The James T. Callow Folklore Archive

CEMETERY STATUE

THERE IS A CEMETERY IN WILMENDING, PENNSYLVANIA WITH A SIX
FOOT STATUE OF A GIRL DRESSED IN A LONG FLOWING ROBE.
SHE IS CARRYING AN ARMFUL OF BOOKS FOR SCHOOL. THE HISTORY OF
THIS FIGURE IS A STORY THAT GOES LIKE THIS: THE GIRL WAS
COMING HOME FROM SCHOOL WHEN SHE WAS ATTACKED AND RAPED
AND KILLED BY TWO HOODLUMS, ON THE DAY OF HER BIRTHDAY.
HER PARENTS HAD A STATUE MADE OF HER AT THE TIME SHE WAS
KILLED AND PLACED ON HER GRAVE. BECAUSE SHE WAS A VIRGIN AT
THE TIME OF DEATH, IT IS BELIEVED THAT ANYONE GOING TO THE
CEMETERY IN THE DEAD OF NIGHT, WHO DARES TO WALK THE LONELY
WALK UP TO THE STATUE, AND TOUCH IT, WILL DISCOVER IF THEY ARE
A VIRGIN. A VIRGIN WILL RECEIVE NO HARM FROM THE STATUE, BUT
A NON-VIRGIN WILL RECEIVE A CUT AND CONSEQUENTLY BLEED FROM
TOUCHING THE GARMENT OF
THE STATUE. IN ADDITION ON THE EVE OF HER BIRTHDAY, THE
STATUE IS BELIEVED TO COME ALIVE AND WALK THE CEMETERY LOOKING
FOR HER MURDERERS.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; MELVINDALE

Date learned: 10-15-1965