The James T. Callow Folklore Archive

ON GROSSE ILE THERE WAS A HERMIT WHO LIVED IN AN OLD
HOUSE WITHOUT ELECTRICITY. PEOPLE WOULD GO TO HIS
HOUSE, PARK IN THE DRIVEWAY AND HE WOULD COME OUT AND
TELL STORIES ABOUT "THE OLD DAYS." HIS NAME WAS
LOONEY ROONEY. THE HOUSE WAS HIDDEN DOWN A DARK, UNLIT
ROAD AND HE WAS SUPPOSED TO HAVE ALWAYS FIRED SEVERAL
SHOTS INTO THE AIR, TO SHOW THAT HE DID NOT WANT ANY
TROUBLEMAKERS, AS YOUR CAR APPROACHED.

Submitter comment: THE FACT THAT THIS IS A LEGEND IS THAT NO ONE THAT I
HEARD THIS STORY FROM ACTUALLY SAW HIM. I HAVE HEARD
IT FROM MANY PEOPLE SINCE I HAVE LIVED ON GROSSE ILE--
PEOPLE MY OWN AGE AS WELL AS FROM MY DAD.
ABOUT 1968 I READ IN THE LOCAL PAPER THAT A MAN WHOSE
LAST NAME WAS ROONEY DIED. HE HAD NO FAMILY LIVING
ON THE ISLAND HERE, BUT IT IS STILL QUESTIONABLE
WHETHER ANY OF THE ESCAPADES REALLY HAPPENED, BECAUSE
EVERYONE I TALKED TO WERE "TOO AFRAID" TO EVEN GO
NEAR HIS HOUSE.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; GROSSE ILE

Keyword(s): RECLUSE, STORY-TELLER

Date learned: 09-15-1970