The James T. Callow Folklore Archive

DOG GHOST

THERE WAS A PATHWAY LEADING FROM INFORMANT'S MOTHER'S
HOUSE TO HER HOUSE (INFORMANT'S). SHE WAS ACCUSTOMED
TO GOING THROUGH THE PATHWAY AT ANY TIME DAY OR NIGHT.
ONE NIGHT SHE WAS RETURNING HOME WHEN SHE ENCOUNTERED
A HUGE SNOW WHITE DOG, ABOUT SIX FEET TALL ON ALL
FOUR LEGS, ACROSS THE PATHWAY. IT FRIGHTENED HER SO
BAD HER HAIR STOOD STRAIGHT UP ON HER HEAD. SHE RAN
HOME AFTER THE DOG DISAPPEARED. LATER SHE FELT THIS
WAS A WARNING NOT TO TRAVEL THE PATHWAY AT NIGHT, SO
SHE DIDN'T ANY MORE.

Submitter comment: THIS WAS A TRUE TALE. TOLD BY MY MOTHER. IT
HAPPENED APPROXIMATELY 1935 IN WINSTON SALEM, NORTH
CAROLINA.
WOMAN FRIGHTENED BY A LARGE WHITE DOG. HER HAIR STANDS ON END, AND
SHE INTERPRETS APPEARANCE OF DOG AS GHOSTLY WARNING TO AVOID
THAT PATH
INFORMANT SAYS THIS IS TRUE; IT HAPPENED TO HER MOTHER IN 1935 IN
WINSTON-SALEM, NORTH CAROLINA

Where learned: WINSTON SALEM ; NORTH CAROLINA

Date learned: CA00001956 ; 00-00-1935