The James T. Callow Folklore Archive

SPIRIT OF THE WHEAT

NEAR HEMLOCK, MICHIGAN THEY TELL THE STORY ABOUT THE "SPIRIT OF THE
WHEAT". THEY GROW A LOT OF WHEAT AROUND THERE. EVERY SUMMER AT
HARVEST TIME, THE FARMERS WOULD GO OUT INTO THE WHEAT FIELDS AND SEE
WHAT THEY CALLED SPIRITS COMING OUT OF THE WHEAT FIELDS, IF THEY SAW
THE SPIRIT, THEY KNEW IT WAS TIME FOR THE HARVEST. IT TURNS OUT
THAT THERE ARE LARGE DEPOSITS OF NATURAL GAS IN THAT AREA AND ALL
THE FARMERS WERE REALLY SEEING WAS THE GAS SEEPING OUT OF THE GROUND

Submitter comment: THE INFORMANT'S UNCLE TOLD HIM THIS STORY. THE UNCLE, ALEC
MANZONNI, IS A RESIDENT OF HEMLOCK.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; HEMLOCK

Date learned: 02-28-1965