The James T. Callow Folklore Archive

WHEN I WAS YOUNGER, ABOUT TEN, MY FRIENDS AND I WOULD RIDE
OUR BIKES TO THE DRAINAGE TUNNELS NEAR THE HIGHWAY.
AT THE ENTRANCE OF ONE OF THE TUNNELS THERE WAS A
MESSAGE WRITTEN IN RED PAINT THAT SAID, "FORBIDDEN
ZONE - DO NOT ENTER." ON THE SIDE OF THE TUNNEL WAS A
HANDPRINT - THREE TIMES LARGER THEN AN AVERAGE HAND -
THAT LOOKED LIKE IT HAD BEEN PRESSED ON THE CEMENT WHEN IT WAS WET.
WE RODE OUR BIKES BACK HOME AND GOT OUR BOW AND ARROWS,
BB GUNS, BASEBALL BATS, CAMERAS, AND OUR FLASHLIGHTS.
WE WANTED TO INSPECT THE INSIDE OF THE TUNNEL.
WHEN WE GOT BACK TO THE TUNNEL, EVERYONE WAS TOO SCARED
TO GO IN. WE ALL FINALLY WENT IN TOGETHER WHERE WE
SAW MORE WRITINGS, SUCH AS, DANGER -- GO BACK -- /LEAVE AT
ONCE. WE ALL GOT SCARED AND RAN. WE DECIDED TO CALL THIS
PHENOMENA THE SEWER MONSTER. MANY OF THE YOUNGER KIDS
IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD NOW WON'T GO NEAR THE DITCH BECAUSE
THEY ARE AFRAID OF THE U.F.O. THAT THEY HEARD ABOUT.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; ROYAL OAK

Date learned: 00-00-1985 ; 00-00-1973 ; 00-00-1985