The James T. Callow Folklore Archive

LEGEND

THERE IS A HOUSE IN DETROIT THAT IS SUPPOSEDLY THE HAUNTED HOUSE
TO END ALL HAUNTED HOUSES. IT WAS BUILT BY A RATHER WELL-TO-DO
MAN WHO HAD A WIFE AND DAUGHTER. IT'S LOCATED ON HUBBELL JUST
PAST PURITAN. NEXT TO THE HOUSE HE BUILT A CHAPEL. IT'S ONE OF
THOSE SMALL STONE FAMILY AFFAIRS. BEFORE THE CHAPEL WAS COMPLETED
HIS WIFE DIED. HE HAD HER BURIED UNDER THE ALTAR. SHORTLY AFTER
THIS SAD EVENT, THE ARMS OF THE MADONNA ON THE SIDE ALTAR, WHICH
HAD PREVIOUSLY BEEN RAISED, WERE NOW DOWN TOWARD THE GROUND. NO
CRACKS IN THE MARBLE COULD BE FOUND, NO CONCRETE REASON FOR THE
PHENOMENON. (PARDON THE PUN.) AFTER THE DEATH OF HIS WIFE AND
THE EPISODE OF THE MADONNA, HIS DAUGHTER WAS KILLED IN SOME TRAGIC
MANNER. HER BODY WAS INTERRED BENEATH THE ORGAN. SINCE THEN THE
MAN HAS MOVED TO FLORIDA, BUT NEIGHBORS HAVE REPORTED STRANGE
HAPPENINGS IN THE VICINITY OF THE CHAPEL AND HOUSE. ONE WOMAN
ACROSS THE STREET HAS REPORTED SEEING A WHITE FIGURE ROAMING ABOUT
IN THE TREES BESIDE THE CHAPEL.
THE CHAPEL IS A FAVORITE SPOT FOR NEIGHBORHOOD CHILDREN TO EX-
PLORE, USUALLY IN LARGE GROUPS IN BROAD DAYLIGHT AND NEVER ON
HALLOWEEN.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Date learned: 10-00-1968