Dr. James T. Callow publications
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The James T. Callow Folklore Archive
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JUDGE MURPHY'S HOME ON JEFFERSON NEAR RIVARD IN
GROSSE POINTE STOOD EMPTY FOR MANY YEARS. SOME
PEOPLE EVEN SAID IT WAS HAUNTED. KIDS USED TO PLAY
IN THE HOUSE DURING THE DAY. THE ELEVATOR SHAFT
AND BASEMENT WERE TWO PLACES NOBODY WENT HEAR. AT
TIMES, THE SOUNDS OF AN ELEVATOR IN OPERATION COULD
BE HEARD THROUGHOUT THE WHOLE HOUSE. ALSO,
STRANGE SOUNDS USED TO COME FROM THE DAMP BASEMENT.
THE GRASS AND SHRUBS HADN'T BEEN CARED FOR IN YEARS.
THE DODGE HOME WAS RIGHT NEXT DOOR, AND MANY OF US
KIDS THOUGHT THAT "OLD LADY" DODGE USED TO VISIT
THERE EVERY NIGHT.
MOST OF THE WINDOWS WERE BROKEN, AND THE POLICE GAVE
UP TRYING TO PATROL THE PLACE. ONE NIGHT, A FEW
YEARS AGO, THE HOME BURNED TO THE GROUND. SOME
SAID THAT JUDGE MURPHY, DISMAYED AT THE HOME'S
DISUSE, CAME BACK AND SET IT ON FIRE, BUT THE
POLICE BLAMED VANDALS.
Submitter comment:
THIS STORY WAS KNOWN BY MANY OF THE PEOPLE IN THAT
SECTION OF TOWN.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; GROSSE POINTE
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal P477.13 |
Date learned: 00001950S EARLY
WORRY BEADS WILL PREVENT HEART TROUBLE, FEMALE PROBLEMS
AND TIRED BLOOD. (GREEK)
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; GROSSE POINTE
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Means of Causing or Avoiding Illness |
Date learned: 04-26-1972
A PERSON WHO CROSSES HIMSELF WITH HOLY WATER WILL BRING
TO HIM A BLESSING.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; GROSSE POINTE
| Subject headings: | 682 682.4 SPEECH -- Gesture |
Date learned: 04-26-1972
WHEN YOU PLACE A STAMP UPSIDE DOWN ON A LETTER, IT MEANS
"I LOVE YOU."
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; GROSSE POINTE
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Emblem |
Date learned: 02-03-1970
WARTS--STICK THE HAND WHICH HAS THE WARTS ON IT INTO A
BAG AND TIE IT UP. THE FIRST PERSON WHO OPENS IT WILL
GET YOUR WARTS.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; GROSSE POINTE
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Remedy |
Date learned: 04-26-1972
TO GET RID OF WARTS, AT THE FULL OF THE MOON RUB DRY PEAS ON
THE WARTS WITH YOUR HANDS BEHIND YOUR BACK. DROP THE PEAS
ON THE GROUND AND THE NEXT MORNING YOUR WARTS WILL BE GONE.
Submitter comment: MRS. LAWRENCE, WHO LEARNED IT FROM A GERMAN LADY IS THE SOURCE.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; GROSSE POINTE
James Callow Keyword(s): TRANSFER
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Plant |
Date learned: 00001964 SUMMER
TO GET RID OF A WART, RUB A POTATO ON THE WART AND THEN BURY
THE POTATO. WHEN THE POTATO ROTS, THE WART WILL BE GONE.
Submitter comment: FROM MRS. LAWRENCE, OF POLISH DESCENT.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; GROSSE POINTE
James Callow Keyword(s): TRANSFER PLUGGING
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Plant |
Date learned: 00001964 SUMMER
WARTS--SHARPEN A WOODEN MATCH, STICK THE POINT INTO THE WART,
AND IN TWO OR THREE DAYS THE WART WILL BE GONE.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; GROSSE POINTE
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Method of Curing |
Date learned: 03-15-1972
TO CURE A WART, SPIT ON IT AND IT WILL DISAPPEAR.
Submitter comment: FROM HIS MOTHER, MRS. SCHMIDT, OF GERMAN DESCENT.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; GROSSE POINTE
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Method of Curing |
Date learned: 00001964 SUMMER
TO CURE A WART, TAKE A PIECE OF MEAT AND RUB IT ON THE WART
THEN BURY THE MEAT. AS THE MEAT BEGINS TO ROT THE WART WILL
START TO GO AWAY. WHEN THE MEAT IS COMPLETELY DECOMPOSED
THE WART WILL BE COMPLETELY GONE.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; GROSSE POINTE
James Callow Keyword(s): PLUGGING ; TRANSFER
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Method of Curing |
Date learned: 04-04-1970
IF YOU HAVE PEARLS ON YOUR WEDDING DRESS, THESE ARE
SUPPOSED TO BE TEARDROPS, MEANING YOU WILL CRY YOUR
LIFE TOGETHER--YOUR HUSBAND AND YOU.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; GROSSE POINTE
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Marriage Bride |
Date learned: 02-09-1972
IT IS A POLISH CUSTOM FOR THE BRIDE AT HER WEDDING TO
DANCE WITH EVERYONE AND GET PAID FOR IT. THE MEN WILL
RANGE FROM GIVING HER $1-$10 JUST FOR ONE DANCE. I
THINK THIS BEGAN BECAUSE THE WEDDING WAS SUCH AN
EXPENSIVE THING TO PAY FOR THAT THE PEOPLE CONTRIBUTED
TO THE BRIDE'S EXPENSES. BY THE WAY, THE MORE FLAT-
CHESTED THE BRIDE WAS THE BETTER, BECAUSE SHE COULD
STUFF MORE MONEY IN HER BRA.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; GROSSE POINTE
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Marriage Dancing |
Date learned: 01-30-1972
UPON LEAVING HAWAII, IF YOU TOSS A LEI INTO THE WATER,
AND IT FLOATS TOWARDS SHORE, IT MEANS THAT YOU WILL
ONE DAY RETURN TO HAWAII.
Submitter comment:
INFORMANT WAS TOLD TO DO THIS BY A NATIVE UPON
LEAVING HAWAII A FEW MONTHS AGO.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; GROSSE POINTE
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Use of Object Plant |
Date learned: 03-08-1970
PEEL AN APPLE SO THE SKIN COMES OFF IN ONE LONG
SPIRAL. SWING THE PEEL OVER YOUR HEAD AND LET
IT GO AS YOU TURN ON YOUR LEFT HEEL. THE PEEL WILL
BREAK AND LAND ON THE FLOOR IN THE PATTERN OF
YOUR TRUE LOVE'S INITIALS.
Submitter comment:
INFORMANT AND HER FRIENDS DID THIS WITHOUT MUCH FAITH
WHILE IN HIGH SCHOOL IN GROSSE POINTE.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; GROSSE POINTE
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Use of object for determining true love P861.1 |
Date learned: 02-18-1970
ON THE EVE OF THE FIRST OF THE MONTH YOU WRITE DOWN
VARIOUS BOYS NAMES ON SEPARATE PIECES OF PAPER AND
FOLD EACH ONE. ONE IS SELECTED AND PLACED UNDER YOUR
PILLOW. WHEN YOU AWAKE IN THE MORNING, BEFORE SAYING
A WORD, UNFOLD THE PIECE OF PAPER AND THE NAME
APPEARING IS THE NAME OF THE BOY WHO YOU WILL MARRY.
Submitter comment:
THIS IS A GAME MY WIFE PLAYED IN BOARDING SCHOOL WITH
HER OTHER CLASSMATES.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; GROSSE POINTE
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Use of object for determining future spouse |
Date learned: 04-06-1970
METHOD OF DETERMINING HOW MANY CHILDREN YOU WILL
HAVE: THE NEEDLE GAME CONSISTS OF A PIECE OF THREAD
PUT THROUGH A NEEDLE. THE OBJECT OF THE GAME IS
TO TELL A PERSON HOW MANY CHILDREN THEY WILL HAVE.
HOW THE GAME IS PLAYED: A PERSON HANGS THE NEEDLE
AND THREAD DIRECTLY OVER THE BACKSIDE OF THE HAND
OF ANOTHER PERSON. IF THE NEEDLE STARTS SWINGING
FROM FINGERTIP TO ELBOW, THIS MEANS YOU WILL HAVE
A BOY, IF THE STRING SWINGS FROM THUMB TOWARDS
BABY FINGER, YOU WILL HAVE A GIRL. IF THE NEEDLE
STANDS STILL, THIS MEANS NO CHILDREN, AND IF THE
NEEDLE TURNS IN A CIRCLE, THIS MEANS THAT YOU WILL
HAVE A MISCARRIAGE.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; GROSSE POINTE
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Use of object for determining number of children or sex of unborn P863.3 |
TO OPEN AN UMBRELLA INDOORS WILL BRING VERY BAD LUCK
TO THAT PERSON.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; GROSSE POINTE
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Bad luck Umbrella |
Date learned: 04-26-1972
IT'S IN THE BAG.
Submitter comment: FROM - UNCERTAIN
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; GROSSE POINTE
| Subject headings: | PROVERB -- Proverbial Phrase |
Date learned: 00001964SUMMER
IT'S BETTER THAN A POKE IN THE EYE WITH A SHARP STICK.
Submitter comment: FROM - UNCERTAIN.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; GROSSE POINTE
Keyword(s): PAIN
| Subject headings: | PROVERB -- Proverbial Comparison |
Date learned: 00001964(SUMMER)
IT'S A WISE CHILD THAT KNOWS HIS OWN FATHER.
Submitter comment: FROM - UNCERTAIN
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; GROSSE POINTE
| Subject headings: | PROVERB -- Proverbial Metaphor |
Date learned: 00001964(SUMMER)