Tag: Urban Legends

Dirty Socks, Goose Fat, and Hot Toddies: Cold Remedies from the Folklore Archive

Woman wearing large apron holding a goose in her arms stands with two boys, November 8, 1912
~ Walter P. Reuther Library, Wayne State University ~ 1 Comment

Reuther Library archivists Elizabeth Clemens and Dan Golodner raise a glass for the regional and ethnic cold remedies collected in the Reuther’s extensive Folklore Archive, including whiskey, honey, lemon, hot toddies, goose fat poultices, the color red, horehound, catnip tea, dirty socks, and the more dangerous turpentine and kerosene — don’t try those at home! Clemens explores why the informants interviewed resorted to folklore remedies, why we still use them today, and why a few of these remedies just might work.

Related Collections
Folklore Archive

Episode Credits
Producers: Dan Golodner and Troy Eller English
Host: Dan Golodner
Interviewees: Elizabeth Clemens
Sound: Troy Eller English

With support from the Reuther Podcast Collective: Bart Bealmear, Elizabeth Clemens, Meghan Courtney, Troy Eller English, Dan Golodner, and Paul Neirink

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Halloween Spooktacular: Supernatural Stories from Detroit Folklore

A view of the Folklore Archive index card cabinet.
~ Walter P. Reuther Library, Wayne State University

Archivist Elizabeth Clemens shares spooky stories from the Reuther Library’s Folklore Archives about Le Loup Garou, or the Werewolf of Grosse Pointe; the Ghost of Tanglewood Bridge on Detroit’s Belle Isle; hauntings at home; and a helpful witch on Detroit’s McClellan Street who fetched groceries and hung her skin on the wall.

Archivist Bart Bealmear reminds us of Gundella the Green Witch, a local personality with an advice column in Detroit-area newspapers in the 1970s and 1980s.

More Information
Folklore Fridays: Halloween Edition
Gundella, The Green Witch of Detroit Explains How to Cast Spells

Related Collections
Folklore Archive
Virtual Motor City: Mario Kuclo / Gundella the Green Witch images

Episode Credits
Producers: Dan Golodner and Troy Eller English
Host: Dan Golodner
Interviewees: Bart Bealmear and Elizabeth Clemens
Sound: Troy Eller English
Music: Cely Grande, “Scary Night (scary hip-hop instrumental)”

With support from the Reuther Podcast Collective: Bart Bealmear, Elizabeth Clemens, Meghan Courtney, Troy Eller English, Dan Golodner, Paul Neirink, and Mary Wallace

Podcast: Play in new window | Download | Embed

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | RSS | More