The James T. Callow Folklore Archive

SAGINAW SAWDUST

IF YOU GO DOWN 30 FEET BELOW GENESSEE STREET IN SAGINAW, MICHIGAN
YOU WILL HIT SAWDUST. THE TOWN WAS BUILT IN A SWAMP, AND SO THEY
USED SAWDUST AND BARK AS A FOUNDATION TO MAKE THE PLACE LESS
SWAMPY. IT WAS A LUMBERING TOWN, AND HAD LOTS OF SAWMILLS.
THE SIDEWALKS WERE BUILT ON STILTS, AND MS. BOW WAS TOLD BY
HER GRANDPA MANY STORIES OF LIFE IN SAGINAW AROUND 1880 TO 1900.

Submitter comment: MS. BOW HAS A VERY LACONICAL STYLE OF DELIVERY OF THESE STORIES.
I WAS GETTING MORE AND MORE EXCITED AS SHE TOLD THEM TO ME.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Date learned: 04-02-1982