The James T. Callow Folklore Archive

PONDLILLY LOOKOUT POINT

PONDLILLY LOOKOUT POINT IS LOCATED IN WATERLOO
RECREATION AREA NEAR JACKSON, MICHIGAN. THERE USED TO
BE A FORT LOCATED ON THIS POINT; IT WAS SITUATED ON
A VERY STEEP, ALMOST UNSCALABLE RIDGE. IN THE MIDDLE
OF A HUGE BLIZZARD ONE DAY, INDIANS SCALED THE RIDGE
AND MASSACRED ALL THOSE IN THE FORT.
TO THIS DAY, ONE CAN SUPPOSEDLY HEAR THE SOUND OF
INDIANS RUNNING ALONG THE RIDGE DURING ANY SNOW STORM.

Submitter comment: MIKE SAYS THAT THERE IS ANOTHER VERSION WHICH SAYS
YOU CAN HEAR A HORSEMAN RIDING ALONG THE RIDGE DURING
A BLIZZARD. HE IS SAID TO BE RACING TO WARN THOSE IN
THE FORT OF THE ATTACK.
MIKE SAYS THAT THERE IS JUST SUCH A SOUND DURING A
SNOWSTORM, BUT BEING MORE LOGICALLY-MINDED,
ATTRIBUTES IT TO THE SNOW FALLING INTO THE THICK
GROWTH OF MAPLE TREES WHICH CHOKE THE SLOPE BELOW
THE RIDGE.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT ; JACKSON

Keyword(s): GHOSTLY NOISES

Date learned: 11-10-1968