The James T. Callow Folklore Archive

SYMBOL

THE CAPTAINS OF ANY SHIPPING VESSEL ALWAYS HAD AN EAGLE OVER THEIR
DOORWAY SO THAT IF A SAILOR CAME INTO A STRANGE TOWN AND WAS LOOKING
FOR A BERTH ON A SHIP, HE WOULD KNOW WHICH HOUSE TO GO TO BY
SPOTTING AN EAGLE OVER THE DOOR. IF HE SPOTTED ONE, HE KNEW THAT
THE MAN WHO LIVED THERE WAS A CAPTAIN OF A SHIPPING VESSEL. THE
SAILOR COULD THEN GO AND REQUEST A BERTH ON HIS SHIP.

Submitter comment: THE EAGLE OVER THE DOORWAY HAD ITS SIGNIFICANCE DURING THE FISHING
DAYS IN MARLEHEAD AND MOST OF THE LITTLE FISHING TOWNS ALONG THE
EAST COAST, AS A MEANS OF IDENTIFYING CAPTAINS OF VESSELS. THIS
TRADITION WAS CARRIED OVER FROM ENGLAND. TODAY, MOST ANYBODY CAN
PUT AN EAGLE OVER THEIR DOOR IF THEY WANT TO, BUT IT DOES NOT HOLD
THE SIGNIFICANCE AS A MEANS OF IDENTIFICATION AS IT ONCE DID. THIS
ITEM AS WELL AS THE COMMENTS WERE TAKEN DIRECTLY AS THE INFORMANT
GAVE THEM TO ME WHILE VISITING AT MY HOME.
THIS IS AN INTERESTING SYMBOL.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; TAYLOR

Date learned: 11-00-1977 ; 00-00-1973