The James T. Callow Folklore Archive

WITCH OF TRAVERSE

ABOUT 9 YEARS AGO, A CLASSMATE OF MINE NAMED JOHN PUTRASS TOLD
ME ABOUT A WITCH THAT LIVED ON HIS STREET. SHE LIVED IN AN
OLD HOUSE ON TRAVERSE NEAR ST. CYRIL AND VAN DYKE. THE HOUSE
WAS UNPAINTED AND SEVERAL DEAD TREES GREW AROUND IT. WHEN I WENT
TO SEE IT, SHE WAS STANDING ON THE PORCH WITH LONG STRINGY
WHITE HAIR AND A LONG GREEN DRESS. AS WE DROVE BY HER HOUSE
ON OUR BIKES, SHE STARED AT US COLDLY. THE LEGEND ON THE STREET WAS
THAT SHE BURIED HER HUSBAND, WHO HAD BEEN MISSING FOR YEARS, IN THE CELLAR.
I WENT TO SEE THE HOUSE ABOUT FIVE YEARS AGO, AND IT WAS
CONDEMNED BY THE CITY. AT PRESENT IT NO LONGER STANDS, BUT WHEN
I WENT TO ST. THOMAS SCHOOL, IT STRUCK FEAR INTO ANYONE THAT SAW IT.

Data entry tech comment:

Informant and collector are the same person.

Where learned: DETROIT

Date learned: NOT GIVEN