Local Folklore

[Theres]

what i'd like this thread to become is an archive of the local myths, legends and folklore of the area where you live.
it would be very few of us who live in an area without any local stories (even NYC has it's folklore), so let's hear them!

i'll start us off with a myth from not too far from my home in the Pacific Northwest. this is from a plaque at the Visitor's Center at Multnomah Falls (the second highest waterfall in Oregon, 542 feet for the upper falls alone)...

Many years ago a terrible sickness came over the village of the Multnomah people, and many died. An old medicine man of the tribe told the Chief that a pure an innocent maiden must go to a high cliff above the Big River and throw herself on the rocks below and the sickness would leave at once.
The Chief did not want to ask any maiden to make the sacrifice. But when the Chief's daughter saw the sickness upon the face of her lover, she went to the high cliff and threw herself on the rocks below and the sickness went away.
As a token of the maiden's welcome by the Great Spirit, a stream of water, silvery white, streamed over the cliff. Even today, as you carefully watch, the maiden's face can be seen in the upper waterfall as the breeze gently rustles the watery strands of her silken hair.

that is the abbreviated version. this is from LewisAndClarkTrail.com...

http://www.lewisandclarktrail.com/section4/orcities/portland/legend/index.htm


so, tell us about your local stories!

[Zephyrstorm]

A local story:

"Twin sons were born to an old Caddo Indian chief living on the banks of the Sabine River. Natchitoches was swarthy with black hair and flashing black eyes. Nacogdoches was fair with yellow hair and blue eyes.

As their father neared the end of his days, he called his sons into his presence to receive his final blessings.

He commanded that, upon his death, Natchitoches should gather his wife and children, turn his face to the rising sun, and after traveling three days he should build his home and rear a tribe.

Nacogdoches was instructed to face the setting sun, walk three days with his family, and establish a new home where he, too, would rear his children and his children's children. Thus, the twin tribes of Nacogdoches and Natchitoches were born 100 miles apart--one in what would become Texas and one in the place we know today as Louisiana. " from here (http://www.texasescapes.com/AllThingsHistorical/Chief-s-Sons-Natchitoches-Nacogdoches-BB507.htm)

Its not true - but its become a part of the East Texas/Louisiana folklore.

[Astara Seague]

This is actually a true story it happened when the pioneers were trying to settle the land here which was "very" difficult
this is why the california gull is Utahs state bird


The Gulls
retold by
S. E. Schlosser


In the year of our Lord 1848, vast swarms of crickets descended upon our settlement. Twas a judgment upon us, yea certain, for how else could you explain the desecration of our crops, the dimming hope of survival for the coming winter?

We tried rude methods to destroy the insects: some attempted to burn the crickets, some tried to drown or bury them. But alas, nothing, not even our prayers for deliverance, seemed able to stop the massive destruction of the crickets.

Then, when we had lost all hope, the morning sky was filled with the hoarse cry of gulls and the sound of wings. Before our eyes, thousands of gulls descended over the Great Salt Lake and commenced a great feasting upon the crickets. Twas a miracle of God. Every day the gulls came to eat the crickets until there were no more crickets left. Our crops were saved and we survived the following winter.

[Lunacie]

I grew up in western Kansas - although not quite this far west - and have always been interested in tales like this one.

WHITE WOMAN CREEK

White Woman Creek winds through Greeley, Wichita, and Scott Counties in western Kansas. It gets its name--and its ghostly legend--from an old story full of love, betrayal, and violence.

Many years ago a group of Cheyennes attacked a western settlement in retaliation for an earlier raid on their camp by white men. The Cheyennes recaptured their stolen goods and also claimed twelve whites--ten men and two women. As time passed, the white women decided to stay with the tribe and married Cheyenne men. Most of the white men also were accepted and remained with the Cheyennes.

Among the white men, however, was one person eager to leave. After many months with the tribe he was able to steal a horse and travel to Fort Wallace. There he convinced the army that the remaining whites were being held against their will. In the ensuing attack the head of the tribe, his white wife, and their infant son were killed, but not before the wife had slain the white man who had betrayed them.

The Kansas stream where the Cheyenne village once stood is known today as White Woman Creek after the tribe leader's white wife. Many people claim to have seen her ghostly figure and heard her singing along its banks.

[Toby Stimpson]

In my area, there is a story about a woman called Mary.

Mary was said to be a witch, and when she died she was buried away from the main cemetery. They say that if you go to her grave and place a shiny nickle or dime, by the morning it'll be gone.

There's more to the story, I'll try and find more info.