The Folktale Project

Many of the tales from Skinner's "Myths and Legends of Our Own Land" are more history than lore. the story of how the town of 'Horseheads' in western New York was named is one of those.

Jun 29

Jun 29 Ep. 733 - Storm Ship of the Hudson - An American Folktale

Charles Skinner, American Folktale

The haunted vessel in 'Storm Ship of the Hudson' may just have been the one and only Flying Dutchman in its eternal damned quest.

May 8

May 8 Ep. 711 - Roistering Dirck Van Dara - An American Folktale

Dirck Van Dara is a drunkard in old New York who meets a fairy circle of sorts who was wronged by his father.

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May 6

May 6 Ep. 710 - Van Wempel's Goose - An American Folktale

Nicholas Van Wempel, of Flatbush, is the kind of drunk who somehow happens to stumble his way into and out of trouble with such ease that it's almost admirable. 😁

May 4

May 4 Ep. 709 - The Springs of Blood and Water - An American Folktale

The first of three new stories from Volume 2 of Charles Skinner's "Myths and Legends of our Own Land" is one that I enjoy because it really highlights the cruelty of the English towards the indigenous people.

Mar 27

Mar 27 Ep. 693 - How the Five Rusty Rats Helped Find a New Village - An American Folktale

American Folktale, Carl Sandburg, Rootabaga Stories

One last tale from "Rootabaga Stories" this week as we discover the origins of The Village of Cream Puffs in 'How the Five Rusty Rats Helped Find a New Village' as told by the young girl from our previous tale, Wing Tip the Spick.

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Mar 25

Mar 25 Ep. 692 - How They Bring Back the Village of Cream Puffs When the Wind Blows It Away - An American Folktale

American Folktale, Carl Sandburg, Rootabaga Stories

Today's silliness from Sandburg's "Rootabaga Stories" is about a fantastic village that routinely floats away on the wind.

Mar 23

Mar 23 Ep. 691 - How They Broke Away to Go to the Rootabaga Country - An American Folktale

American Folktale, Carl Sandburg, Rootabaga Stories

The past few weeks have been a lot, so this week at least I'll be bringing you chapters from one of the silliest, most nonsense filled books of American folklore - Carl Sandburg's "Rootabaga Country", beginning with 'How They Broke Away to Go to the Rootabaga Country'.

Jan 31

Jan 31 Ep. 659 - Two Lives for One - A North American Folktale

American Folktale

'Two Lives for One' is a ghost story about revenge in the southern city of Macon, Georgia.