Amos trades up -- Eilenshpiggel and his shenanigans -- John the blacksmith visits the devil -- Tales tall and taller -- Graven images & the legends that grow around them -- Pennsylvania German humor -- A true ghost story.
"Part of the material in the following pages was originally collected and presented in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of doctor of philosophy in the University of Pennsylvania." - Pref.
"Sex [p. 345-357] The superstitions under this rubric are printed in a separate fascicle."
"One of the best known legends from York County, Pennsylvania, is Toad Road and the Seven Gates of Hell. What is the real story? Where are the Seven Gates of Hell? Where is Toad Road? Extensive research and on site exploration is combined to dispel urban legends while revealing stranger truths. Journey beyond the Seventh Gate and into other weird places in York, Lancaster, and Adams Counties. Explore Hex Hollow, Chickies Rock, lonely graveyards, and old iron forges. Read true tales of bigfoot creatures, witches, ghosts, werewolves, and flying phantoms. Sometimes they haunt the woods behind you. Sometimes they are in your own back yard." [from the publisher]
Publications of the Pennsylvania German Society ; v. 59
Notes
"Folk songs and ballads": p. 348-402.
Includes bibliographical references and index.
Contents
Contents : Philip Ginder, folk hero -- Breaking into Philadelphia -- Over the Blue Mountain -- Pottsville as a frontier town -- When anthracite made steel -- The world's largest canal system -- Cradle of American railroading -- The Swatara country -- Monopoly takes over -- Miners' bread -- Shanties and possession houses -- Miners' trails and trains -- Folk speech, the Dutch dialect -- Courtship and marriage customs -- Folk medicine -- Religious lore -- Spooks, spoofs, and the Devil -- Lore of breaker boys and mule drivers -- Legends and traditions -- Folk songs and ballads.
