The James T. Callow Folklore Archive

JUDGE MURPHY'S HOME ON JEFFERSON NEAR RIVARD IN
GROSSE POINTE STOOD EMPTY FOR MANY YEARS. SOME
PEOPLE EVEN SAID IT WAS HAUNTED. KIDS USED TO PLAY
IN THE HOUSE DURING THE DAY. THE ELEVATOR SHAFT
AND BASEMENT WERE TWO PLACES NOBODY WENT HEAR. AT
TIMES, THE SOUNDS OF AN ELEVATOR IN OPERATION COULD
BE HEARD THROUGHOUT THE WHOLE HOUSE. ALSO,
STRANGE SOUNDS USED TO COME FROM THE DAMP BASEMENT.
THE GRASS AND SHRUBS HADN'T BEEN CARED FOR IN YEARS.
THE DODGE HOME WAS RIGHT NEXT DOOR, AND MANY OF US
KIDS THOUGHT THAT "OLD LADY" DODGE USED TO VISIT
THERE EVERY NIGHT.
MOST OF THE WINDOWS WERE BROKEN, AND THE POLICE GAVE
UP TRYING TO PATROL THE PLACE. ONE NIGHT, A FEW
YEARS AGO, THE HOME BURNED TO THE GROUND. SOME
SAID THAT JUDGE MURPHY, DISMAYED AT THE HOME'S
DISUSE, CAME BACK AND SET IT ON FIRE, BUT THE
POLICE BLAMED VANDALS.

Submitter comment: THIS STORY WAS KNOWN BY MANY OF THE PEOPLE IN THAT
SECTION OF TOWN.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; GROSSE POINTE

Date learned: 00001950S EARLY