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Random Folklore bits
Topic Started: Thursday May 17 2012, 02:35 PM (224 Views)
VilaWolf
Motorcycle Folklore: The Legend of the Guardian Bell

Many years ago, on a cold December night, a crusty old biker was returning from a trip to Mexico with his saddlebags filled with toys and other assorted trinkets for the kids at a group home near where he worked.

As he rode along that night thinking how lucky he had been in life, having a loving riding partner that understood his need to roam the highways and to his trusty old pan that hadn’t let him down once in the many years they had shared the road together.

Well about 40 miles north of the border, in the high desert, lurked a small group of notorious little critters known as road gremlins. You know, the ones who always leave little obstacles like, one shoe, boards, and pieces of old tires on the road, and also dig those dreaded potholes for bikers to run over and crash, thus giving the road gremlins a chance to rejoice over their acts of evil.

Well, as the lone wolf of a biker rounded a curve that moonlit night, the gremlins ambushed him, causing him to crash to the asphalt and skid before coming to a stop next to one of his saddlebags that had broken free. As he lay there, unable to move, the road gremlins made their way towards him. Well, this biker, not being one to give up, started throwing things at the gremlins as they approached him. Finally, with nothing else to throw but a bell, he started ringing it in hopes to scare off the dirty little gremlins.

About a half a mile away, camped in the desert, were two bikers sitting around the campfire talking about their day’s ride, and the freedom of the wind blowing in their faces as they rode across this vast country. In the stillness of the night air they heard what sounded to them like church bells ringing, and upon investigating, found the old biker lying along the roadside with the gremlins about to get him. Needless to say, being part of the biker brotherhood, they preceded to ward off the gremlins until the last ran off into the night.

Being grateful to the two bikers, the old road dog offered to pay them for their help, but as all true bikers do, they refused to accept any type of payment from him. Not being one to let a good deed go unnoticed, the old biker cut two pieces of leather from his saddlebags tassels and tied a bell to each one. He then placed them on each of the biker’s motorcycles, as near to the ground as possible. The tired, old road warrior then told the two travelers that with those bells placed on their bikes, they would be protected from the road gremlins and that if ever in trouble, just ring the bell and a fellow biker will come to their aid.

So, whenever you see a biker with a bell, you know that he has been blessed with the most important thing in life—friendship from a fellow biker.
The Purpose of the Guardian Bell

Many of us have heard the story about Evil Road Spirits. They are little gremlins that live on your bike. They love to ride, and they’re also responsible for most of your bike’s problems. Sometimes your turn signals refuse to work; your battery goes dead, the clutch needs adjustment, or any of several hundred things that can go wrong. These problems are caused by Evil Road Spirits.

Evil Road Spirits can’t live in the presence of the bell, because they get trapped in the hollow of the bell. Among other things, their hearing is supersensitive, so the constant ringing of the bell and the confined space drives them insane. They lose their grip and eventually fall to the roadway. Have you ever wondered how potholes are formed? The bell has served its purpose.

If you pick up a Guardian Bell of your own, the magic will work, but if your bell is given to you, the power is doubled, and you know that somewhere you have a special friend helping to look after you.

So, if you have a friend who doesn’t have a bell, why not give them one? It’s a nice feeling for the recipient to know you care. The bell, plus a good preventive maintenance program by the bikes owner, will help eliminate Evil Road Spirits.
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VilaWolf
WESTFIELD, Indiana — It's just quirky enough to catch on.
http://www.therepublic.com/view/story/489202eab9e04134befb4618ac48335a/IN--Exchange-Squirrels-on-Parade

Inspired by more than 100,000 migratory squirrels that swarmed through Westfield and Fishers in the 1820s, a group of up-and-coming Hamilton County leaders is working on a public-art initiative celebrating the bushy-tailed rodents.

The Great Squirrel Art Stampede aims to install decorated squirrel statues at key locations throughout the county, tying together area landmarks to draw visitors and educate residents.

"This is something we're hoping will bring in tourists and give locals something to do — maybe a scavenger hunt to find them all," said Lindsay Labas, spokeswoman for the seven-person team that hatched the idea as a Hamilton County Leadership Academy project. "It's also an opportunity to share our history."

Although progress has been slower than the volunteer group had hoped, a $1,000 grant from the new Nickel Plate Arts initiative allowed it to hire an artist to sculpt a pair of foam squirrels, which will be used to create molds for the statues.

The sculptor, William Jamieson of Noblesville's ArtHouse, did some of the work at the public library in Fishers this month while county historian David Heighway told the story of the Great Squirrel Stampede of 1822. Or maybe it was 1826.

Whatever the date, it was a time Hamilton County was mostly trees and cornfields — and squirrels, so many that their affinity for corn threatened farmers' livelihoods.

Heighway cites several published recollections of one fall when a massive wave of squirrels swept through the county and headed east, leaving the treetops only to swim across the White River and destroy crops.

It's an attention-getter to be sure, which is why Labas and her classmates went nuts for the notion of squirrel sculptures displayed in the tradition of Chicago's 1999 Cows on Parade. Many other communities have since joined the procession, trotting out horses (Louisville), pigs (Cincinnati) mastodons (Fort Wayne) and race cars (Indianapolis).

Early feedback has been encouraging. Hamilton County Commissioner Steve Dillinger mentioned the project in his 2013 State of the County address — and offered Noblesville's new RiverWalk path as a possible "squirrel" habitat. Westfield Mayor Andy Cook also is sold on the idea, and Labas said the county parks department is interested, too.

Next up: figuring out how to pay for the plan. With a per-squirrel cost of $500 or $1,000 depending on size (2 feet by 2 feet or 3-by-3), the goal of placing a half-dozen or so fiberglass statues in each of the county's "eight great towns" won't come cheap, even if local artists donate their time.

The HCLA group discussed options like soliciting corporate sponsorships and charitable donations, but the 10-month leadership course was over before members could finalize a fundraising strategy and see their idea come to life.

That's a common problem for the program, which requires every class to spend about six months on group projects that address a community need. The practice encourages developing leaders to give back as they learn to collaborate, said Executive Director Jill Doyle.

Many groups take on research or advisory projects that can be finished during the course. But others come up with ideas that could — or should — inspire additional action.
PHOTO: This prototype of the squirrel statue soon to be seen around Hamilton county is seen on the lawn of Gary Harling in Fishers, Ind., Wednesday, June 12, 2013. The Great Squirrel Art Stampede aims to install decorated squirrel statues at key locations throughout the county, tying together area landmarks to draw visitors and educate residents. (AP Photo/Indianapolis Business Journal, Aaron P. Bernstein)
This prototype of the squirrel statue soon to be seen around Hamilton county is seen on the lawn of Gary Harling in Fishers, Ind., Wednesday, June 12, 2013. The Great Squirrel Art Stampede aims to install decorated squirrel statues at key locations throughout the county, tying together area landmarks to draw visitors and educate residents. (AP Photo/Indianapolis Business Journal, Aaron P. Bernstein)

That has happened only a few times in HCLA's 20-plus years, at least partly because leaders tend to want to make their own mark.

"We're still learning how to perpetuate some of these projects," she told the Indianapolis Business Journal (http://bit.ly/13U7iFD ). "The squirrel stampede is definitely one that could move forward."

Project organizers could build momentum by finding another entity to take over implementation. And there's some precedent: Westfield residents are raising money for a dog park in Westfield after a 2011 group project came up with a design.

Doyle plans to invite this year's graduates — including the squirrel stampeders — to pitch their projects to the next class in hopes the most promising ideas will continue to develop. Among the other 2013 projects with potential: a board-recruitment event for Hamilton County not-for-profits.

"We can make a bigger difference if we take something and carry it through to the end," she said. "Hopefully, their enthusiasm will be contagious."

It certainly has been so far. Dillinger, the county commissioner, said he was enthralled by the squirrel story and excited about the possibility of adding public art to the RiverWalk project behind the Hamilton County Judicial Center in downtown Noblesville.

"It's a neat idea and I agreed to help however I could," he said.

Westfield's mayor also is eager to participate, said city Communications Director Carrie Cason, herself an HCLA graduate and past board president.

Cason heard Heighway's squirrel story when she went through the leadership course — and several times since then — and she said it always sparks lively discussion.

"What a great way to bring awareness to the history of Hamilton County," she said. "It's really neat to be able to pick up on that and make something of it."

She acknowledged the challenge of post-graduation follow-through, but said she expects the squirrel project to have legs given the reaction so far.

Labas and her teammates intend to see to that. They've started discussing the possibility of the county parks foundation's adding squirrel statues to its commemorative tree and bench program, she said, and if a future HCLA group doesn't pick up the mantle they'll do it themselves.

"A lot of us are very invested in this project," Labas said. "We want to see it from start to finish, whatever that is. It's who we are."
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Ghosts at the Historic Rawls Hotel

http://www.rawlsbandb.com/index.php/meet-the-ghosts

Meet The Ghosts

Unusual occurrences are not uncommon in the historic Rawls hotel. Children’s laughter has been heard by those working on the third floor, and even outside the bathroom down in the restaurant – when there have been no children around.

Hayden Pursley spent three years restoring the historic hotel and had several stories he often told – to include seeing a girl around the age of 12 running down the halls. One of the many incidents he shared was when he hung some window treatments in the ballroom.

Hayden said he would put it up one day and it would be down the next.

This happened twice. On the third morning when Hayden went to hang it again, a board came across the room and hit him. No one else was in the room, and Hayden figured Mr. Rawls didn’t like what he had chosen.

In October 2002, local reporter Carole Brand spent an evening in the Rawls. Below is an account of her experience.



In search of spirits at historic Rawls Hotel

By Carole Brand

Sun Staff Writer

Shortly after World War I, tales began to emerge of strange, unexplained events that happened at the Rawls Hotel. When told by a few Enterprise residents with seemingly frightened faces, the tales were scoffed at by others and left to disappear among the gossip of older men and women through the years.

From time to time, that tales were retold with whispering voices in corners of a beauty salon or in a quiet out-of-the-way table at the local diner. Some of the stories were without any kid of explanation; others were left up to the imagination. These ghostly tales, however, passed on from one generation to another.

As a reporter, I found these tales interesting and thought some to be beyond belief. I never was one to search for the paranormal. That was something I’d rather leave alone. But with the onset of paranormal research in the late 1970s and the reoccurrence of strange and unexplained events, researchers said they have found ways to “observe” the ghosts.

As a reporter, I felt an obligation to research and explore the possibilities of what may lie beyond caught up in the shadows of the night.

Research says that orbs, usually floating light circles, can be seen by detailed special light cameras, but even orbs have shown up better in Polaroid’s. Smells and temperatures can be measured by delicate instruments, but mostly humans who come in contact with the “spirit world” often smell odors and feel the air temperatures drop.

Paranormal researchers say when “ghosts” are present they are usually invisible, but may make themselves known to capture the attention of the living. The instruments can back up any questions skeptics may have, experts say, but a lot of questions continue to go unanswered. With a check of my instruments and camera, I go forward in search of ghosts.

Enter Rawls Hotel: 8:10 p.m. – My search begins

I began my search of the ghosts of Enterprise at the Rawls Hotel. I had no interest in really searching for them for fear they might find me. It was with little prior knowledge of ghosts hunting that I went into the Rawls late one evening. I didn’t expect what I experienced there; neither did I expect to hear such ghostly tales coming from within those walls by former employees.

Most of the people I spoke with declined to be identified. Some have spoken only once about their experiences and say they will never speak of them again.

I rechecked my Polaroid camera to make sure everything was working right and checked my “ghost meter,” a temperature gauge I brought with me, just in case.

Rawls History Lesson: 8:52 p.m.

Visitors that come to the Rawls Hotel say they feel strange spirits in the building that was constructed in 1903. First, the hotel was a two-story structure with a straight rectangle with a hall down the middle. The third story and the two wings were added during a 1928 remodeling.

The Rawls, a magnificent work of Spanish-style architecture, has a grand ballroom, a restaurant area, a bed and breakfast, and a wine cellar/basement. In the cellar, waitresses have reported seeing Captain Japheth Rawls, the original owner, who came to the Enterprise area in 1898. He and his family were among the first passengers of the first train that ran to Enterprise.

In 1903, Rawls decided to build the hotel where he and his wife frequently stayed and dined.

It was in this same year that Enterprise acquired a railroad depot directly across from the Rawls. Some travelers spent many wonderful and entertaining days at the newly built Rawls Hotel. Some may even have decided never to leave, even in death.

Exploring Wine Cellar: 10:02 p.m.

Children’s voices have been heard in the basement of the Rawls and as an investigative reporter that was the first place I felt we should explore. As a fellow employee and I, along with some hotel workers, toured the relatively dark wine cellar, my friend said she felt the presence of three children and saw them dressed in early 1920s clothes. I ran a quick temperature reading of 35 degrees. It was much colder in the basement than outside, especially in one dark corner. Suddenly, I felt the presence of an older gentleman, complete with graying hair, a thick mustache and wearing a pair of light-colored handyman overalls. I couldn’t really see him physically, but my mind somehow showed me he was there, even down to his black shoes.

Somehow their presence didn’t frighten us to the point of knocking each other over to head upstairs. It was a calm feeling, a feeling of welcome and happiness, at least for the children. We eased up the stairs quietly as if leaving them to play, guarded by the older gentleman. Temperature reading on stairs: 55 degrees.

It was much later in an interview that I found out one employee said he saw the deceased Capt. Rawls in the cellar, as if he was working on pipes in the hotel. The man said he had seen Capt. Rawls dressed in overalls. The same gentleman said he had also seen, late one night, the faint shadow of a young boy walking up the stairs.

Kitchen Area: 10:45 p.m.

Exiting from the cellar and into the large kitchen area of the Rawls, I met some workers who say that there’s a mischievous ghost who dwells there.

“Sometimes you will lay down a kitchen instrument and turn around and then it will be gone,” said one employee. “Other times you will hear a pan drop when you know you’ve put it back in place. You just never know about this spirit.”

Near Entrance to Grand Ballroom: Interviews 11:15 p.m.

The grand ballroom of the Rawls serves as a meeting, dining and conference area today, but when the ballroom was built in the ‘20s, it was the highlight of the evening to see elegant ladies and couples dance by music played on a grand piano in one corner.

A Rawls employee said she was working late one night and heard the sound of a piano playing in the grand ballroom. She knew no one was in the building at the time and certainly there was no piano in the ballroom. As she cautiously approached the entrance doors listening to the sound, the music suddenly stopped. As she began to walk away, the sounds of the piano started once again. She said she quickly went into her office and locked the door.

Footsteps and the sound of feet running on the third floor have been reported to the local police by restaurant employees. When police arrive and search the floor, no one can be found.

Another respected gentleman said he had heard strange sounds at night on the second and third floors.

“I know we have re-runs of shows, but I don’t think Mr. Ed has been on and that’s what it sounded like. I even heard the Captain Kangaroo TV show one time and I know that show hasn’t been on in forever, even in re-runs.”

One visitor to the bed and breakfast at the Rawls said she felt the spirits as soon as she entered the hotel.

The couple visiting from Florida had never been at the Rawls before. The woman said she wasn’t frightened or scared because she had grown up in an old house that had spirits and she was used to dealing with them.

“They are where they choose to be at the moment and it’s as if they feel comfortable here,” the lady said. “Well, maybe some of them do and maybe some of them are just displaced souls.”

Entering Grand Ballroom: 12:21 p.m.

Statistics show that most haunted places in the South are old home places or hotels where the ghosts experienced either the happiest moments or the saddest moments while living.

I don’t know what the ghosts or spirits were feeling in the ballroom when we entered, but as I tried to open the door that led into the ballroom from the kitchen, I felt the door become heavy. I couldn’t seem to open it, although it was a swinging door. The group behind me laughed, thinking I was doing it on purpose, but I know I wasn’t. Finally, the door eased way into a small hall area that led into the main ballroom area.

As I entered I said nothing about how I was feeling at the moment. Somehow my breath became short and a heavy feeling surrounded me. I couldn’t seem to breathe. I reached into my camera bag to grab my camera and the temperature gauge, but the air that had been comfortable now was suffocating. My heart seemed to be pounding out of my chest and any energy I had seemed to leave me. I reached down in my camera bag again to try to find my Polaroid and the temperature gauge. I couldn’t find either one. They had just been in my bag several minutes ago.

The others behind me then entered the room through the door. I couldn’t shake the heavy feeling I had and worse, I couldn’t even describe it. I was now taking short breaths at a time.

As I turned, still not saying a word, I saw my fellow employee behind me catching her breath. She was a color close to solid white.

As she glanced at me with her hand on her chest. I sensed she felt the same way I did. Drained of energy, we both looked at each other. She said my face was white. I knew it was even though I was sweating, which should have turned my face into blood red.

12:40 a.m.

In the ballroom we sat down in chairs to get our composure, comparing notes on just what had happened. It was if something in the hallway had drained us. It seemed whatever it was had tried to grab and steal any energy we had. Something even felt like it was draining us out of any life left.

Staring in disbelief were two Rawls employees. One even began to have a slight smile and nodded her head.

“This has happened to several people who came into the ballroom this way,” she said as if we had been selected to be her confirmation of the strange event.

“I told a couple of people about his and they didn’t believe me, so I just kept quiet. I’m finally glad some newspaper people experienced this for themselves.”

I wasn’t so glad. I had an experience I couldn’t explain. Lots of experiences I knew I could explain, but not one of the creepy kind. I looked down at my camera bag. My temperature gauge was lying on top of my bag within simple reach. My Polaroid was beneath it. I took the gauge for one last time and walked toward the corner of the room. The temperature was a steady 60 degrees. I snapped off a few shots from the camera, but nothing showed.

At least not yet.

1 a.m.

After several, long minutes had passed, and we were seemingly sane again, I looked at my fellow “spirit” adventurer. It was late and we were both ready to get the heck out of there. As we left the Rawls and exited from the rear entrance toward the railroad depot, I glanced up at one of the windows from the grand ballroom. A figure, faint but recognizable as a younger woman dressed in white, was looking through the window. I stopped suddenly to look at her and then she disappeared.

Needless to say, my night of sleep was interrupted over and over again by the unexplainable things I had seen and experienced that night.

Future: 2003

As the hotel celebrates its centennial birthday in 2003, the ghosts and spirits may linger to roam the Rawls, the way they’ve done in more than a hundred years.

Maybe residents in Enterprise will soon be whispering tales, the ones only few know to be true.

116 South Main Street Enterprise, AL 36330
( 334) 308-9387
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Prophet drowns during cleansing ceremony, family blame mermaids

Feb 09, 2014 Bizarre, News 3
http://nehandaradio.com/2014/02/09/prophet-drowns-during-cleansing-ceremony-family-blame-mermaids/

By Melody Gwenyambira

A self-styled prophet on Wednesday drowned in a river during a cleansing ceremony in Epworth, giving residents quite a scare.

The prophet, Simbarashe Kamupondera, 31, of Nyeredzi Nhatu apostolic sect, met his fate around midday as he was attending to a congregant at the Ruwa River banks when he was swept away by a strong current.

However, the family believes Simbarashe is still alive claiming he was abducted by mermaids known as njuzu in vernacular.

“Simbarashe came to stay with us a month ago. He has been telling us that he had a spirit of a mermaid.

“He also said that a prophet had prayed for a cloth that he gave him to always tie when getting into the waters. Yesterday he bought a new cloth after he had written his name on the old one saying that he could no longer use it.

“He tied it today before he got into the water,” Magma Mutingwende, Simbarashe’s sister-in-law said.

Magma also said that Simbarashe was praying for a female congregant when he was swept away.

The father of two is also said to have frequented the river several times taking a bath and baptising people.

“Vaenda vari mumweya vachinamata nendimi. We realised that he needed help when he started saying come and get but when we tried to swim to where he was, he was submerged in water.

“We believe that he was taken by a mermaid and we are not going to mourn him because we know that he is coming back,” Magma added.

When this news crew arrived, Magma was getting ready to leave the river banks with her two friends who are also congregants of the small apostolic sect as it was getting dark. Her husband Thomas had accompanied the police to the police station.

“We have not told his wife as yet and we know that he is coming back,” Magma added.

Police details at the scene said they were waiting for the Aqua Unit to attend to the scene. H Metro
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