See 2010 200th Anniversary Leatherlips post by CLICKING HERE.It's that time of year again, in my neck of the woods. The Muirfield Village PGA's Memorial Golf Tournament starts June 1st. It's always a big deal, here in town. All the restaurants put up extra outside seating and the grocery stores offer special Memorial catering. There's excitement in the air. But for us, it's always a bit of a pain in the butt, because it often takes ten or fifteen minutes to wait for a break in traffic, just to pull out of our driveway. Wait...this isn't the curse part.
Leatherlips was a member of the Wyandot tribe that once roamed the local area. He was reportedly called "Leatherlips" by white settlers because he never broke a promise; his word was his bond. Sadly, Leatherlips was executed in 1810, along the Scioto River, by his fellow Wyandots, for being friendly with the white settlers. The Wyandots were sent to a reservation in Kansas in the 1840s and were the last Native Americans to leave Ohio.
The Muirfield Golf Course, built by Jack Nicklaus, is known to be over a sacred Wyandot Indian burial ground. It is said that Chief Leatherlips has cursed the tournament and as a result, heavy rains descend on the golfers and crowds of spectators, nearly every year. For this reason, the week of the annual tournament was changed. But, still torrents of rain continue to fall. Could it be that just a lot of rain falls this time of year in central Ohio? Possibly.
I happen to think this strange cairn of large rocks at Willow Manor could very well mark the execution spot of Chief Leatherlips, June 1, 1810, exactly 199 years from the opening day of this year's Muirfield Tournament. So, I think we can count on rain.
photos: (1) Chief Leatherlips sculpture, Scioto Park, Dublin, OH (2) The Execution of Leatherlips by Hal Sherman (3) Flooded Memorial Tournament (3) Cairn at Willow Manor
You never know!! Interesting. And just great photos, Willow. I'll have to watch the weather and see if you prove right!
ReplyDeleteI prefer to believe in the curse, don't you? I
ReplyDeleteGood on Chief Leatherlips! Didn't they know in advance it was a sacred burial ground?
ReplyDeleteLeft you something at my place; please come by to pick up.
Jane
Love the idea of the curse ...
ReplyDeleteThe tournament people might want to talk to the Boston Red Sox about breaking a curse. I think they've finally mastered it there at Fenway.
ReplyDeleteWhat You Too! lol I love reading the interesting story of long ago. They were the last tribe, as here in Mississippi, Choctaw Indians were sent to Oklahoma. The research I have done says The some of Choctaws hide in woods, so not to go on The Trail of Tears.Others passed as white. I guess they were too stubborn to leave their home. Wonder where I get my stubbornness! lol
ReplyDeleteDefinitely the curse.
ReplyDeleteWell, how about that. Some of this I knew and I was pleased that you have Chief Leatherlips as portrayed by my friend, Hal Sherman. He had an exhibit of his Indian portraits at the Garst Museum some time back and I went there and photographed them all and sent him a copy on a CD.
ReplyDeleteWhat a wonderful photos! Interesting post.
ReplyDeleteI like your Cairn.
ReplyDeleteBlessings, Star
interesting bit of history...and that people would blame the curse. saw that on your post the other day and was wondering...thanks for clearing it up and the wonderful story. hope the traffic is not too bad for you. have a great weekend!
ReplyDeleteI wouldn't rule out the power of the ghost of Chief Leatherlips!
ReplyDeleteI'll go with the curse Willow.
ReplyDeleteThe Chief still rules it seems.
Love the rocks and I think you may be right about what they stand for!
Loved this post and the previous one of Venus - so fascinating. One should be careful when one treads on history.
ReplyDeleteI love this quote...
"All that tread the globe are but a handful to the tribes that slumber in its bosom."
~ William Cullen Bryant
Don't forget to tell us if it does rain - what a name , 'Leatherlips' .....Happy weekend, xv.
ReplyDeleteAWESOME! I love the legend and I especially like Chief Leatherlips name. Living on sacred ground can bear a lot of resposnsibility, though I am not superstitious, Native Amercican history carries with it some heavy JU-JU...We have a cabin on Lummi land- we are not even allowed to dig a garden there or disrupt the soil ( do anyway, never found a bone) I am not sure if it is the living or the dead that carry such burden but I will say that I don't want to mess with it much. Good luck getting out of your drive way.
ReplyDeleteCreepy! And the whole talk of Leatherlips makes mine feel chapped.
ReplyDeletePoor old guy. That nickname sounds like a rather bad date, doesn't it?
ReplyDeleteWishing you clear skies and a happy weekend!! xxoo!
Willow, I just love coming here each morning with my cup of coffee - I know I'm going to be entertained, informed, given a laugh, or food for thought - thanks for your blog - it's become part of my routine :)
ReplyDeleteI think it serves them right. Can't believe they built on indian ground unless the indians okayed it.
ReplyDeleteYou're doing a lot of digging, there. Curse or no curse, the weight of history is always with us. This changes how we view your corner of the world now, don't you?
ReplyDeleteGood for the Chief! Let the rains fall . . .
ReplyDeleteI didn't know the story of Chief Leatherlips though I've seen the monument a hundred times. We passed through Dublin today on our way back from Columbus, and the increase in traffic is incredible! It amazes me every year. I don't know which is worse, The Memorial or the Irish Festival.
ReplyDeleteI loved this snippet of life in your town. And great story, too. Although sad, too. So, does any of your ghost visitors resemble an Indian chief :-)? Many thanks.
ReplyDeleteGreetings from London.
That is so COOL!
ReplyDeleteOkay not the whole execution part, but the whole raining curse part.
I'm all for superstition :D
Willow,
ReplyDeleteI remember reading a letter to the editor of the Columbus Dispatch quite a few years ago asking whether Jack Nicklaus would consider moving the tournament to August when we in central Ohio could use the rain. I think of that lady's letter every year this time (and in Aug.). Best of luck with your errands and what not next week.
Marla in Clintonville
Great Story! I especially like your cairn. My dad used to get tickets to the Memorial tournament every year because he helped Jack Nicklaus to set up the irrigation system on his course. I can still remember marching around with a rain poncho.
ReplyDeletetough about the curse but why build over sacred ground? i don;t get that bit. my community has dealt with similar concerns - sacred land somebody wants to build over - and been fairly respectful. i guess they should be happy it's just rain falling!!!! steven
ReplyDeleteDo let us know! (I loved that shot of the course, awash with rain.)
ReplyDeleteBTW, we were having dinner with some friends tonight and planning our Wimbledon rendezvous. If only we had a crystal ball for the weather!
There are so many Native American stories, and broken treaties from the us government to go along with them ; (
ReplyDeleteGood Luck on your navigating this weekend.
Cheers!
A fascinating story & great pix to accompany it!
ReplyDeletegreat pics -- a trip down memory lane. a long time ago, i lived in ohio.
ReplyDelete:-)
I love your chief and find it so sad that the Indians were hounded off their land. I know first hand how hard it is to be a displaced person, and it would have been much harder for the Indians because they were so territorial and wedded to the land.
ReplyDeleteWho did the rock sculprure? I find it very beautiful.
I think that I would believe in a Native American curse on that tournament. Weather has many purposes, maybe this is one, making a statement about turning a meadow into a golf course. I never understood the attraction to hitting a small white ball into holes. I would like walking around outside, but a manicured golf course is not the most interesting place to explore. I'd rather is be a wonderful natural garden. I loved the photo of Chief Leatherlips.
ReplyDeleteno way !
ReplyDeleteon your property ?
did i read it right?
xx
Wow, Willow, that is fascinating. Love the cairn, the curse, and the curious story. Sorry 'bout the bad traffic, tho'. I live in a little village along the edge of Minneapolis. It's so charming, everything's within walking distance and we have a wonderful little business district. One year, before he became the Governator, Ahnold came to town to make a Christmas movie. And big honking semi's and trucks and barricades invaded our little village. I can related to the "pain in the butt" response. We villagers couldn't get to our own bakery because it was taken over by the film-making team.
ReplyDeletei love the sculpture of chief leatherlips. and his name. that's a great name.
ReplyDeleteYes, so much of our land was sacred and hallowed.
ReplyDeleteA most interesting post.
Hello Willow,
ReplyDeleteI had never heard of Wyandot indians or the Choctaws mentioned by one of your commentors. No doubt there are many other tribes that never featured in cowboy and indian films?!
Hope you don't get too wet or traffic bound!
I bet that even if they did change the date to a more dry part of the year...it would still rain. That's the way these curses go you know! ;-)
ReplyDeleteAmazing sculpture! Very original indeed!
ReplyDeleteHeh, heh, heh!
ReplyDeleteI don't have anything near as cool as a cairn of rocks but we do have our local Native American heroes.. in fact we are carving a mountain here for Crazy Horse..
ReplyDeleteGo here to see the Crazy Horse Monument
Chief Leatherlips? Sort of looks like my ex..same personality..If you happen to pass that cairn stop and say Hi!..and that Lyn sent you!!
ReplyDeleteVery interesting! Sad, though.
ReplyDeleteOooh! I think there's gonna be lots of rain. And wouldn't it be grand if your cairn was the spot?
ReplyDelete@Lady Katherine, a friend of mine is 1/2 Cherokee and knows the horrors of the "Trail of Tears", as handed down to her. Now if she'd only share her story with me...
@C.M., you're spot on about that!
Willow, wishing you many finds on your research!
It's always interesting here. Good story!
ReplyDeleteAnd that's a huge cairn.
Interesting story.
ReplyDelete"Snap!" from Leatherlips!
You have a great knack for sensing these things. You might be right. Wow.
ReplyDeleteThat is one ghost you haven't seen yet! You should keep your eye open for any transparent looking Indian chiefs!
ReplyDeleteKinda creepy as I sit here reading and the lightening and thunder go at it! :)
Hail to Chief Letherlips. You need to do some smudging with sage to calm down the Indian spirits.:-) Fascinating story.
ReplyDeletePlaying Golf On A Burial Ground.....They Should Be Afraid Every Time They Step In A Bunker...........
ReplyDeleteI do so hope it's the curse and there's no stronger magic to undo it! Fascinating tale, though. thanks for it.
ReplyDeleteGreat mystery ...and I'm all for the curse idea...if enough people believe it, maybe that causes the rain. I love the expanse of a golf club green...but really, wouln't it be better to cultivate a natural park? I know...it's not what people want to spend their money on...the tourni brings in town money...and so on...still, I just love the natural feel. Btw, don't you get the feeling that we don't know the entire story about Chief Leatherlips??? What was his real name, for example, and why was he killed from the Wyandots' perspective? Finally, is he the famous (infamous really) ghost at the manor? <3
ReplyDeleteDid "The Golden Bear" know that the grounds were an Indian burial site, I wonder?
ReplyDeleteLet it rain! Means one less golf tourney on t.v. yeah! *kidding* I love the British Open.
Kat
Oh and I forgot to remark on your lovely choice of colour for your background - I feel so at home since it's the colour on my walls. (I do rather miss the drama of the black, though.)
ReplyDeleteKat
YIPES! Did Jack Nicholas never see Poltergeist?
ReplyDeleteHow very interesting. I'm on the side of Leatherlips. I live near a golf course, I have nothing against the game itself but there is something very snobbish about golf clubs in England. Golf clubs in Scotland are quite different.
ReplyDeleteHow strange that you should have those stones on your land. I think Leatherlips would like you somehow.
I always thought it was the Chief's penchant for drinking his coffee straight from the pot that got him his nickname. Well, that's gratitude for you. I would think the Wyandots would be proud to have a golf course built over the burial grounds. I always turn on the tournaments when I want a good nap. Pappy
ReplyDeletemy hubbie is going to the memorial on tuesday this week. his company is a sponsor and he gets tickets every year. i've read of leatherlips but never the fact that he died on a cairn on willow manor. well, not until today. hee hee
ReplyDeletego leatherlips! excellent research as usual Willow!
ReplyDeleteNever breaking his promise, that's so cool. And maybe it is not so bad that the tournament is cursed: a bit of suffering for pas injustice.
ReplyDeleteIt sounds like he had a every right to curse the tournament. Be sure to fill us in on this year's doings.
ReplyDeleteReally great post Willow!
ReplyDeleteLeatherlips! LOl. What a name. Well, now I know the story. thank you. Good luck with the traffic.
ReplyDeleteWe just bought a house near this course that we are remodeling. A house that Nicklaus's film crew rented out in the 80's. Very strange things have been happening during the entire project, from nature. I complained to a friend about this and she told me about the course's curse. When I googled, I found your blog and now I'm really concerned. I'm wondering if the curse is behind all the strange mishaps. We haven't moved in yet and I'm starting to get concerned.
ReplyDeleteFrankly, I think the curse story is a load of bull. Having grown up in the area back in the 60s and 70s, I can say that it always rained around that time of year. I have yet to come across any reliable evidence that the golf course actually was built on burial grounds. If the natives wanted revenge regardless, I'm sure they could think of a better way than inconveniencing people during a sports match.
ReplyDelete