Dr. James T. Callow publications
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The James T. Callow Folklore Archive
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NOT GIVEN
STORY ABOUT GUY WHO WAS STUCK IN THE THUNDER BAY AREA OF CANADA
FOR 41 DAYS BECAUSE HE COULDN'T GET A RIDE.
Submitter comment:
STORY TOLD AT YOUTH HOSTEL IN AREA AND BELIEVED. IT SEEMS
USUALLY TAKES ABOUT 2 DAYS TO GET A RIDE ANYWAY.
Where learned: DETROIT ; MICHIGAN, ASSUMED
Keyword(s): ISOLATED, VAST AREA
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Earth PROSE NARRATIVE -- Product or activity of man or animal BELIEF -- Street Trip Relations between relatives, friends, host and guest Social class Rank |
Date learned: 07-00-1971
A TALL TALE
DID YOU EVER HEAR OF THE HOUSE THAT PAUL BUNYAN BUILT IN THE
NORTH WOODS?
IT WAS SO HIGH THAT HE HAD TO PUT THE LAST FIVE STORIES ON
HINGES TO LET THE MOON GO BY.
Where learned: DETROIT ; MICHIGAN, ASSUMED
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Secular hero PROSE NARRATIVE -- Abnormal in size PROSE NARRATIVE -- Moon PROSE NARRATIVE -- Lie Tall tale |
Date learned: 06-00-1964
SCOTT FOUNTAIN
THIS FOUNTAIN LOCATED ON BELLE ISLE WAS DONATED BY ONE OF
DETROIT'S MOST NOTORIOUS GAMBLERS AND PRACTICAL JOKERS, WHOSE
NAME THE FOUNTAIN BEARS. THE MONEY FOR THIS HISTORIC LANDMARK
WAS SUPPOSEDLY WON FROM THREE OF DETROIT'S MORE PROMINENT FIGURES
IN A GAME OF CHANCE. IT WAS THE OBJECTION OF THESE THREE THAT
DELAYED ITS CONSTRUCTION FOR SOME THIRTY YEARS. THE FOUNTAIN
NOW STANDS AS AN ETERNAL MOCKERY OF THESE NOBLE CITIZENS, WHO
SCOTT ONCE CUSSED BY SAYING HE WOULD GET THE LAST LAUGH.
Where learned: DETROIT ; MICHIGAN, ASSUMED
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Explanation of a name Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Game Pastime ART CRAFT ARCHITECTURE -- Fountain Well Aqueduct |
Date learned: NOT GIVEN
THE AXEMAN
A GROUP OF THE INFORMANT'S FRIENDS WHEN IN HIGH SCHOOL USED TO
PASS THE BLOOMFIELD ESTATES CEMETERY ON THE WAY TO SCHOOL EVERY
MORNING. EACH MORNING IN THE CEMETERY WAS A MAN WHO CARRIED AN
AXE STANDING AT HIS WIFE'S GRAVE. THE GROUP OF TEENAGERS CALLED
HIM "CHARLIE THE AXEMAN." THEY USED TO TEASE HIM EVERY MORNING
UNTIL ONE DAY ONE OF THE FELLOWS FOUND THIS AXE WEDGED THROUGH
THE HOOD OF THE CAR. THERE WAS NO FURTHER TEASING AFTER THAT.
Submitter comment: INFORMANT LEARNED THIS FROM THIS GROUP OF FRIENDS.
Where learned: DETROIT ; MICHIGAN, ASSUMED
Date learned: 03-31-1967
LITHUANIANS DON'T BELIEVE IN TOO MANY FESTIVALS.
AS A MATTER OF FACT, THEY DON'T HAVE ANY FESTIVALS AT
ALL. ON HOLY DAYS, THE PEOPLE WENT TO CHURCH AND THEN
TO CELEBRATE AT HOME OR OVER (AT) A FRIEND'S HOUSE.
BUT LITHUANIANS HAD NO FESTIVALS.
MOST OF THEIR FESTIVALS WERE IN COORDINATION WITH THE
CHURCH. SO HERE, I WILL INCLUDE TOGETHER THE
CHURCH CEREMONIES AND RELIGIOUS CUSTOMS OF
LITHUANIA.
Submitter comment:
THE APPROPRIATE NUMBER, I SHOULD THINK, WOULD BE
F600.538.
Where learned: SOUTHFIELD ; MICHIGAN, ASSUMED
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Festival CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Festival F600.538 |
Date learned: 03-25-1972
VERSE WITHOUT MUSIC
TWO PEOPLE STAND OPPOSITE ONE ANOTHER WHILE RECITING
THIS VERSE. AS THEY DO, THEY CLAP FIRST THEIR HANDS
AND THEN THE HANDS OF THEIR PARTNER:
DOCTOR, DOCTOR HAVE YOU HEARD.
MOMMY'S GOING TO BUY ME A MOCKING BIRD.
AND IF THAT MOCKING BIRD DON'T SING,
MOMMY'S GOING TO BUY ME A DIAMOND RING.
AND IF THAT DIAMOND RING DON'T SHINE,
MOMMY'S GOING TO BUY ME A BOTTLE OF WINE.
AND IF THAT BOTTLE OF WINE GETS BROKE,
MOMMY'S GOING TO BUY ME A BILLY-GOAT.
AND IF THAT BILLY-GOAT RUNS AWAY,
MOMMY'S GOING TO SPANK MY BOOM-ZEE-A,
AND IF MY BOOM-ZEE-A GETS SORE,
MOMMY'S GOING TO BUY ME A CLOTHING STORE.
AND IF THAT CLOTHING STORE BURNS DOWN,
MOMMY'S GOING TO BUY ME AN EVENING GOWN,
AND IF THAT EVENING GOWN DON'T FIT,
MOMMY'S GOING TO SAY, "I QUIT, QUIT, QUIT."
Where learned: BIRMINGHAM ; MICHIGAN, ASSUMED
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Game Verse Game Verse |
Date learned: NOT GIVEN
THE DEVIL ON SEYBURN
AS A LITTLE GIRL THE INFORMANT LIVED ON SEYBURN IN DETROIT. ON
ONE OF THE CORNERS OF SEYBURN THERE WAS A HOUSE WHICH HAD BEEN
POSSESSED BY THE DEVIL. WHEN THE PRIEST DROVE THE DEVIL FROM THE
HOUSE, HE CHASED IT INTO THE GARAGE. THE DEVIL RAN ACROSS THE
FLOOR UP THE WALL AND HALF WAY ACROSS THE CEILING BEFORE LEAVING.
THERE ARE IMPRINTS OF HIS FOOT IN THE CEMENT FLOOR OF THE GARAGE.
ON THE WALL AND ON THE CEILING THERE ARE HAND AND BELLY PRINTS.
THESE PRINTS CANNOT BE REMOVED WITH PAINT OR BY RECEMENTING THE
FLOOR. THEY ALWAYS REAPPEAR. THE INFORMANT HAS SEEN THE PRINTS
HERSELF.
Where learned: DETROIT ; MICHIGAN, ASSUMED
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Fairy Elf Goblin Gnome PROSE NARRATIVE -- Product or activity of man or animal BELIEF -- Sign Color |
Date learned: 03-31-1967
A LEGENDARY GAME
THERE WAS A PLAGUE IN ENGLAND AND THE GAME "RING AROUND THE ROSEY"
WAS REALLY A RASH WITH A RING AROUND IT, SO IT'S RING AROUND THE
ROSEY. IT USED TO SMELL, SO THEY KEPT POSIES IN THEIR POCKETS,
POCKET FULL OF POSIES. IT ALSO USED TO MAKE THEM SNEEZE, AND AFTER
THEY SNEEZED THEY WOULD FALL DEAD, SO IT ISN'T REALLY ASHES, ASHES,
THEY ALL FALL DOWN, BUT ACHOO, ACHOO, THEY ALL FALL DEAD.
Submitter comment: INFORMANT LEARNED THIS FROM HER HIGH SCHOOL TEACHER.
Where learned: DETROIT ; MICHIGAN, ASSUMED
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Explanation of a name Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Game Pastime CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- School BELIEF -- Death Funeral Burial BELIEF -- Medicine |
Date learned: 03-31-1967
MARBLES ON THE UPSTAIRS FLOOR
THE INFORMANT'S AUNT WAS BORN AND RAISED IN IRELAND. SHE HAD
MOVED TO THE U.S. BUT HAD GONE BACK TO IRELAND AFTER THE DEATH
OF ONE OF HER CHILDREN. WHEN RETURNING TO IRELAND, THEY MOVED
INTO A HOUSE IN WHICH THEY DID NOT USE THE SECOND FLOOR. RETURN-
ING ONE EVENING FROM GOOD FRIDAY DEVOTIONS IN CHURCH, THE AUNT
NOTICED A LIGHT MOVING FROM ONE END OF THE HOUSE TO THE OTHER
ON THE SECOND FLOOR. THEY THOUGHT NOTHING OF THE LIGHT AT FIRST,
UNTIL THEY REALIZED THAT THE LIGHT COULD NOT MOVE FROM ONE END
OF THE HOUSE TO THE OTHER WITHOUT GOING THROUGH A COUPLE OF
WALLS. WHEN THEY RETURNED HOME THEY QUESTIONED THE CHILDREN
ABOUT HAVING BEEN UPSTAIRS. THE CHILDREN CLAIMED THAT THEY HAD
NOT BEEN UP THERE. THE FATHER AND TWO BROTHERS WENT UPSTAIRS
TO LOOK AROUND BUT COULD FIND NOTHING. THE DOG WOULD NOT GO
UPSTAIRS. THAT NIGHT THERE WAS A TYPE OF NOISE ON THE FLOOR
UPSTAIRS. THE NOISES CONTINUED EVERY NIGHT, GETTING LOUDER AND
LOUDER AND TURNING INTO SOFT CRIES AND MOANING. THE AUNT HAD THE
HOUSE BLESSED TWICE WITHIN TWO WEEKS TO RID IT OF THE NOISE.
AFTER SOME TIME AS THE NOISE GOT LOUDER, THE PRIEST WAS AGAIN
CALLED TO BLESS THE HOUSE. THE FAMILY WENT TO TOWN AND LOOKED
UP THE HISTORY OF THE PREVIOUS OWNERS OF THE HOUSE. THEY FOUND
THAT THE HOUSE HAD ONCE BEEN OWNED BY A VERY WEALTHY MAN. THIS
MAN'S MAID WENT INSANE AND ONE DAY CHOKED THE TWO LITTLE CHILDREN
TO DEATH BY STUFFING MARBLES DOWN THEIR THROATS. UPON RETURNING
TO THE HOUSE WITH THE PRIEST TO AGAIN BLESS IT, THEY FOUND MARBLES
ON THE UPSTAIRS FLOOR. THESE MARBLES HAD BEEN MAKING THE NOISE
IN THE NIGHT. THE BODIES OF THE TWO CHILDREN HAD BEEN PLACED IN
THEIR TOY CHESTS. THESE CHESTS HAD LONG BEFORE BEEN REMOVED.
Where learned: DETROIT ; IRELAND ; MICHIGAN, ASSUMED
Date learned: 03-31-1967
OLD POLISH STORY: TIRED TRAVELER
A CERTAIN TRAVELER HAD STOPPED AT MANY INNS TO FIND SHELTER FOR
THE NIGHT BUT HAD NO SUCCESS IN FINDING A ROOM. FINALLY, HE
AGREED TO AN INNKEEPER'S BARN. WHEN HE ENTERED, HE SAW THERE
WAS NO PLACE FOR HIM TO RECLINE. HE SAW ONLY SOME HOOKS WHERE
THE TOOLS WERE HUNG. HE PROMPTLY DISASSEMBLED HIMSELF AND PUT
AN ARM ON ONE HOOK, A LEG ON ANOTHER, AND SO ON.
Where learned: DETROIT ; MICHIGAN, ASSUMED
Date learned: 01-20-1968
STRETCHING THE LOG
BACK IN POLAND, MANY YEARS AGO, THERE WAS A FARMER WHO WAS
BUILDING A BARN. HAVING CUT ONE OF THE LOGS TOO SHORT, THE
FARMER CALLED TO HIS NEIGHBOR TO BRING HIS OXEN. THE TWO
FARMERS HITCHED BOTH OF THEIR ANIMALS TO THE SHORT LOG AND
PULLED IT UNTIL IT WAS THE RIGHT SIZE.
Submitter comment: INFORMANT IS 81 YEARS OLD.
Where learned: DETROIT ; MICHIGAN, ASSUMED
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Mammal PROSE NARRATIVE -- Jest Anecdote PROSE NARRATIVE -- Lie Tall tale ART CRAFT ARCHITECTURE -- Wood Gourd ART CRAFT ARCHITECTURE -- Animal housingBarnPen |
Date learned: 01-20-1968
THE IRISH BELIEF IN LITTLE FAIRY-LIKE CREATURES WHO SEEM
TO CORRESPOND TO THE AMERICAN FAIRY GODMOTHERS. EACH
OF THESE LEPRECHAUNS IS BELIEVED TO OWN HIS OWN POT
OF GOLD.
Where learned: DETROIT ; MICHIGAN, ASSUMED
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Fairy Elf Goblin Gnome |
Date learned: 11-02-1967
THERE WAS A STORY AT OLIVET COLLEGE ABOUT THE FRESHMAN
ENGLISH PROFESSOR WHO GRADED EXAMS BY THROWING
THEM DOWN A FLIGHT OF STAIRS; THE "A'S" WERE ON
THE TOP STEP, THE "A-'S" ON THE NEXT, ETC.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT ; MICHIGAN, ASSUMED ; OLIVET
Keyword(s): ACADEMIC JOKES
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Human Being |
Date learned: 12-00-1971 ; 00-00-1960
THE HAUNTED STREET
IN DETROIT--STRASBURG. SHE HEARD THE STORY OF A LITTLE GIRL BEING
HIT BY A CAR AND KILLED WHEN SHE WAS YOUNGER.
Where learned: DETROIT ; MICHIGAN, ASSUMED
Date learned: 10-26-1969
NOT GIVEN
THEY HAVE A TRADITION IN POLAND WHICH SAYS THAT ONE SHOULD TAKE
A SQUARE OF LAND WITH ONE WHEN HE MOVES, PLANT IT IN ONE'S NEW
DWELLING, AND HE WILL GET GOOD LUCK.
MRS. BONAROWSKI HAD LOST HER WEDDING RING TEN YEARS BEFORE SHE
MOVED FROM POLAND TO 7 MILE AND VAN DYKE. WHEN SHE REPLANTED
THE SQUARE OF LAND SHE HAD BROUGHT HERE, SHE FOUND HER WEDDING
RING.
Submitter comment: BOTH MRS. BONAROWSKI AND GRANDSON TOM MERVACK BELIEVE THIS.
Where learned: DETROIT ; MICHIGAN, ASSUMED
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Earth BELIEF -- Good luck Leaving Entering Returning home Travel |
Date learned: 11-01-1967
TAUNT
STICK IT IN YOUR EARY--SIDEWAYS!
Submitter comment: JUST PICKED IT UP.
Where learned: SOUTHFIELD ; MICHIGAN, ASSUMED
| Subject headings: | SPEECH -- Formula |
Date learned: 11-11-1967
TAUNT
PUT UP, OR SHUT UP! (PROVE IT)
Submitter comment: JUST PICKED IT UP.
Where learned: SOUTHFIELD ; MICHIGAN, ASSUMED
| Subject headings: | SPEECH -- Formula |
Date learned: 11-11-1967
NAME
"SOURDOUGH" WAS THE NAME GIVEN TO THE PROSPECTORS WHO MINED FOR
GOLD IN ALASKA. THESE MEN SAVED A PIECE OF BREAD DOUGH EACH TIME
THEY BAKED, AND CARRIED IT WITH THEM IN ORDER TO HAVE LEAVENING
OR A "STARTER" FOR THE NEXT BAKING.
Where learned: DETROIT ; MICHIGAN, ASSUMED
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Explanation of a name ART CRAFT ARCHITECTURE -- Metal Stone Bone Gold Silver Copper Food Drink -- Plant food Cereal |
Date learned: NOT GIVEN
FOLK TALE
THIS IS SAID TO HAVE HAPPENED IN NORTHERN MICHIGAN SOME 25 YEARS
AGO. LATE ONE NIGHT FOUR YOUNG MEN WHO WERE DRIVING ALONG IN A
CAR STOPPED BY A BRIDGE AS A MYSTERIOUS LIGHT ON THE OTHER SIDE
CAUGHT THEIR ATTENTION. THREE OF THEM WALKED TO THE OTHER SIDE
WHILE THE OTHER WAITED. SINCE THEY WERE GONE FOR A LONG TIME AND
THE LIGHT HAD DISAPPEARED, THE FOURTH MAN WENT LOOKING FOR THEM
AND FOUND ALL THREE DEAD AND THEIR BODIES BADLY MUTILATED. HE
WENT TO GET HELP AND WHEN THEY RETURNED TO THE BRIDGE, THE LIGHT
WAS AGAIN THERE. AS THEY STARTED ACROSS, THE LIGHT STARTED COMING
RAPIDLY TOWARD THEM. A SHORT WHILE LATER A PASSERBY CAME UPON A
NUMBER OF MUTILATED BODIES ON THE BRIDGE. ALL THE MEN WERE DEAD
EXCEPT ONE, WHO TOLD HIM ABOUT THE LIGHT BUT DIED BEFORE HE COULD
EXPLAIN EXACTLY WHAT HAPPENED. TO THIS DAY, THE LIGHT WAS NEVER
SEEN AGAIN AND NO ONE HAS SOLVED THE MYSTERY OF THESE MURDERS.
Where learned: DETROIT ; MICHIGAN, ASSUMED
Date learned: 11-05-1969
THE CARPENTER'S ROAD LEGEND
TWO COUPLES WENT TO THE PROM AND THEN OUT TO PARK ON CARPENTER'S
ROAD, WHICH IS A DESERTED ROAD IN THE WOODS OF BEAVERCREEK. WHILE
NECKING, THEY HEARD A KNOCKING AND SCRATCHING NOISE OUTSIDE. ONE
OF THE BOYS WENT OUT TO CHECK IT OUT. AND AFTER A LONG WORRISOME
WAIT DURING WHICH HE HADN'T RETURNED, THE SECOND BOY LEFT. AGAIN
AFTER SEVERAL HOURS, THEY STILL HADN'T RETURNED, SO ONE GIRL WENT
FOR HELP WHILE THE OTHER WAITED. THE LAST GIRL FINALLY LEFT AND
FOUND THE POLICE. AFTER A LONG SEARCH, THE THREE WERE FOUND. THE
TWO BOYS WERE ENTIRELY CHEWED UP, BLOODY AND JUST TOTALLY MUTILA-
TED. THE GIRL, WITH HER HAIR, ONCE BRUNETTE, NOW HAD STARK WHITE
HAIR STANDING ON END AND HAD DIED OF FRIGHT. NOW NOBODY KNOWS
IF THIS IS TRUE BUT NO ONE GOES THERE UNLESS HE'S LOOKING FOR A
SCARE.
Where learned: DETROIT ; MICHIGAN, ASSUMED
Date learned: 12-02-1969