Age – 17
Language – English
Nationality – American
Occupation – Student
Primary Language – English
Residence – New York

Text: “There is this road down the street where we live called Mt. Misery Road. I’m not sure what the exact story was but apparently there was a group of students killed there a long time ago and they’re supposed to haunt the road at night. It’s said on Halloween if you put your car in neutral they move your car, so we did it on Halloween and the car actually did move which scared me a lot.”

Context: The informant talks about a local road called Mt. Misery Road, which has its own legend near where she grew up. She doesn’t know all the details but mentions that a group of students were killed there, and their ghosts are said to haunt the road at night. They tested it out and when it worked she freaked out.

Analysis: This an example of how legends grow around a certain place. People tend to make up stories about roads or other spots in their area, based on real events. The idea of a haunted place is something that gives people a shared experience, and the Halloween setting just makes it spookier. The informant’s personal experience makes it feel more real, especially since the car actually moved. It’s also interesting how the name of the street symbolizes danger.