Dr. James T. Callow publications
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The James T. Callow Folklore Archive
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WHEN YOU ARE SITTING ALL ALONE
REFLECTING ON THE PAST
REMEMBER THAT YOU HAVE A FRIEND
WHOSE FRIENDSHIP LONG WILL LAST
AND IF AFAR FROM HOME TO ROVE
SHOULD BE THY DREAR DECREE
THINK ON THE FRIENDS WHOM THOU DIDST LOVE
AND THEN REMEMBER ME.
(SIGNED) MARY WALLEN, WHEELING, W. VA.
ABSENT BUT NOT FORGOTTON
Where learned: OHIO ; TOLEDO ; WEST VIRGINIA ; WHEELING
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Autograph Verse Remember me |
Date learned: 00001880S
THE LEGEND OF MCCULLOCH'S LEAP
A BAND OF INDIANS WERE CHASING A FRONTIERSMAN NAMED MCCULLOCH WHO
WAS TRYING TO ESCAPE WITH HIS LIFE. DURNG THE CHASE HE FOUND HIM-
SELF ON THE RIDGE OF A STEEP HILL WHICH WAS ABOUT FIVE HUNDRED
FEET HIGH, AND THERE WAS NO PATH OF ESCAPE OPEN TO HIM. AS THE
INDIANS CLOSED IN, HE AND HIS HORSE JUMPED FROM THE RIDGE, AND
BOTH LANDED SAFELY AT THE BOTTOM AND ESCAPED. THE INDIANS WERE
SO ASTONISHED THAT THEY LEFT HIM ALONE FROM THEN ON. TODAY A
BRONZE STATUE OF AN INDIAN STANDS POINTING TO THE BOTTOM OF THE
HILL WHERE MCCULLOCH JUMPED, AND THIS HILL IS KNOWN AS MCCULLOCH'S
LEAP.
Submitter comment:
THE INFORMANT HEARD THIS LEGEND FROM HER FATHER IN WHEELING, WEST
VIRGINIA, WHERE THE STATUE OF THE INDIAN IS LOCATED. SHE AND HER
FAMILY LIVE JUST ACROSS THE RIVER FROM WHEELING IN MARTIN'S FERRY,
OHIO. SHE SAID THAT THE STORY WAS TOLD TO HER WHEN SHE WAS "VERY
YOUNG."
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT ; WEST VIRGINIA ; INSTITUTE OF ARTS ; WHEELING
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Explanation of a name |
LITHUANIAN-AMERICAN CHRISTMAS EVE MEAL
ON CHRISTMAS EVE, THE TRADITIONAL EVENING MEAL CONSISTED OF
CHRISTMAS WAFERS, SAUERKRAUT SOUP, PORRIDGE, FISH, PEAS, BREAD,
AND BUTTER.
Where learned: WEST VIRGINIA ; MINDEN
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- December 24 Christmas Eve Food Drink -- Typical menus for the various meals For meal hours, see F574.84. Special or festive meals |
LEAP FROG
SEVERAL CHILDREN WOULD GET DOWN ON THEIR HANDS AND KNEES FORMING
A LINE. THE LAST CHILD IN THE LINE WOULD GET UP AND JUMP OVER
THE OTHER CHILDREN. HE WOULD THEN GET DOWN ON HIS HANDS AND KNEES.
THE CHILD AT THE END OF THE LINE WOULD THEN DO THE SAME.
Where learned: WEST VIRGINIA ; MINDEN
James Callow Keyword(s): VAULTING
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Athletic sport and exercise Gymnastics |
Date learned: 00-00-1925
JACK ROCKS
THE CHILD WOULD SPREAD OUT SMALL ROCKS OR STONES. HE WOULD THEN
PICK UP AS MANY STONES AS HE COULD BEFORE THE BALL BOUNCED A
SECOND TIME.
Submitter comment:
STONES WERE USED INSTEAD OF METAL JACKS BECAUSE THE FAMILY
WAS TOO POOR AND COULD NOT AFFORD TO BUY METAL JACKS.
Where learned: WEST VIRGINIA ; MINDEN
| Subject headings: | Favorites Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Special Object or Implement ART CRAFT ARCHITECTURE -- Toy |
Date learned: 00-00-1926
NEW YEAR'S EVE
ALL CHURCH BELLS WOULD RING AT MIDNIGHT.
Where learned: WEST VIRGINIA ; MINDEN
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- December 31 New Year's Eve CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Church CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Measure of time Week Day Hour |
Date learned: 00-00-1924
LITHUANIAN-AMERICAN PALM SUNDAY CUSTOMS
WHEN THE FAMILY WOULD COME HOME FROM CHURCH, THEY WOULD HIT
EACH OTHER WITH THE PALMS THAT THEY HAD RECEIVED, IN ORDER TO
REMIND THE INDIVIDUAL THAT HOLY WEEK IS BEGINNING AND THE
PASSION AND DEATH OF CHRIST WAS SOON TO BEGIN.
Where learned: WEST VIRGINIA ; MINDEN
James Callow Keyword(s): RITUAL WHIPPING
| Subject headings: | 663 Palm Sunday |
Date learned: 00-00-1924
HALLOWEEN CUSTOMS
INSTEAD OF GOING OUT ON DEVIL'S NIGHT, THE CHILDREN WOULD USUALLY
GO OUT ON HALLOWEEN NIGHT AND UPSET TOILETS THAT WERE OUTSIDE IF
THE PEOPLE WOULD NOT GIVE THEM A TREAT.
Where learned: WEST VIRGINIA ; MINDEN
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- October 31 Halloween |
Date learned: 00-00-1925
WEDDING NIGHT
IF THE COUPLE WOULD NOT GO ON A HONEYMOON, NEIGHBORS WOULD
SERENADE OUTSIDE THEIR HOME, UNTIL THEY RECEIVED A TREAT OR DONATION
Where learned: WEST VIRGINIA ; MINDEN
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Serenade Charivari CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Marriage Disturbing bride and groom Charivari Shivaree Belling |
Date learned: 00-00-1929
HOLY WEEK CUSTOM
THE FAMILY WOULD FAST DURING HOLY WEEK AND ABSTAINED FROM MEAT
AND SWEETS FROM HOLY WEDNESDAY TO EASTER SUNDAY.
Where learned: WEST VIRGINIA ; MINDEN
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Typical Elements of a Festive Pattern CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Spring Planting Holy Week |
Date learned: 00-00-1925
COUNTING GAME
THE MOTHER WOULD LAY TOOTHPICKS ON THE TABLE. THE CHILD WOULD
WOULD HAVE TO COUNT THE TOOTHPICKS. THE MOTHER WOULD THEN
EITHER ADD OR SUBRACT TOOTHPICKS. THE CHILD WOULD THEN COUNT THEM
AGAIN. THIS WOULD BE DONE OVER AND OVER UNTIL THE CHILD KNEW HOW
TO COUNT ACCURATELY.
Where learned: WEST VIRGINIA ; MINDEN
James Callow Keyword(s): FUNCTION ; TEACHING
Date learned: 00-00-1924
SWINGING PRETTY
AT LEAST TWO OR THREE CHILDREN PLAYED THIS GAME. ONE PERSON WOULD
BE "IT". THEY WOULD SWING THE OTHER CHILD AROUND AND THEN LET GO.
THE FUNNIEST OR PRETTIEST POSITION OR FACE THAT THE CHILD WOULD
LAND IN WOULD BE THE WINNER. THE CHILD WHO WAS "IT" WOULD DETERMINE
THE WINNER. THE WINNER THEN WOULD BECOME "IT".
Where learned: WEST VIRGINIA ; MINDEN
| Subject headings: | Favorites Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Bodily Activity Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Dramatic |
Date learned: 00-00-1924
IF YOU WISH SOMETHING GOOD ON THE THIRD SNEEZE, THE WISH WILL
COME TRUE.
Where learned: WEST VIRGINIA ; MINDEN
| Subject headings: | 686 Thirds / Thrice / Three / Triple Favorites BELIEF -- Product or activity of man or animal BELIEF -- Prayer |
Date learned: 00-00-1925
SHINNY ON YOUR OWN SIDE
ONLY TWO PEOPLE WERE ALLOWED TO PLAY AT ONE TIME. EACH OF
THE CHILDREN WOULD GET A STICK AN DRAW A LINE DOWN THE MIDDLE OF
A CERTAIN AREA OF LAND. EACH WOULD STAY ON THEIR OWN SIDE OF THE
LINE AND ATTEMPT TO HIT A TIN CAN DOWN TO THEIR GOAL WHICH WAS AT
ON ONE OF THE ENDS OF THE LINE.
Where learned: WEST VIRGINIA ; MINDEN
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Special Object or Implement |
Date learned: 00-00-1928
ITCHING THE NOSE
IF YOUR NOSE ITCHES, THAT MEANS THAT YOUR BOYFRIEND IS COMING.
Where learned: WEST VIRGINIA ; MINDEN
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Dreams P841.72 |
Date learned: 00-00-1929
ITCHING THE NOSE
IF YOUR NOSE ITCHES, THAT MEANS THAT YOU WILL KISS A FOOL.
Where learned: WEST VIRGINIA ; MINDEN
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Dreams P841.42 |
Date learned: 00-00-1929
BACK IN THOSE DAYS (THE EARLY 20'S) WHEN
SOMEONE DIED, THE FAMILY PREPARED THE BODY FOR
VIEWING. THE CASKET WAS SET IN THE "PARLOR"(TODAY'S
LIVING ROOM"). PENNIES WERE PUT ON THE EYES TO
KEEP THEM FROM POPPING OPEN. THIS HAPPENED AT A
FRIEND OF MY FATHER'S FUNERAL: AFTER VIEWING
THE BODY EVERYONE WENT INTO THE KITCHEN FOR COFFEE.
WHILE THE COFFEE WAS BEING SERVED THREE BOYS FROM
TOWN SNUCK INTO THE PARLOR, TOOK THE PENNIES OFF
THE OLD MAN'S EYES, AND PROPPED HIM UP WITH A STICK.
AFTER COFFEE THE FAMILY WALKED SLOWLY BACK INTO THE
PARLOR. THEY WERE TERRIFIED TO SEE THE OLD MAN
SITTING UP WITH HIS EYES OPEN, THEY THOUGHT HE HAD
COME BACK TO LIFE!
Submitter comment:
RESURRECTION
RESUSITATION
Where learned: DETROIT ; WEST VIRGINIA
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- Outlaw Criminal Bandit Pirate PROSE NARRATIVE -- Product or activity of man or animal CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Death Funeral Burial |
Date learned: 02-00-1984
In 1967, a composite picture of our sorority sisters fell off
the lounge wall. The crash awakened the girls and they ran from
their bedrooms to the lounge. They found that the crack in the
glass only cut across one face on the picture. It was later found
that this sorority sister's fiance was killed in a car accident at
the exact time that the picture had fallen. His car clock stopped
running upon impact which was the same time that the girls had
been awakened by the picture crashing to the floor.
Submitter comment:
I pledged this sorority in 1969 and was told this by my
sorority sisters. The glass had been replaced and the picture
still hung on the wall. The sorority sister whose face was marred
by the crack had transferred to a different university following
her fiance's death.
Where learned: WEST VIRGINIA ; West Liberty State College ; West Liberty
| Subject headings: | Observation Favorites PROSE NARRATIVE -- Product or activity of man or animal CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- School BELIEF -- Death Funeral Burial |
Date learned: 00-00-1969
West Virginia hillbillies are called "hoopies" by people
living along the West Virginia border of eastern Ohio. In this
area the word "hoopie" is not only synonymous with, but has
actually replaced the word "hillbilly." The term comes from barrel
making which was a common occupation in the Wheeling, West
Virginia area. Those who made the metal hoops for the barrels were
called "hoopies". Eventually the term "hoopie" became synonymous
with hillbilly.
James Callow comment:
The earliest passage equating hoopie with hillbilly is
dated 1940. See F. G. Cassidy, DARE, s.v. "hoopy."
Where learned: OHIO ; WEST VIRGINIA
| Subject headings: | SPEECH -- Proper Name |
Date learned: 00-00-1960
HAM AND COOKED CABBAGE ARE TRADITIONAL FOR A NEW YEAR'S
MEAL.
Submitter comment: ORIGINATES FROM WEST VIRGINIA.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; WEST VIRGINIA ; STERLING
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- January 1 New Year's Food Drink -- Typical menus for the various meals For meal hours, see F574.84. Special or festive meals |
Date learned: NOT GIVEN