Notebook of Ghosts

I love and deeply appreciate a public database. The Indiana State University Folklore Archives is “the largest accessible university-based folklore repository in the Midwest” and contains first-hand accounts of Midwest folklore. I spend HOURS on this site, exploring Hoosier folklore. Recently, my research topic was TREES. Let’s see what type of legends I uncovered.

• French farmers in Emison, Indiana would create witches trees. When the trees were young they would put a board between tree branches to make a sort of saddle. Witches would sit on the saddle part of trees at night, making sure bad things did not happen to the farm. (Knox County)
• A few miles outside Hagerstown, Indiana sat a large maple tree on an isolated road. It was a popular hangout for drinking or taking a bathroom break when driving. Sometimes the tree would emit a beer like smell. Boring a hole into the tree (like you do for syrup) would release the best tasting beer. (Wayne County, IN)
• Weeping willow trees between Little Rock and Scott Chapel (close to Cypress Swamp) were known to bring down their branches and eat people. (Knox County, IN)
• Sometime in the 60s, a car hit the broad side of an oak tree during a car race. The car and tree caught fire with the driver pinned to the tree. His face and body were burnt into the tree. According to the storyteller, the tree gave off a florescent glow at night as if on fire. (Elkhart County, IN)

Let me know if you find anything good in the archives in the comments below.