Maureen Crawford interview with Ellen Elder, Sandra Talton, Harry C. Wells, Tony Crawford, and Julie Crawford

The John Burrison Georgia Folklore Archive recordings contains unedited versions of all interviews. Some material may contain descriptions of violence, offensive language, or negative stereotypes reflecting the culture or language of a particular period or place. There are instances of racist language and description, particularly in regards to African Americans. These items are presented as part of the historical record. This project is a repository for the stories, accounts, and memories of those who chose to share their experiences for educational purposes. The viewpoints expressed in this project do not necessarily represent the viewpoints of the Atlanta History Center or any of its officers, agents, employees, or volunteers. The Atlanta History Center makes no warranty as to the accuracy or completeness of any information contained in the interviews and expressly disclaims any liability therefore. If you believe you are the copyright holder of any of the content published in this collection and do not want it publicly available, please contact the Kenan Research Center at the Atlanta History Center at 404-814-4040 or reference@atlantahistorycenter.com. There is racially discriminatory themes and language in the song at minute 7:16. This recording begins with Maureen Crawford interviewing Ellen Elder, the grandmother of Crawfords friend, Sandra Talton. Elder recites a poem she learned in grammar school about the Native American legend of Sautee and Nacoochee. Then she tells a ghost story she learned as a child about a man encountering a black cat when trying to spend the night in a haunted house. At minute 3:47, Sandra Talton tells two local legends from Dekalb County, Georgia; one about a man with a hook arm and the legend of Graves Road, in what later became Norcross, Georgia. She then explains why dogwood trees only bloom at Easter. She finishes with a joke about ministers keeping religious offerings. At minute 7:16, Harry C. Wells, Crawfords grandfather, recalls learning songs from a neighbor in Cornelia, Georgia, who was a troubadour. He then sings one of these songs about the creation of the world as told from an African-American standpoint. At minute 9:38, Tony Crawford, Maureen Crawfords brother-in-law, tells a humorous story about an African-American boy helping a preacher and a version of Bloody Bones. The interview ends at minute 13:04 with Julie Crawford, Maureen Crawfords sister-in-law telling a story that explains why Manx cats dont have tails, a version of Golden Arm, and a ghost story about a man spending the night in a haunted house. Ellen Louvida Allen (1893-1987) was born in Nacoochee Valley, Georgia, where she lived until she was 45 years old. She and her husband, Frank W. Elder (1887-1962), then moved to Clarkston, Georgia. The couple had ten children. One of their grandchildren, Sandra Talton Cobb (1949-2003) lived in Tucker, Georgia. She graduated from DeKalb Technical Colleges two year program in Computer Programming. She married and had one son, Matt. Harry C. Wells (1897-?) was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Before he started high school he moved to Cornelia, Georgia. He attended college in Milligan, Tennessee, where he met his wife, Frankie (approximately 1903-?). They had a son, Gordon C., (approximately 1927- ), and two daughters. The family moved to Atlanta, where Wells worked in photography. Tony Crawford (approximately 1958- ) and Julie Crawford (approximately 1956- ) are Maureen Crawfords husbands younger siblings. They lived in Atlanta. , ' AHC Oral History Cataloging Worksheet File Information nCuamtabloegrue H9,( I(YI;) ~:?) 1\. ,ill ' ,,' -,.,) Source Field* (ContentDM) -c;- Release form YesNo/ Transcript Yes or No scanned: From Yes or No Default text: Contributed by an OR: Donated by individual: individual through <your org. name> Georgia Foiklore Collection through <your org. name> Object Information Enter information about the phvsical object here: Title M('~, T',,,,-'t,, \/". '(jJ" (interviewee name and date 5"",)",,' IbJluf'\ of interview) , ~\b"'\ JLJ\,-( Description (bio on interviewee) , ' ~: ..) 111",\ .It,,, \ ",'1,) , " I,) , Creator (Enter either an individual's name or an organization) BurrisonFolklore Ciass Collection Name (within the organization) Georgia Folklore Archives Creation Date Exact Date (yyyy-mm-dd) (use only one) I-:YC:e - a - r -(if-o-n-iy-th-e-y-e-a-r-is-k-no-w-n-)--+--l-C(C-p-;("""'!---------------1 Circa (4 digit year) Year Span From To Object Type Image_ Text Text and image_ Video and sou d Sound only ) Media Format (VHS, reel to reel, etc Reel-reel Recording extent Hours: Derivatives Minutes: ;)0 ~ ), Access copy: Yes or No Access copy format: Recording clip Clip extent: 1',1/8 Time code for clip (h:m:s) Beginning: 0'00 End: -'~<!l,"~"t I;).~,i) /L" "I {.~,~ ,~-I.."', tM.H 'j\ ('J '. 'It" \ tI , 0.. (~''''o) ""\'''' '\ :=>(J ( /), , ,\ l,l\~) ~,,,,i\". Notes (interview summary) Recording issues (background noise, echo, static, etc.) -\7t;qc, (JIV,,,OS 'Sfer }:, (J. ((J: ';!) ;), !o\k, OJI ,'" ,I' (~!' \ 5p" ,( ",,' \1/ 't ( \-A,,)(){\ o{'\\\\':::' ' \I'~" I, \!,(,\",'(\ \ 'r''''- Subject Information Enrer I'nformat"Ion a-bout the content 0 f theob)'Iect here: Subject Date Exact Date (yyyy-mm-dd) (use only one) Year (if only the year is known) Circa (4 digit year) Ittr/( Year Span From To Subject Who Last Name First Name Mi rl,l", , T\ l,y,\- \)-.> , \~('" Cn",,:(,, .. ) , , ) J,j I,'C::, , 'T?"\\H\ , IV'" (i-~\ t' \J'o<\\<:, 11"" I ." ..- I (it,,, v, ,.'" ' ,) '11lNI Subject Country State pounty Town Local Name Location vs CIA ~I- d CktLI A+Ld,,, SUbject What AHC Cataloger will complete this for you. (LOC subject headinas anlY) Keywords Burrison, John Personal names See subject who for additional names , 3 Corporate names Geographic locations Topics FOLKTALES COLLECTED IN ATLANTA, GEORGIA MAUREEN CRAWFORD MAY 27, 1969 FOLKLORE PROJECT BECAUSE MY HUSBAND AND I WORK FULL TIME AND ATTEND GEORGIA STATE AT NIGHT, I WAS UNABLE TO MAKE TRIPS OUT OF ATLANTA. AS A CONSEQUENCE, OF MY FIVE ATLANTA INFORMANTS, ONLY ONE COULD BE CONSIDERED "FOLK." EVEN THAT WONDERFUL OLD LADY CAN NO LONGER BE CONSIDERED A MEMBER OF A FOLK COMMUNITY. MRS. FRANK W. ELDER IS A SEVENTY-FIVE YEAR OLD PROUD GREAT GRANDMOTHER. SHE IS A SLIGHT WOMAN WITH WHITE HAIR AND A BEAUTIFUL SMILE. SHE IS A WIDOW AND IS THE FOCAL POINT OF HER LARGE FAMILY OF TEN CHILDREN, TWENTY-FIVE GRANDCHILDREN, AND THREE GREAT GRANDCHILDREN. HER CHILDREN HAVE RECENTLY BUILT HER A MODERN BRICK HOUSE AT 1355 JUNEAU COURT IN CLARKSTON, WHERE SHE AND A BACHELOR SON LIVE. THE REST OF THE LARGE FAMILY ALSO LIVE NEAR OR IN CLARKSTON, EXCEPT FOR TWO CHILDREN WHO LIVE IN JONESBORO. MRS. ELDER WAS AN INTERESTING FIND FOR ME. HER GRANDDAUGHTER, SANDRA TALTON, WORKS WITH ME FOR THE WELFARE DEPARTMENT. I HAD ASKED HER FOR HELP IN MY PROJECT, AND SHE HAD TOLD ME THAT SHE KNEW A FEW STORIES. I HAD MENTIONED THE SAUTEE AND NACHOOCHE LEGEND TO HER, AND SHE HAD EXCITEDLY TOLD ME THAT HER FAMILY HAD COME FROM NACHOOCHE VALLEY. MRS. ELDER WAS BORN IN NACHOOCHE VALLEY AND LIVED THERE UNTIL SHE WAS FORTYFIVE. SHE, HER HUSBAND AND THEIR CHILDREN THEN MOVED TO CLARKSTON. MRS. ELDER TOLD ME TWO STORIES, THE SAUTEE AND NACHOOCHE LEGEND AND A HAUNTED HOUSE STORY. MY HUSBAND AND I SPENT A SUNDAY AFTERNOON WITH HER AND HER GRANDDAUGHTER. MRS. BLDER WAS A DELIGHT TO VISIT, BUT SHE WAS QUITE NERVOUS ABOUT THE TAPE RECORDER. HER VOICE CHANGED FROM AN 2 ANIMATED ONE TO AN ALMOST MONOTONE WHEN USING THE RECORDER. I HAD, OF COURSE, TALKED WITH HER OVER THE PHONE EARLIER, AND I HAD ASKED HER SPECIFICALLY FOR THE SAUTEE ~,D NACHOOCHE LEGEND. WHEN WE GOT TO THE HOUSE, I DISCOVERED THAT SHE HAD A TYPED COpy OF A POEM ABOUT THE LEGEND. WAS DISAPPOINTED, BECAUSE I WANTED THE LEGEND IN HER OWN WORDS. HOWEVER, SHE TOLD ME THAT WHEN SHE WAS IN GRAJVIvIAR SCHOOL, ANOTHER GIRL HAD WRITTEN THIS POEM. ALL THE CHILDREN HAD MEMORIZED IT AND HAD TOLD IT THROUGHOUT THEIR LIVES. SANDRA, HER GRANDDAUGHTER, REMEMBERED HER GRANDMOTHER TELLING IT TO HER WHEN SHE WAS A CHILD. BECAUSE OF HER NERVOUSNESS, MRS. ELDER HAD ASKED ONE OF HER DAUGHTERS TO WRITE THE POEM DOWN FROM HER DICTATION. THEN ANOTHER DAUGHTER HAD TAKEN THE POEM TO WORK AND TYPED IT. I WAS PLEASED THAT THEY HAD TAKEN SO MUCH TROUBLE, AND I DIN'T FEEL THAT I COULD ASK HER TO RECITE THE LEGEND INSTEAD OF THE POEM. THE NEXT STORY, HOWEVER, SHE TOLD ME IN HER OWN WORDS. SHE TOLD ME TtiAT SHE HAD HEARD THAT GHOST STORY AS A GIRL AT ALMOST EVERY SPENDTHE- NIGHT PARTY. IT WAS A PLEASURE TO MEET AND TALK WITH MRS. ELDER. I THINK SHE ENJOYED OUR VISIT AND ESPECIALLY ENJOYED TELLING US ABOUT HER RESTORATION OF THE OLD HOMEPLACE IN NACHOOCHE VALLEY. "IN THE SH4DOW OF YONAH MOUNTAIN IN THE VALLEY WHERE THE SPRUCE PINE WANE ON A LOVELY MOUND BY THE RIVER'S EDGE STANDS NACHOOCHE AND SAUTEE'S GRAVE AN INDI~~ LEGEND TELLS US HOW CENTURIES BACK THEY MET AND PLOTTED THEIR VOWS TO EACH OTHER AND THEIR VOWS ARE UNBROKEN TILL YET. SAUTEE WAS TALL AND HANDSOME NACHOOCHEE NO PEN COULD DESCRIBE HE BELONGED TO THE CHEROKEE NATION SHE TO THE CHICKASAW TRIBE. THE CHIEFS OF THESE TRIBES HAD FORBIDDEN THAT THE INDIAN LOVERS SHOULD WED SAUTEE CAME AND STOLE THE GIRL AWAY TO THE MOUNTAINS THEY FLED. FOR WEEKS THEY WERE GONE NOT A TRACE COULD BE FOUND THOUGH THE SEARCH WAS KEPT UP WITHOUT PAUSE THE CHEROKEES THOUGHT THAT SAUTEE HAD GONE TO THE LAND OF THE CHICKP,SAWS. AT LAST TO THE MOUNTAINS THE LOVERS WERE TRACED AND UPWARD THEY CLIMBED HAND IN HAND TILL AT LAST THE CLIFFS ON YONAH WAS REACHED AND NAUGHT COULD THEY DO BUT TO STAND. BELOW IN PURSUIT CAME THE CHIEF AND HIS BRAVES THE RACE TO THEM NEARLY WON SAUTEE KISSED THE LAST TIME THE GIRL BY HIS SIDE IN THE RAYS OF THE SETTING SUN. NACHOOCHEE BEGGED FOR SAUTEE'S LIFE BUT THEY STERNLY ANSWERED HER NO BY THE BRAWNY HANDS OF TWO STALWART BRAVES HE WAS HURLED TO THE ROCKS BELOW. TWAS HER FATHER'S COMMAND SHE WITNESSED HIS DEATH IN THE AIR SHE REEKED SHE RENT SAUTEE, SAUTEE, SAUTEE SHE CRIED THEN OVER THE CLIFF SHE WENT. ON THE CRUEL JAGGED ROCKS BELOW THE DUSKY LOVERS DIED THE SORROWING CHIEF HAD THEM CARRIED AWAY AND BURIED SIDE BY SIDE. ON A PICTURESQUE MOUND IN THE VALLEY BELOW TILL TIME AND ALL ELSE SHALL CEASE SAUTEE BY THE SIDE OF HIS BEAUTIFUL BRIDE SHALL SLEEP IN ETERNAL PEACE." 3 4 "THERE WAS A HOUSE THAT WAS HAINTED AND UH THERE WAS SOME UH BODY SAID HE WASN'T AFRAID TO STAY ALL NIGHT IN IT. AND THEY WAS A GONNA GIVE '1M UH A LOT OF MONEY IF HE'D STAY ALL NIGHT. AND SO HE UH WENT AND ATE HIS SUPPER AND SAT DOWN BY THE FIRE AND THEY'S A BIG OLE BLACK CAT COME AND JUMPED UP BY '1M AND SAYS "IT SEEMS LIKE UH THAT THEY'S.NOT UH BUT TWO OF US HERE TONIGHT"'AND:JHEMAN SAYS ."AND THERE'S, NOT A GONNA BE BUT ONE" AND HE RUNNED, RUNNED AND RUNNED. THE CAT RUNNED AFTER '1M. AND HE RUNNED TILL HE WAS SO TIRED AND HE SAT DOWN ON A LOG AND THE CAT JUMPED UP ON THE LOG BY HIM AND LOOKED UP AT HIM AND SAID "LOOK'S LIKE YOU'D BEEN A RUNNING." HE SAYS "I'M NOT BEEN A RUNNING UH A NEAR AS FAST AS I'M GOING TO RUN," SO HE LIT OUT AGAIN." THE NEXT FOUR STORIES WERE TOLD TO ME ON THE SAME SUNDAY AFTERNOON BY MRS. ELDER'S GRANDDAUGHTER, SANDRA TALTON. SANDRA HAS ALWAYS LIVED IN TUCKER AT 1215 MONTREAL ROAD. SHE IS TWENTY YEARS OLD AND RECENTLY GRADUATED FROM DEKALB TECH'S TWO YEAR COMPUTER PROGRAMMING COURSE. SANDRA TOLD ME TWO LOCAL LEGENDS. THE FIRST STORY ABOUT THE MAN WITH A HOOK, SHE HAD HEARD IN HIGH SCHOOL. I HEARD THIS STORY IN THE SYLVAN HILLS SECTION OF ATLANTA, WHERE IT WAS SUPPOSED TO HAVE HAPPENED IN PERKERSON PARK. TWO GIRLS AT WORK HAVE ALSO HEARD THE 'STORY LOCALIZED IN THEIR SECTIONS OF THE CITY. SANDRA HEARD THE.GRAVE'S BRIDGE LEGEND THROUGHOUT HER FIVE YEARS AT CLARKSTON HIGH SCHOOL. SHE TOLD ME THAT IT WAS A FAVORITE PASTTIME TO VISIT GRAVE'S BRIDGE. EVEN THOUGH THE KIDS REALIZED THAT THE HEARTBEAT SOUND WAS A PUMP, SANDRA SAID THAT THEY MANAGED TO FRIGHTEN EACH OTHER EVERY VISIT. 5 THE LAST TWO STORIES SANDRA TOLD ME WERE THE DOGWOOD TREE LEGEND AND A PREACHER JOKE. SHE HAS HEARD THEM BOTH FROM SCHOOLMATES A NUMBER OF TIMES. "DOWN ABOUT SNAPFINGER CREEK THERE WAS SPOSED TO HAVE BEEN A MAN THAT WAS REAL MEAN AND HE HAD A HOOK FOR AN FOR A HAND,AND THIS BOY AND GIRL WENT TO PARK DOWN THERE CLOSE TO SNAPFINGER CREEK AND THEY WAS SITTING THERE, AND THEY STARTED THINKING ABOUT ALL THE STORIES THEY'D HEARD ABOUT THE OLD MAN. SO THEY GOT SCARED, AND THEY LEFT, AND WHEN , THEY GOT HOME, THE BOY WENT AROUND TO LET THE GIRL OUT, AND HE LOOKED, AND THERE WAS THE HOOK HANGING ON THE DOOR HANDLE. THAT'S ALL THERE IS TO THAT." "JUST, JUST OFF OF TUCKER-CHAMBLEE ROAD THERE'S A SMALL DIRT ROAD CALLED GRAVE'S ROAD AND IT'S CALLED THAT BECAUSE OF THE FAMILY, GRAVES, LIVES OFF THE ROAD.:ANDTHE OLD MR. GRAVES WAS SUPPOSED TO HAVE UH KILLED HIS WIFE ABOUT FIFTY YEARS AGO,AND HE BURIED HER ON THIS ROAD, RIGHT, RIGHT DOWN FROM THE CREEK AND YOU,'RE, YOU CAN STOP ON THE BRIDGE, AND YOU CAN HEAR THE WOMAN'S HEART BEAT BECAUSE SHE, BECAUSE HE KILLED HER. AND SHE CAN, YOU CAN STILL HEAR HIS HEART BEAT - HEAR HER HEART BEAT, ON THE BR IDGE . " "THE STORY OF THE DOGWOODS AND WHY THEY ONLY BLOOM AT EASTER. BACK WHEN JESUS CHRIS,T WAS CRUCIFIED, THE DOGWOOD TREE WAS ALWAYS REAL STRAIGHT AND LEAN AND OF VERY FINE WOOD. BUT SO THAT'S WHAT THEY MADE THE CROSS, JESUS'S CROSS OUT OF WAS THE WOOD OF THE DOGWOOD. AND NOW THE DOGWOOD BLOOMS ONLY AT EASTER AND IT'S A GNARLED SMALL TREE 6 BECAUSE IT WAS STAINED WITH JESUS'S BLOOD,iAND:IF YOU EXAMINE THE BLOOM OF THE DOGWOOD, IT'S SHAPED IN A CROSS, AND IT IS STAINED WITH THE DARK COLORED, DARK COLOR TO SIGNIFY THAT HIS BLOOD AND HAS THE IMPRINT OF THE NAILS." "ONE DAY THERE WERE THREE PRIESTS, WELL THERE WERE THREE MEMBERS OF THE PRIESTHOOD STANDING AROUND. THERE WAS A RABBI, A CATHOLIC PRIEST, AND A SOUTHERN BAPTIST MINISTER, AND THEY WERE TALKING ABOUT HOW THEY DIVIDED THEIR COLLECTION BETWEEN WHAT THEY WOULD KEEP AND WHAT THEY WOULD GIVE TO GOD'S WORK. SO THE RABBI SAID THAT HE DIVIDED IT DIRECTLY IN HALF. HE KEP HALF AND HE GAVE HALF TO THE CHURCH TO FURTHER GOD'S WORK. THE CATHOLIC PRIEST SAID WELL, HE DREW A CIRCLE ON THE GROUND, AND HE THEW THE COLLECTIONS UP AND WHATEVER LANDED IN THE CIRCLE HE KEPT, WHAT LANDED OUTSIDE OF THE CIRCLE HE GAVE TO THE CHURCH, CHURCH. THE SOUTHERN BAPTIST MINISTER SAID THAT HE THEW HIS COLLECTIONS UP AND WHATEVER GOD CAUGHT HE KEP AND WHATEVER FELL ON THE GROUND HE KEP." THE LAST SIX TALES IN MY PROJECT WERE TOLD TO ME BY MEMBERS OF MY FAMILY. MY GRANDFATHER AND MY BROTHER-IN-LAW AND SISTER-IN-LAW CONTRIBUTED STORIES. MY FAVORITE STORY OF ALL THAT I COLLECTED IS THE STORY MY GRANDFATHER, HARRY C. WELLS, TOLD ME. HE EXPLAINED WHERE HE HAD HEARD THE "CREATION OF THE WORLD" SONG SO INTERESTINGLY THAT I ASKED HIM TO PUT IT ON TAPE. THIS STORY AND THE SAUTEE AND NACHOOCHEE POEM WERE THE ONLY 7 ONES THAT THE INFORMANTS COULD TELL ME EXACTLY WHERE THEY HAD HEARD THEM. MY GRANDFATHER AND GRANDMOTHER'S HOME IS AT 940 BEECHER STREET IN THE OLD WEST END SECTION OF ATLANTA, WHERE THEY HAVE LIVED FOR ALMOST FIFTY YEARS. MY GRANDFATHER WAS BORN IN PITTSBURG, PENNSYLVANIA. HIS FAMILY MOVED TO CORNELIA, GEORGIA RIGHT BEFORE HE ENTERED HIGH SCHOOL. MR. WELLS WENT TO COLLEGE. IN MILLIGAN, TENNESSEE WHERE HE MET MY GRANDMOTHER. THEY WERE MARRIED WHEN HE WAS TWENTY-THREE AND SHE WAS EIGHTEEN. THEY THEN MOVED TO ATLANTA, WHERE HE TOOK A JOB IN PHOTOGRAPHY. HE HAS BEEN WITH THE SAME COMPANY SINCE COMING TO ATLANTA. MY GRANDPARENTS HAD THREE CHILDREN, MY FATHER AND TWO YOUNGER GIRLS, ALL OF WHOM LIVE IN ATLANTA. THERE ARE THREE GRANDCHILDREN IN EACH OF THE FAMILIES. THE SONG OF THE CREATION OF THE WORLD IS CERTAINLY AN ENGAGING ONE. MY HUSBAND AND I ENJOYED IT A GREAT DEAL AS CAN BE HEARD ON THE TAPE. REFRAIN: "I COME FROM OLD VIRGINNI WITH MY HEAD FULL OF KNOWLEDGE I'VE NEVER BEEN TO FREE SCHOOL OR ANY OTHER COLLEGE BUT I'LL TELL YOU ONE THING AND THAT IS A FACT ~HE EARTH WASN'T MADE IN THE TWINKLING OF A WHACK. WALKING, A WALKING, A WALKING SAY WALKING THROUGH THE PARLOR BOYS TO HEAR THE BANJO PLAY WALKING THROUGH THE PARLOR BOYS TO HEAR THE BANJO RING AND TO WATCH THE NIGGER'S FINGERS AS HE PICKED ON THE STRINGS FIRST HE MADE THE OCEAN THEN HE MADE THE WHALE THEN HE MADE THE RACOON A RING AROUND HIS TAIL HE MADE THE OTHER ANIMALS, HE MADE 'EM ONE BY ONE AND HE HUNG 'EM ON THE FENCE FOR TO DRY IN THE SUN REFRAIN 8 THEN HE MADE THE LAND, AFTER THAT THE SKY STRETCHED IT OUT OVER HEAD AND LEFT IT THERE TO DRY THEN HE MADE THE STARS OUT OF COLORED PEOPLE'S EYES TO GIVE A LITTLE LIGHT WHEN THE MOON WOULDN'T RISE. REFRAIN ADAM WAS THE FIRST MAN, EVE WAS THE T'OTHER CAIN WAS A WICKED MAN BECAUSE HE KILLED HIS BROTHER OLD MRS. MILLER COULDN'T SLEEP WITHOUT A PILLER THE MEANEST MAN IN ALL THE WORLD WAS JACK THE GIANT KILLER. REFRAIN" THE LAST STORIES ARE TOLD BY TONY AND JULIE CRAWFORD, MY HUSBAND'S BROTHER AND SISTER. TONY IS TEN YEARS OLD AND JULIE IS THIRTEEN. THEY HAVE ALWAYS LIVED IN ATLANTA. SINCE THEIR FATHER'S DEATH, THEY HAVE LIVED WITH THEIR MOTHER AND HER MOTHER AT 1720 LANGSTON AVENUE IN ATLANTA. THE HOUSE THEY LIVE IN IS A QUITE INTERESTING ONE. IT HAS BEEN IN MY HUSBAND'S FAMILY SINCE IT WAS BUILT, RIGHT AFTER THE CIVIL WAR. IT HAS, OF COURSE, BEEN MODERNIZED, BUT THE OUTSIDE SHAPE OF THE HOUSE IS THE SAME. NEITHER TONY NOR JULIE COULD REMEMBER WHERE THEY HEARD THE FIRST STORY EACH TOLD. HOWEVER, TONY'S BLOODY BONES STORY AND JULIE'S GOLDEN ARM STORY AND HAUNTED HOUSE STORY, ALL CAME FROM SPEND-THE-NIGHT PARTIES, WHERE THE CHILDREN ENJOY SCARING EACH OTHER. "THERE WAS TH IS PREACHER AND HE GETS TH IS LI TTLE NEGRA BOY, AND HE SAYS TO HIM, UH "I WANT YOU TO, WELL I WANT YOU TO UH EVERYTIME I SAY 'WHEN THE LORD GAVE BREAD' YOU DROP THE PIECES OF BREAD. SO THE NEXT SUNDAY, UH HE, THE PREACHER, PLACED THE LITTLE BOY, THE LITTLE 9 NIGRA BOY UP IN THE BALCONY ABOVE UH, WELL REALLY IN THE PIPES ABOVE THE UH PULPIT. SO WHEN THE PREACHER WAS PREACHING TO THE CONGREGATION AND UH HE SAYS' AND THE LORD GAVE BREAD' AND TWO PIECES OF BREAD DROPPED DOWN AND THE CROWD GOES 'GASP'.' AND THEN, THEN HE'S PREACHING SOME MORE, AND UHAND THE PREACHER GOES AGAIN BUT LOUDER, 'AND THE LORD GAVE BREAD' AND FIVE, BOUT FIVE PIECES OF BREAD DROPPED DOWN. NOW THE CROWD REALLY IS STUNNED. AND SO, THEN UH THEN UH, LATER ON, HE'S PREACHING AND HE SAYS, 'AND THE LORD GAVE BREAD!' NOTHING HAPPENS, AND' HEI.G08S'AND.,THE LORD GAVE BREAD!' NOTHING HAPPENS. FINALLY HE SCREAMS OUT 'AND THE LORD GAVE BREADJ' AND ALL OF A SUDDEN THERE'S A LITTLE VOICE, AND IT SAYS, 'THE LORD AIN'T GOT NO MORE BREAD.' " "ONE SUNDAY NIGHT, A FAMILY COMES HOME FROM A MOVIE, AND IT'S REAL DARK AND THERE'S NOT A LIGHT IN THE HOUSE. SO EVERYBODY IN THE FAMILY IS SCARED TO GO IN. SO THE FATHER SAYS, 'WELL, I'LL GO IN. I'M NOT SCARED.' WELL, THERE'S A LIGHT AT THE TOP OF THE STA'!RS, AND SO HE HAS TO CLIMB THE STAIRS, AND SO HE WALKS IN, AND HE CLIMBS THE STAIRS, BUT HALFWAY UP A VOICE SAYS 'BEWARE OR THE BLOODY BONES WILL GET YOU.' THE FATHER RUNS OUT OF THE HOUSE AND TELLS HIS WIFE. AND SO THE WIFE SAYS 'OH, YOU YOUR'E JUST A SCAREDY-CA[' AND SAYS, AND SHE SAYS, 'I'LL GO IN.' SO SHE GOES IN, AND UH SHE CLIMBS TO BOUT HALFWAY AND A VOICE SAYS 'BEWARE OF THE BLOODY BONES.' AND SO SHE RUNS OUT OF THE HOUSE. SHE TELLS THE UH THE BROTHER, AND SO THE BROTHER SAYS, 'OH BOTH OF YOU ARE SO SCARED. I'LL JUST GO IN THERE AND SHOW YOU HOW.' SO HE WALKS IN, AND HE'S HALFWAY UP AND A VOICE 10 SCREAMS OUT 'BEWARE OR THE BLOODY BONES WILL GET YOU.' SO HE RUNS OUT AND TELLS THE SISTER, AND SO THE SISTER WALKS IN AND SHE SAYS 'I'M NOT SCARED OF NOTHING. SO SHE WALKS IN,AND SHE GOES UP THE . STEPS, AND SHE'S ABOUT HALFWAY, AND A VOICE SAYS 'BEWARE OF THE BLOODY BONES.' AND SO SHE RUNS OUT, AND THEN SHE TELLS THE LITTLE BABY. AND SO THE BABY GOES IN. AND HE'S HALFWAY UP AND THE VOICE SAYS, 'BEWARE OF THE BLOODY BONES.' SO HE SAYS, 'AW, I'M NOT SCARED OF NO BLOODY BONES.' SO HE WALKS" HE'S ABOUT THREE FOURTHS OF THE WAY UP AND SO THE VOICE SAYS 'BEWARE OF THE BLOODY BONES.' AND WELL HE GETS UP THERE, AND TURNS THE LIGHT ON AND HE SAYS, 'IF YOU DON'T GET OUT OF MY HOUSE, I'M GOING, I'M GOING TO GIVE YOU A BLOODY BONES.' It 11 \ ./ "ONCE A TIME LONG AGO, IN ENGLAND' THERE LIVED A MAN WHO HAD A vII FE WITH A GOLDEN ARM. AND SHE MADE HIM PROMISE ONE DAY WHEN SHE DIED THAT HE WAS TO BURY HER WITH HER GOLDEN ARM AND NOT TO TAKE IT. SO HE PROMISED HER THAT HE WOULD. WELL THERE CAME THE DAY THAT SHE DID DIE AND HE BURIED HER, AND IT WAS IN A - HE WAS SO SAD ABOUT IT TtiAT HE BURIED HER IN A LARGE LONG SWAMP. IT WAS FAR AWAY FROM EVERYWHERE. SO ONE NIGHT HE WAS, HE WAS LAYING IN HIS BED, AND HE GOT TO THINKING ABOUT mAT GOLDEN ARM. AND HE WAS,iYOU,KNOW, HE GOT TO THINKING ABOUT - WELL IT WOULD GIVE ME A LOT OF SECURITY, IF I COULD SELL IT. SO HE GOT UP THAT NIGHT, AND IT WAS RAINING AND STORMING AND THUNDERING AND LIGHTNING, AND HE WALKED MILES AND MILES THROUGH THE MARSH. AND HE DUG UP AND CUT OFF THE ARM AND TOOK IT HOME, AND t-IE HID IT UNDER HIS MATTRESS. WELL THAT NIGHT EVERYTHING WENT O.K., BUT THE NEXT NIGI1T HE HEARD A VOICE, AND IT WAS REAL FAR AWAY. BUT HE, IT WAS REAL FAR AWAY, YET HE HEARD SO VERY DISTINCTLY. AND IT SAID, 'WHO HAS MY GOLDEN ARM?' SO HE DIDN'T THINK MUCH ABOUT IT CAUSE HE WAS I-1I\LF ASLEEP ANYWAY WHEN HE FIRST HEARD IT. BUT THE SECOND NIGHT, NIGHT IT WAS A LITTLE LOUDER. AND HE HEARD IT AGAIN, 'WHO I-1I\S MY GOLDEN ARM?' THE THIRD NIGHT, HE HEARD IT EVEN CLOSER. 'WHO HAS MY GOLDEN ARM?' AND SO THE NIGHTS CAME ON UNTIL A WHOLE WEEK WAS GONE. AND IT KEPT GET GETTING CLOSER UNTIL HE, ONE NIGHT HE HEARD IT AT THE DOOR OF HIS HOUSE, 'WHO HAS MY GOLDEN ARM?' THE NEXT NIGHT HE HEARD IT AT THE FOOT OF THE STAIRS. 'WHO HAS MY GOLDEN ARM?' THE NEXT NIGHT HE HEARD IT AT THE TOP OF THE STAIRS. 'WHO HAS MY GOLDEN ARM?' BY THIS TIME HE WAS REALLY A NERVOUS WRECK, AND HE 12 DIDN'T KNOW WHAT TO DO. BUT HE JUST LAY THERE AND SHOOK REAL GOOD. THE NEXT NIGHT HE HEARD IT AT j-iIS DOOR. 'WHO HAS MY GOLDEN ARM?' THE NEXT NIGHT HE HEARD IT AT HIS BED. 'WHO HAS MY GOLDEN ARM?' YOU GOT .!.I.! " "THERE ONCE WAS A MAN THAT VIAS, HE THOUGHT HE WAS REAL, YOU KNOW) HOT STUFF) AND HE WAS REAL BRAVE) AND HE,WAS ALWAYS BRAGGING ABOUT ALL THE THINGS HiAT ~IE WAS DOING) HOW BRAVE HE WAS. SO ONE NIGHT THE ONE, ONE MAN DECIDED TO YOU KNOW GET THE BETTER OF HIM. SO THIS FARMER, THIS MAN WAS COMING ALONG WITH A LOAD OF WATERMELONS) AND HE MET MET THE OTHER MAN WHO WAS ALWAYS BRAGGING. AND NOW IN THIS TOWN) THERE WAS A HAUNTED HOUSE) AND NOBODY HAD EVER SLEPT THERE, BECAUSE THERE WAS HORRIBLE TALES TOLD ABOUT IT OF STRANGE THINGS THAT HAD HAPPENED THERE. SO AH HE SAYS 'I'LL GIVE YOU THIS AH WAGON OF WATERMELONS) IF YOU'LL SLEEP ONE NIGHT IN THIS HOUSE.' SO THE MAN SAYS) 'O.K. NOTHING SCARES ME) YOU KNOW, GHOSTS OR NOTHING.' SO THAT NIGHT HE WENT HOME) AND HE PACKED HIS THINGS) AND HE WENTA TOLD HIS FAMILY THAT HE WAS aONNA SLEEP IN A HAUNTED HOUSE. OF COURSE) THEY BEGGED HIM NOT TO GO) BUT HE WENT ANYWAY JUST LAUGHING. SO HE GOT THERE AND IT WAS SORTA EERY AND KINDA SPOOKY) BUT HE DIDN'T PAY ANY ATTENTION TO IT. AND HE MADE HIMSELF A FIRE AND HE SAT DOWN AND READ A BOOK. WELL AFTER A WHILE HE GOT SLEEPY. SO HE DECIDED TO GO TO BED. WELL, IT WAS, IT WAS A WARM NIGHT, YET IT WAS STILL A LITTLE COOL) SO HE HE NEEDED A SHEET. AND HE LET THE WINDOWS OPEN AND THE MOONLIGHT WAS STREAMING IN) BECAUSE THERE WAS A FULL MOON THAT NIGHT. SO JUST TO BE ON THE SAFE SIDE AGAINST PRACTICAL JOKERS 13 AS HE TALKED HIMSELF INTO IT, HE TOOK A GUN \1ITH HIM TO BED. SO ANY'WAY, HE COVERED HIMSELF UP WITH A SHEET, AND HE WENT TO BED. BUT THAT NIGHT, HE WOKE UP AND THERE HE SAW IT - AT THE FOOT OF THE BED. THERE WERE TWO BRIGHT SHINING EYES STARING AT HIM. AT FIRST HE THOUGHT HE WAS HALF ASLEEP OR fiAVING A DREAM SO HE PINCHED HIMSELF. BUT HE WAS WIDE AWAKE. SO HE HE DIDN'T KNOW WHAT TO DO AT FIRST, AND HE SAT THERE AND JUST SHOOK REAL GOOD. AND THE FUNNY THING ABOUT IT WAS THAT IT SEEMED THAT WHEN HE MOVED THOSE EYES MOVED. SO FINALLY HE DECIDED HE BETTER SHOOT .IT - WHATEVER IT WAS BEFORE IT GOT HIM. SO HE GOT THE GUN AND HE WAS SHAKING SO BAD, HE COULD HARDLY DO IT. BUT FINALLY HE SQUEEZED THE TRIGGER. AND THEN THERE WAS A LOUD YELL. FOR YOU SEE WHAT HAD HAPPENED. IT WAS HIS TOENAILS SHINING THROUGH THE SHEETS WITH THE MOONLIGHT ON THEM. AND THE MAN THAT WAS SO BRAVE AND WASN'T AFRAID OF GHOSTS HAD ACTUALLY SHOT HIS OWN TOL" MY HUSBAND AND I LIVE AT 3890 EAST PONCE DE LEON AVENUE, APT. F-5 IN CLARKSTON NEAR MRS. FRANK ELDER AND HER GRANDDAUGHTER, SANDRA TALTON. WE HAVE A DINNER INVITATION FROM MRS. ELDER FOR THE FIRST SUNDAY AFTER THIS QUARTER ENDS. SO WE HAVE NOT ONLY ENJOYED THE TIME WE WERE ABLE TO SPEND ON THE PROJECT, WE HAVE MADE NEW FRIENDS AS WELL. MOTIFS AND TALE TYPES "SAUTEE AND NACHOOCHE" A968.2 T81.6 T95.0.1 CLIFF FROM LOVERS' LEAP - .U.S. INDIANS GIRL KILLS HERSELF AFTER LOVER'S DEATH - ICELANDIC & INDIA PRINCESS FALLS IN LOVE WITH FATHER'S ENEMY - INDIA "GMOST STORY" B2Il.l.8 SPEAKING CAT - DANISH, MISSOURI-FRENCH, INDIA "GRAVE'S BRIDGE LEGEND" D997.I MAGIC HEART - HUMAN "LEGEND OF THE DOGWOOD" A2721.2.1 TREE CURSED FOR SERVING AS CROSS - FINNISH, NORTH CAROLINA A2771.5 TREES BEAR FIRST BUDS TO COMMEMORATE RE1GN OF PRIMITIVE HERO "CREATION OF THE WORLD SONG" A610 A1285.1.1 A910 CREATION OF UNIVERSE BY CREATOR - JEWISH GOD SENDS ADAM TO EARTH TO FATHER MANKIND - JEWISH WATERS CREATED ON FIRST DAY OF CREATION - JEWISH "MANX CAT LEGEND" A2378.2.1 WHY ANIMALS LACK TAIL "PREACHER STORY" 1735C THE BRIBED BOY SINGS THE WRONG SONG - SOUTHERN (N.C., S.C./ALA.) "GOLDEN ARM" E235.4.1 RETURN FROM DEAD TO PUNISH THEFT OF GOLDEN ARM FROM GRAVE "HAUNTED HOUSE STORY" H1411 STAYING IN HAUNTED HOUSE AS FEAR TEST A PDF transcript exists for this recording. Please contact an archivist for access. Professor John Burrison founded the Atlanta Folklore Archive Project in 1967 at Georgia State University. He trained undergraduates and graduate students enrolled in his folklore curriculum to conduct oral history interviews. Students interviewed men, women, and children of various demographics in Georgia and across the southeast on crafts, storytelling, music, religion, rural life, and traditions. As archivists, we acknowledge our role as stewards of information, which places us inaposition to choose how individuals and organizations are represented and described in our archives. We are not neutral, andbias isreflected in our descriptions, whichmay not convey the racist or offensive aspects of collection materialsaccurately.Archivists make mistakes and might use poor judgment.We often re-use language used by the former owners and creators, which provides context but also includes bias and prejudices of the time it was created.Additionally,our work to use reparative languagewhereLibrary of Congress subject termsareinaccurate and obsolete isongoing. Kenan Research Center welcomes feedback and questions regarding our archival descriptions. If you encounter harmful, offensive, or insensitive terminology or description please let us know by emailingreference@atlantahistorycenter.com. Your comments are essential to our work to create inclusive and thoughtful description.