The James T. Callow Folklore Archive

A GROUP OF FOUR GIRLS WERE SAID TO HAVE BEEN TAKING A
SHORTCUT HOME AT NIGHT THROUGH A CEMETERY. THEY NOTICED
A MAUSOLEUM IN THE CEMETERY WITH AN OPEN DOOR. THE GIRLS
WERE VERY CURIOUS ABOUT IT AND GATHERED NEAR THE DOOR TO
LOOK INSIDE. THE GROUP THEN BEGAN TO COAX ONE OF THE
GIRLS TO GO INSIDE. THEY DARED HER UNTIL SHE FINALLY
AGREED TO STEP INSIDE. AS SOON AS SHE DID, THE OTHER
GIRLS IMMEDIATELY CLOSED THE DOOR ON HER. THE GIRL
INSIDE BEGAN TO SCREAM TO BE LET OUT, BUT THE OTHERS
WERE NOT ABLE TO OPEN THE DOOR. THEY WERE ALL, BY
THIS TIME, QUITE FRIGHTENED AND SCREAMING THEMSELVES.
FINALLY, THE CARETAKER CAME TO SEE WHAT WAS GOING ON
AND WAS ABLE TO OPEN THE DOOR WITH HIS KEY. WHEN HE
DID, THE GIRL STEPPED OUT FROM THE MAUSOLEUM WITH HAIR
THAT HAD TURNED COMPLETELY WHITE AND SHE WAS UNABLE TO
SPEAK FROM THAT TIME ON. THE GIRL WAS APPROXIMATELY
FIFTEEN YEARS OLD AT THE TIME OF THE INCIDENT.

Submitter comment: THE INFORMANT'S MOTHER TOLD HIM THIS STORY. SHE IN
TURN SAID IT WAS TOLD TO HER BY HER OWN MOTHER AS
WELL.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; ROYAL OAK

Date learned: 00-00-1940