The James T. Callow Folklore Archive

SNAKE HILL

INFORMANT TOLD ME OF A CERTAIN HILL NEAR HER HOME IN
KENTUCKY WHERE MANY VARIETIES OF SNAKES WOULD NEST DURING
THE WINTER. IN THE SPRINGTIME, ALL THE NEIGHBORHOOD
RESIDENTS WOULD GET TOGETHER AND MAKE A "POTION,"
WHICH THEY WOULD SPRAY BY THE HILL IN ORDER TO GET THE
SNAKES OUT INTO THE OPEN. FARMERS WOULD COME FROM
MILES AROUND TO SHOOT THE SNAKES, AND THE PEOPLE
WOULD SET UP WOODEN SAWHORSES WITH BOARDS ON TOP AS PICNIC
TABLES, BECAUSE MANY FAMILIES WOULD PACK A LUNCH AND COME
GREAT DISTANCES TO WATCH THE FESTIVITIES. THE MEN WOULD
HAVE CONTESTS TO SEE WHO KILLED THE MOST SNAKES, THE
LARGEST AND MOST POISONOUS ONES. THEY WOULD KILL AS MANY
AS 30 OR 40 SNAKES A DAY AND THEN THEY WOULD BURY THEM.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT