR THE TOWN OF DICKSON,
TENNESSEE. IN THE TRIAL THAT FOLLOWED, THE KEY
WITNESS WAS A LOYAL NEGRO EMPLOYEE WHOSE JOB WAS TO
SIGNAL AT THE CROSSING. ON CROSS EXAMINATION, HE WAS
ASKED HOW HE SIGNALED. HE SAID THAT HE SWUNG HIS
LANTERN TO AND FRO OVER HIS HEAD BUT THEY KEPT COMING
ANYWAY. CONVINCED BY HIS TESTIMONY, THE JURY RELIEVED
THE RAILROAD COMPANY OF ANY LIABILITY.
ON LEAVING THE COURTROOM, THE RAILROAD LAWYER PRAISED
THE EMPLOYEE AND TOLD HIM THAT HE HAD SAVED THE
COMPANY A LOT OF MONEY. THE EMPLOYEE SAID, "BOSS,
IF THEY HAD ASKED ME ONE MORE QUESTION WE WOULD HAVE
BEEN SUNK." THE LAWYERS WERE SURPRISED AND INQUIRED,
"WHAT QUESTION WAS THAT?" THE EMPLOYEE REPLIED,
"IF THAT LANTERN WAS LIT!"
Where learned: TENNESSEE ; NASHVILLE
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Human Being |
MEAT PEDDLERS
MANY YEARS AGO BEFORE NASHVILLE HAD A FARMER'S MARKET,
FARMERS FROM NEARBY FARMS WOULD KILL HOGS AND BRING
THE FRESH MEAT TO TOWN TO SELL. THEY WOULD GATHER
NEAR WHAT IS NOW CALLED THE COUNTY COURT HOUSE SQUARE
AND SELL THE FRESH PORK FROM THEIR WAGONS. AS THE DAY
PASSED AND TIME TO GO HOME NEARED, IF THE PORK WAS
NOT ALL SOLD, THE FARMERS MERELY DROVE THE WAGONS
SEVERAL BLOCKS AND SET UP MARKET AGAIN ALONG THE WALL
THAT SURROUNDED THE JEWISH CEMETERY. IN A SHORT TIME
THE WAGONS WERE EMPTY AND THE FARMERS WERE ON THEIR
WAY HOME.
Submitter comment:
THIS WAS TOLD TO MR. REGISTER BY THE WELL KNOWN
ATTORNEY, MONTY ROSS, WHO IS NOW NEARING 90 YEARS
OF AGE. MR. ROSS HAS REPEATED THE STORY MANY TIMES.
Where learned: TENNESSEE ; NASHVILLE
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Human Being |
HOME OF THE DEVIL
I THINK I READ SOMEWHERE ONCE THAT THE PURITANS
BELIEVED THAT AMERICA WAS THE HOME OF THE DEVIL
AND THAT THE INDIANS WERE THE CHILDREN OF THE
DEVIL.
Where learned: TENNESSEE ; NASHVILLE
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Devil Demon |
Date learned: 08-01-1968
A DORM LEGEND
I HEARD A STORY ONCE WHICH CIRCULATED AROUND PARTS
OF THE DORM. IT DEALT WITH A GIRL AT ANOTHER
COLLEGE WHO WAS FOUND DEAD THE NEXT MORNING WITH HER
WRISTS SLASHED. THE GIRL IN THE NEXT ROOM HAD HEARD
HER SCRATCHING AT HER DOOR, CLAWING IT, BUT THOUGHT
IT WAS JUST SOMEONE JOKING, TRYING TO SCARE HER. SHE
NEVER WENT TO SEE WHO IT WAS AND THE NEXT MORNING
FOUND THE GIRL OUTSIDE HER DOOR, DEAD. THE GIRL WHO
TOLD THE STORY BELIEVED IT TO BE TRUE, BUT I HAVE
TALKED TO OTHER GIRLS AT OTHER COLLEGES WHO HAVE
HEARD THE STORY IN ONE FORM OR OTHER--SOME SAYING
IT'S TRUE, OTHERS SAYING IT'S NOT.
Where learned: TENNESSEE ; NASHVILLE
James Callow Keyword(s): CAMPUS HORROR STORY
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Legend |
Date learned: 08-09-1968
RING CHURCH BELLS SO THE TROLLS WILL GO AWAY.
Where learned: TENNESSEE ; NASHVILLE
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Fairy Elf Goblin Gnome |
Date learned: 07-27-1968
AN OLD LADY AND SON WERE IN A CABIN NEAR A RAILROAD
TRACKS. HE GOT HIT BY A TRAIN. ALL SHE COULD FIND
WAS A THUMB. SHE LOCKED HERSELF IN THE CABIN AND
DIED AND TO THIS DAY YOU CAN HEAR HER WAIL AT MIDNIGHT.
Where learned: TENNESSEE ; NASHVILLE
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Ghost Spirit Phantom Specter |
Date learned: 07-25-1968
THE SEVEN YEARS BAD LUCK ATTACHED TO A BROKEN MIRROR
IS SAID TO HAVE ORIGINATED DURING SLAVERY, WHEN
MIRRORS WERE HIGHLY EXPENSIVE AND OBTAINED ONLY
THROUGH IMPORT FROM ENGLAND. WHEN A SLAVE WAS
CARELESS WITH THE VALUED ITEM, ITS OWNER WOULD WINCE
AND WARN, "CAREFUL, CAREFUL...YOU'LL HAVE
SEVEN YEARS BACK LUCK IF YOU BREAK THAT MIRROR."
Where learned: TENNESSEE ; NASHVILLE
James Callow Keyword(s): ACCIDENT
| Subject headings: | 686 Seven / Sevenths / Several PROSE NARRATIVE -- Product or activity of man or animal |
Date learned: 00001965 SUMMER
IN CINCINNATI, OHIO, IT HAS BEEN REPORTED THAT
THERE WAS AN UNDERTAKING ESTABLISHMENT THAT KEPT THE
BODY OF AN UNCLAIMED NEGRO MORE THAN 28 YEARS. THIS
WAS AS RECENT AS 1963. A VISITOR TO THE CITY OF
CINCINNATI SAW THIS BODY, WHICH WAS STILL PRESERVED
THROUGH THE SKILL OF THE UNDERTAKER, AND THIS WAS
TOLD TO MY INFORMANT.
THE REASON FOR HIS BODY BEING KEPT FROM BURIAL WAS
THAT IF NO ONE CLAIMED HIM, ACCORDING TO UNDERTAKERS
LAWS, HE COULD NOT RELEASE THE BODY FOR BURIAL. THE
LAWS HAVE SINCE BEEN CHANGED.
Where learned: TENNESSEE ; NASHVILLE
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Legend |
Date learned: 08-00-1968
HOMELY TALE
WHEN I WAS A LITTLE GIRL, OUR COW WOULDN'T LET A MAN
MILK IT. SO, MY GRANDFATHER SPENCE DRESSED UP IN A
SUNBONNET AND A MOTHER HUBBARD DRESS WHICH WAS A
LONG DRESS THAT TOUCHES THE FLOOR. BUT AS SOON AS
HE SAT TO MILK IT, THE COW KICKED THE BUCKET AND OFF
WENT THE COW. YOU COULDN'T FOOL THAT COW.
Where learned: TENNESSEE ; NASHVILLE
James Callow Keyword(s): DISGUISE FAILS TO FOOL COW ; TRANSVESTISM
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Product or activity of man or animal |
Date learned: 07-21-1968
GHOST LEGEND
WE LIVED IN AN OLD, OLD HOUSE IN GEORGETOWN, TEXAS
WHEN I WAS A LITTLE GIRL AND A MAN HAD ONCE HUNG
HIMSELF IN THE ATTIC. THE BATHROOM TO OUR APARTMENT
HAD THE ENTRANCE TO THE ATTIC. THEY SAID HIS GHOST
STILL LIVED UP THERE, SO WHEN I WAS THERE BY MYSELF
I WAS ALWAYS TERRIFIED THINKING THAT GHOST WAS GOING
TO COME DOWN THROUGH THAT TRAP DOOR.
Where learned: TENNESSEE ; NASHVILLE
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Product or activity of man or animal |
Date learned: 07-19-1968
SPOOK LEGEND
THERE'S A HOUSE AND EVERY TIME YOU GO BY IT YOU SEE
A SHADOW AGAINST THE HOUSE LIKE A MAN HANGING WITH A
NOOSE. I'VE NEVER SEEN IT, BUT I'VE HEARD ABOUT IT.
IT'S IN WASHINGTON, PENNSYLVANIA.
Where learned: TENNESSEE ; NASHVILLE
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Product or activity of man or animal |
Date learned: 07-21-1968
I ONCE SAW THIS THING IN 1964, LIKE A JET VAPOR TRAIN
AND IT WOULD GO ACROSS THE SKY WITHOUT SPREADING OUT.
SO ALL OF US KIDS WHO SAW IT ON THE PLAYGROUND AT
ROSEBANK STARTED GETTING REAL EXCITED THINKING WE
WERE BEING VISITED BY OTHER PLANETS AND EVERYTHING.
Where learned: TENNESSEE ; NASHVILLE
James Callow Keyword(s): ALIENS ; UFO U. F. O. UNIDENTIFIED FLYING OBJECT ; VAPOR TRAIL
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Celestial Body |
Date learned: 07-20-1968
ONCE IN AUSTIN, TEXAS, IN SUMMER OF LAST YEAR, I SAW
THIS BRIGHT STAR-LIKE THING IN THE SKY. IF I TOOK
IT TO THE AIR FORCE, THEY'D TELL ME IT WAS THE PLANET
VENUS. HOWEVER, IT WAS ABOUT TEN O'CLOCK AT NIGHT--
TOO LATE AT NIGHT FOR THE PLANET VENUS TO BE SEEN.
ALSO, THE OBJECT WAS TOO BRIGHT. IT WASN'T MOVING
AT ALL, SO IT COULDN'T HAVE BEEN A LIGHT FROM AN
AIRPLANE, HELICOPTER OR BLIMP. I TOOK A PICTURE OF IT
WHICH DIDN'T TURN OUT, SO WE HAVE NO PROOF. WHEN I
WENT OUTSIDE LATER THE THING WAS GONE.
Where learned: TENNESSEE ; NASHVILLE
James Callow Keyword(s): ALIENS ; UFO U. F. O. UNIDENTIFIED FLYING OBJECT
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Celestial Body |
Date learned: 07-20-1968
THIS IS THE STORY OF THE HAUNTED HOUSE. ONCE UPON
A TIME, A GROUP OF BOYS STARTED A CLUB. BEFORE YOU WERE
A MEMBER, YOU HAD TO VISIT A CERTAIN HAUNTED HOUSE. ONE
BOY WENT TO THE HEAD AND TOLD HIM HE WANTED TO BE A
MEMBER. THEY TOLD HIM WHEN HE GOT INSIDE THE HAUNTED
HOUSE, HE WOULD FIND THREE WINDOWS. THEY TOLD HIM TO
SHINE ONE LIGHT IN THE FIRST WINDOW, TWO IN THE SECOND,
THREE IN THE THIRD. HE WENT UP THERE AND WHEN HE GOT
INSIDE, HE JUST FOUND TWO WINDOWS. HE SHINED ONE
LIGHT IN THE FIRST WINDOW AND TWO IN THE SECOND. HE
LOOKED AROUND AND FOUND A DOOR. HE OPENED IT AND IN
FRONT OF HIM WERE BODIES OF BOYS WHO HAD BEEN UP
HERE BEFORE. HE STARTED TO LEAVE WHEN HE BLACKED OUT.
Where learned: TENNESSEE ; NASHVILLE
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Product or activity of man or animal CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Initiation rite Hazing |
Date learned: 08-10-1968
ONCE THERE WAS A FARMER WHO HAD A HUGE, HUGE PATCH
OF WATERMELONS. HIS NEXT DOOR NEIGHBOR JUST LOVED
WATERMELONS, BUT THE FARMER HARDLY EVER GAVE HIM ANY,
THOUGH. THERE WAS A HAUNTED HOUSE UP THE STREET AND
ONE DAY THE FARMER TOLD THE MAN THAT IF HE SPENT THE
NIGHT IN THE HAUNTED HOUSE THAT HE'D GIVE HIM ALL
THE WATERMELONS HE WANTED. THAT NIGHT THE MAN SLEPT IN
THE HAUNTED HOUSE. HE WENT IN THERE AND HE SAW A
WHOLE BUNCH OF ROOMS. HE PICKED OUT ONE TO SLEEP IN,
HE STARTED TO GO TO SLEEP WHEN HE SAW TWO BIG EYES.
HE GOT HIS GUN AND SHOT AT 'EM. OUCH! HE FLEW FROM
THE BED OUT THE DOOR AND DOWN THE STREET. AS HE
WENT BY HIS NEIGHBOR'S HOUSE HE CALLED, "YOU CAN
FORGET ABOUT THEM WATERMELONS."
Where learned: TENNESSEE ; NASHVILLE
| Subject headings: | -- |
Date learned: 08-10-1968
FATAL HAIRDO TALE
WHEN I WAS A HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT IN NASHVILLE (1963-66)
THERE WERE A RASH OF FATAL HAIRDO STORIES CIRCULATING
AMONG THE HIGH SCHOOL GIRLS. EVERYONE WHO TOLD THE
STORIES VOWED THAT THEIR VERSION WAS THE T R U E
VERSION. I CAN REMEMBER THAT THE GIRL
WAS SAID TO HAVE BEEN A STUDENT AT STRATFORD HIGH
SCHOOL IN NASHVILLE, AND AT DONELSON HIGH SCHOOL
IN DONELSON, TENNESSEE WHICH IS A SUBURB OF NASHVILLE.
THE STORY BASICALLY WENT SOMETHING LIKE THIS:
THERE WAS THIS GIRL WHO HAD HER HAIR FIXED IN A
SPECIAL, ELABORATE WAY FOR A PROM OR SOME OTHER EVENT.
AFTER THE GIRL HAD HER HAIR DONE, FOR DAYS, AND EVEN
WEEKS AFTERWARDS, SHE ROLLED IT WITH TOILET PAPER EACH
NIGHT TO HOLD THE STYLE'S SHAPE AND NEVER BRUSHED IT OUT
BECAUSE SHE LIKED THE HAIRDO SO WELL. ONE DAY THIS GIRL
WAS SITTING IN CLASS AND BLOOD STARTED RUNNING DOWN
HER FACE. SHE FAINTED AND WAS RUSHED TO THE HOSPITAL.
AT THE HOSPITAL, HER HAIRDO WAS DISMANTLED AND A NEST
OF ROACHES WAS FOUND IN HER HAIR. THEY HAD BURROWED
AND EATEN THEIR WAY INTO HER HEAD AND INTO HER BRAIN
AND KILLED HER.
Where learned: TENNESSEE ; NASHVILLE
James Callow Keyword(s): ALSO SEE SAME BASIC STORY WITH A SPIDER IN IT.
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Body part Senses BELIEF -- Body part Senses |
Date learned: 08-13-1968
ABOUT A YEAR AGO, I WAS LOOKING OUT THE DEN WINDOW AND I
SAW THIS STRANGE OBJECT THAT WAS OBLONG HOVERING VERY
LOW OVER TREES. IT WAS IN AUGUST. IT HAD VERY, VERY
BRIGHT ORANGE LIGHTS SHINING THROUGH ROWS AND ROWS OF
WINDOWS. SO, I DISMISSED IT FROM MY MIND AND I WAS
DETERMINED NOT TO TELL ABOUT IT BECAUSE THEY'D THINK
I WAS NUTS. SO, IN A FEW DAYS AT MY DAUGHTER'S BIRTHDAY
PARTY ONE OF THE LITTLE GUESTS CAME IN AND SAID, "GUESS
WHAT, MY SISTER AND I SAW THE OTHER DAY?" A FLYING SAUCER."
IT TURNED OUT IT WAS AT THE SAME LOCATION AND TIME AS
THE ONE I HAD SEEN.
Where learned: TENNESSEE ; NASHVILLE
James Callow Keyword(s): ALIENS ; UFO U. F. O. UNIDENTIFIED FLYING OBJECT
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Celestial Body |
Date learned: 07-19-1968
HAUNTED HOUSE
ON THE CORNER OF 46TH AVE., NORTH AND CHARLOTTE
AVE., ACROSS FROM THE CHARLOTTE AVENUE CHURCH OF
CHRIST, THERE USED TO STAND A WEATHER-BEATEN LITTLE
GINGERBREAD COTTAGE WHERE NOBODY WOULD LIVE.
PEOPLE SAID THAT A MAN HAD ONCE GONE CRAZY OVER
RELIGION AND HANGED HIMSELF IN THE DINING ROOM.
FROM THE STREET YOU COULD HEAR STRANGE NOISES AND
SEE LIGHTS IF YOU WENT PAST LATE AT NIGHT. NOBODY
HAD LIVED IN IT FOR TWENTY YEARS WHEN, JUST BEFORE
WORLD WAR II, IT WAS MOVED TO THE BACK OF THE LOT AND
AN ESSO (GAS) STATION WAS BUILT ON THE CORNER.
DURING THE WAR HOUSES WERE SO SCARCE THAT THE OWNER
PAINTED IT UP AND RENTED IT TO WAR WORKERS. AFTER
THE WAR IT WAS TORN DOWN AND A REPAIR GARAGE WAS
BUILT ON THE SITE. A BUSINESS MAN LATER TOLD ME THAT
THE REASON IT WAS NOT LIVED IN WAS THAT IT WAS IN
LITIGATION BECAUSE ONE OF THE HEIRS COULD NOT BE
LOCATED.
Where learned: TENNESSEE ; NASHVILLE
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Product or activity of man or animal |
HAUNTED HOUSE
AS LONG AS I HAVE LIVED IN THIS NEIGHBORHOOD, THERE
HAS BEEN A TWO-STORY, WHITE HOUSE ON FIFTY-FIRST AVE.,
NORTH JUST OFF CHARLOTTE THAT WAS HAUNTED BY A MAN
WHO SLIT HIS THROAT WITH AN OLD-FASHIONED RAZOR. IF
YOU WERE IN THE ROOM NEXT TO THE ONE WHERE HE KILLED
HIMSELF AND THE DOOR WAS CLOSED YOU WOULD HEAR A
SWOOSHING SOUND. WHEN YOU LOOKED DOWN, YOU WOULD
SEE A GREAT PUDDLE OF BLOOD FLOWING UNDER THE DOOR.
ONCE I WAS TELLING THE CHILDREN IN MY CLASS ABOUT
THIS HOUSE WHEN A LITTLE GIRL BEGAN TO WAVE HER
HAND FRANTICALLY. THIS IS WHAT SHE TOLD:
WE USED TO LIVE IN THAT HOUSE. NOBODY HAD EVER
TOLD US ABOUT IT BEING HAUNTED. ONE EVENING JUST
ABOUT SUNDOWN, I WENT IN THE FRONT DOOR. I DIDN'T
KNOW THERE WASN'T ANYBODY AT HOME WHEN I OPENED THE
DOOR. IT WAS ALMOST DARK BUT YOU COULD SEE YOUR WAY
AROUND A LITTLE. I WAS AFRAID TO GO ANY FURTHER.
THEN I THOUGHT I SAW A LIGHT UNDER THE FRONT ROOM
DOOR. I RAN OUT SCREAMING. THE NEIGHBORS CAME BACK
WITH ME AND ABOUT THAT TIME MY FATHER AND MOTHER
CAME HOME. THEY TOLD ME THAT I HAD JUST SEEN THE
SUNSET REFLECTED IN THE WAX FLOOR. I KNOW THEY WERE
RIGHT, BUT IT LOOKED JUST LIKE BLOOD AND I SURE
WAS SCARED.
Submitter comment:
THE GIRL'S NAME WAS JEAN CROUCH. I HAVE NEVER HEARD
OF ANYONE ELSE SEEING THE BLOOD.
Where learned: TENNESSEE ; NASHVILLE
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Product or activity of man or animal |
HAUNTED HOUSE
UP IN THE COVE THERE WAS A HOUSE THAT EVERYBODY THOUGHT
WAS HAUNTED. EVEN THE REVENUE MEN THOUGHT IT WAS
HAUNTED. IT WAS OWNED BY A BOOTLEGGER NAMED LADD.
YOU COULD SEE HIM GO IN THE HOUSE BUT WHEN YOU WENT
IN TO ARREST HIM, YOU COULD SEARCH THE PLACE OVER AND
NOT BE ABLE TO FIND HIM. THE GOVERNMENT EVEN SENT MEN
THERE TO MEASURE THE HOUSE TO SEE IF IT HAD A SECRET
ROOM BUT THEY COULDN'T FIND ANY. AFTER OLD MAN LADD
DIED HIS CHILDREN SHOWED HOW THERE WAS A PASSAGEWAY
THROUGH THE CHIMNEY DOWN INTO THE CELLAR THAT LED OUT
TO A BIG CAVE WHERE HE STORED HIS BOOZE. EVEN THEN
NOBODY WOULD BUY THE PLACE AND FOR ALL I KNOW THE
LADDS ARE STILL LIVING THERE.
Where learned: TENNESSEE ; NASHVILLE
James Callow Keyword(s): LIQUOR MOONSHINE TREASURY DEPARTMENT T-MEN
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Outlaw Criminal Bandit Pirate PROSE NARRATIVE -- Product or activity of man or animal |