Dr. James T. Callow publications
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The James T. Callow Folklore Archive
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HAUNTED CABIN
THERE IS AN OLD LOGGING CABIN IN EAST TAWAS ON ONE OF THE BACK
LOGGING ROADS DATING BACK TO AROUND CIVIL WAR TIME, AND THE CABIN
IS IN VERY GOOD SHAPE FOR HOW OLD IT IS. THE LEGEND GOES THAT THE
PERSON WHO ONWED THE PLACE DIED IN A STABLE JUST OFF ONE ROOM,
ALONG WITH HIS DOG AND HORSE. PRIOR TO OUR ARRIVAL IN EAST TAWAS
(ABOUT 1953), A GROUP OF PEOPLE APPROACHED THE CABIN. ONE PERSON
FROM THE GROUP OPENED THE TOP PART OF THE DUTCH-DOOR AND CLIMBED
OVER AND INTO THE CABIN. HE SEARCHED THE CABIN AND FOUND THE
BONES OF A HUMAN BEING, A HORSE AND A DOG, IN THE STABLE AREA.
WHEN HE CAME OUT OF THE CABIN HE TOLD THE GROUP WHAT HE HAD FOUND
AND IMMEDIATELY KEELED OVER DEAD. THE GROUP FLED, LEAVING THE
TOP PART OF THE DOOR OPEN AND NO ONE HAS ENTERED THE CABIN SINCE
THEN. ALL THE UTENSILS USED BY THE DEAD OWNER COULD BE SEEN IN
THE CABIN IN 1958--THE TIME WHEN THE INFORMANT WAS THERE. THE
INFORMANT BELIEVES THAT THIS REALLY HAPPENED.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; EAST TAWAS
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Ghost Spirit Phantom Specter PROSE NARRATIVE -- Mammal PROSE NARRATIVE -- Product or activity of man or animal BELIEF -- Death Funeral Burial |
Date learned: 00-00-1958
RIDDLE
WHAT'S GREEN AND FLIES?
SUPER TURTLE.
Submitter comment: HEARD FROM HIS BROTHER.
Where learned: UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; STUDENT UNION
| Subject headings: | RIDDLE -- Riddle Question |
Date learned: 12-01-1967
YOU KNOW WHAT THEY SAY ABOUT NICE GUYS:
EVEN A MAN WHO IS PURE AT HEART,
AND SAYS HIS PRAYERS AT NIGHT,
CAN BECOME A WOLF WHEN THE WOLF-BANE FLOWERS,
AND THE MOON IS FULL AND BRIGHT.
Where learned: ENGLAND ; WORCESTER
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Belief C860.427 |
Date learned: 04-00-1972
CUSTOM
PROTOCOL IS IMPORTANT IN THAILAND. ONE STANDARD PRACTICE IS MEN
FIRST AND LADIES LAST.
Where learned: WHILE STATIONED IN THAILAND
Keyword(s): THAILAND PROTOCOL
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Street Trip Relations between relatives, friends, host and guest Social class Rank |
IN THE FACTORY WHERE I WORKED THIS SUMMER, IT WAS
A WELL KNOWN GESTURE TO POINT ONE'S INDEX FINGER
UP IN THE AIR AND ROTATE IT TO INDICATE STARTING
THE MACHINE BACK UP AFTER A JAM-UP OR BREAKDOWN.
Where learned: Sterling Heights ; MICHIGAN, ASSUMED
| Subject headings: | 602 Body Parts CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Work Commerce Business SPEECH -- Instructions Directions |
Date learned: NOT GIVEN
FAMILY CUSTOM AT DEATH
WHEN MY PATERNAL GRANDMOTHER DIED IN APRIL, MY UNCLE'S FAMILY
SENT AN AZALEA BUSH TO THE FUNERAL HOME. MY UNCLE TOLD ME THAT THEY
SEND AZALEAS FOR EVERY DEATH IN THEIR FAMILY. WHEN MY UNCLE WAS A
BOY, HIS BELOVED YOUNGER BROTHER DIED TRAGICALLY. HE BURIED
HIS BROTHER WITH HIS OWN HANDS UNDER AN AZALEA BUSH. EVER SINCE
THEN, AZALEAS HAVE MEANT SOMETHING VERY SPECIAL TO HIM AND HIS
FAMILY NEVER FAILS TO SEND THEM.
Submitter comment:
MY UNCLE IS VERY TACITURN AND RETICENT; CONSIDERING THAT FACT
AND THE CIRCUMSTANCES IN WHICH HE TOLD ME THIS, I DID NOT ASK
FOR DATES, PLACES OR DETAILS. BUT I DID NOTE THAT HE HAD TEARS IN
HIS EYES AS HE TOLD THIS TALE.
I KNOW VERY LITTLE ABOUT MY UNCLE'S BACKGROUND. I DO NOT KNOW
WHERE HE WAS BORN AND GREW UP, HIS ETHNIC BACKGROUND, OR
THE PLACES HE HAS LIVED BEFORE 1972.
Where learned: IOWA ; ESTHERVILLE
Keyword(s): FLOWERS
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Death Funeral Burial |
WHEN A NEW NEIGHBOR MOVES INTO THE NEIGHBORHOOD, PAY A VISIT AND GIVE
THEM A LOAF OF BREAD AND A BOX OF SALT. SUPPOSED MEANING: MAY THERE
ALWAYS BE FOOD IN THE HOUSE AND WELCOME TO THE NEIGHBORHOOD.
Submitter comment: THIS WAS DONE IN INFORMANTS NEIGHBORHOOD IN SUBURBS IN WINSTON_SALEM.
Where learned: HOME ; WINSTON SALEM ; NORTH
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Street Trip Relations between relatives, friends, host and guest Social class Rank BELIEF -- Number |
AVOIDING DANGER
IF YOU GIVE A GIFT WITH A BLADE OR POINT SUCH AS SCISSORS, YOU MUST
GIVE THE PERSON A PENNY FOR EACH BLADE. THIS IS TO AVOID DANGER
FROM THE SHARP POINT.
Submitter comment:
THE INFORMANT ACTUALLY GAVE SOMEONE TWO CENTS WHEN SHE GAVE THAT
PERSON A PAIR OF SCISSORS
Where learned: HOME ; MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Street Trip Relations between relatives, friends, host and guest Social class Rank BELIEF -- Fate Destiny Luck Chance |
Date learned: 03-17-1970
NEW YEAR
IF YOU OWE SOMEONE MONEY ONE YEAR AND YOU CARRY THE DEBT
OVER TO THE NEW YEAR, YOU WILL EXPERIENCE SOME TYPE OF FINANCIAL
DIFFICULTIES THE REST OF THE NEW YEAR.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; WESTLAND ; informant's home
Date learned: 02-08-1970
BREAKFAST MEAL
COMMON BREAKFAST MEAL IN WEST VIRGINIA IS SALT FISH (WHICH ARE FRESH
WATER FISH KEPT IN SALT WATER) AND TOMATOES WITH BISCUITS WITH
CREAM GRAVY.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; STERLING
| Subject headings: | Food Drink -- Typical menus for the various meals For meal hours, see F574.84. Morning mealsBreakfast |
Date learned: DATE NOT RECORDED BY COLLECTOR.
KNOCK-KNOCK STREET
ON A DARK, FOGGY NIGHT SOME YEARS AGO ON A STREET NEAR MY HOME
(I CAN'T REMEMBER THE NAME ANYMORE), A BOY WAS RUN OVER BY A CAR
AND KILLED. THE HIT AND RUN DRIVER WAS NEVER FOUND. FROM THAT
TIME ON, ANYTIME MY FRIENDS AND I WERE RIDING DOWN THE STREET,
STRANGE NOISES CAME FROM BENEATH THE CAR. WE BELIEVED THAT THIS
BOY WHO WAS KILLED WAS BOTHERING PEOPLE BECAUSE THE KILLER WAS
NEVER FOUND. THE NOISE WAS NOT THE FAULT OF A DEFECTIVE CAR,
SINCE THIS NOISE WOULD ONLY OCCUR ON THIS PARTICULAR STREET.
THE NICKNAME FOR THIS STREET WAS KNOCK-KNOCK STREET.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Outlaw Criminal Bandit Pirate PROSE NARRATIVE -- Product or activity of man or animal BELIEF -- Death Funeral Burial |
Date learned: 03-31-1970
OMEN
IF YOU SEE A BULL FROG, IT'S A WITCH BRINGING A CURSE. YOU SHOULD
PUT THE FROG ON A BOARD (FULCRUM) AND HIT IT INTO THE AIR, SENDING
THE CURSE AWAY.
Submitter comment:
THE INFORMANT GOT THIS FROM HER MOTHER WHEN INFORMANT WAS A CHILD.
SHE SAID SHE NEVERR DID THE ACTION DESCRIBED BECAUSE SHE WAS TOO
AFRAID OF THE FROG TO PICK IT UP. SHE JUST RAN AWAY.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; WARREN
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Witch Shaman PROSE NARRATIVE -- Animal BELIEF -- Curse |
Date learned: 02-22-1970
NUN'S VEIL
MARY JO WAS TOLD BY HER FOURTH GRADE TEACHER SISTER
ANGELITA, S. S. J. THAT SHE COULDN'T TOUCH A SISTER'S
VEIL BECAUSE IT IS BLESSED.
Where learned: OAKLAND UNIVERSITY STUDENT ; MICHIGAN, ASSUMED ; ROCHESTER
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- B439 |
Date learned: NOT GIVEN
FOLK CURE FOR MEASLES
GATHER SHEEP DUNG FROM THE PASTURE
AND BOIL IT IN WATER,
THEN STRAIN IT THROUGH A CLOTH AND DRINK LIKE TEA.
Submitter comment:
INFORMANT NEVER ACTUALLY TRIED THIS BUT SAID
THAT THE PEOPLE DID IT IN THE AREA HE WAS BORN IN.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; WESTERN YMCA ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Remedy |
Date learned: NOT RECORDED BY COLLECTOR
COUGH
COUGH REMEDY: HEAT AND DRINK WHISKEY, LEMON, AND BUTTER.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; WARREN
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Remedy |
Date learned: 02-22-1970
INDIAN PRAYER
AN INDIAN SAND PAINTING WAS A PRAYER FOR A SICK
RELATION. THEN THE PAINTING WOULD BE DESTROYED
SO THAT NO ONE WOULD SEE IT EXCEPT GOD.
Where learned: OUT WEST
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Prayer |
Date learned: 11-00-1968
CHRISTMAS PRACTICE
IF YOU WASH YOURSELF WITH A FIFTY CENT PIECE ON CHRISTMAS MORNING,
YOU'LL NEVER WANT FOR MONEY.
Submitter comment: THE INFORMANT DID THIS AS A CHILD, NOT ANYMORE.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; WARREN
Keyword(s): CONTAGIOUS MAGIC
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- December 24 Christmas Eve Predictions |
Date learned: 02-22-1970
CURSE EVIL EYE HOW TO AVOID IT
YOU CAN USUALLY PURCHASE A SMALL NUT LIKE THING,
WHICH LOOKS LIKE AN EYE FROM SOMEONE IN YOUR TOWN
WHO KNOWS ABOUT SUCH THINGS, IT IS CALLED
EL MAL DE OJO. THIS IS SAID TO
PREVENT ANYONE FROM BEING ABLE TO GIVE YOU THE EVIL EYE.
Submitter comment:
THE INFORMANT NOTED THAT WHILE THESE THINGS
ARE PRACTICED IN SMALL TOWNS OF MEXI
YOU WILL
SELDOM OR NEVER SEE THEM IN THE BIG CITIES.
Where learned: WESTERN YMCA
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Curse |
Date learned: 11-11-1971
CURSE EVIL EYE HOW TO GET RID OF IT.
COOK A COMBINATION OF HERBS TOGETHER, DRINK THE
TEA AND PLACE THE LEAVES ON THE PERSON'S
BODY. ALSO PRAY OVER THE PERSON.
Where learned: WESTERN YMCA
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Curse |
Date learned: 11-11-1971
RIDDLE IN VERSE
Q: I'M AS HELPFUL AS CAN BE/ BUT I MAKE AN AWFUL DIN/ WHEN I LEAVE,
NO DIRT YOU'LL SEE/ FOR I TAKE THE DIRT RIGHT IN.
A: VACUUM CLEANER. (VACUUM CLEANER)
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): ACTIONS (Q) ; HOUSEHOLD ITEMS (A) ; NATURAL PHENOMENA (Q)
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Riddle True Riddle |
Date learned: 10-00-1967