A Puca Comes to Pennsylvania
According to Irish folklore, the puca, also spelled pooka, is a paranormal spirit that can be both mischievous and helpful. It is most often seen as a black animal or half animal. The helpful side can help people understand animal speech and give them protection them from evil spirits. The puca will do household tasks and yard chores, like brownies, another legendary spirit, when it is treat benignly. Ungrateful people and grave robbers incur the puca's wrath which can take a malicious twist. Pucas are said to enjoy playing pranks on humans. But can they travel to Pennsylvania?
I believe there is a basis in reality for folklore and that our tales and legends become embroidered over time when they are handed down on by oral tradition which most have been. This is akin to the children's game of whisper down the alley where the first child whispers something in the next child's ear and what is heard from the last child usually is far different from what the first child said.
Jack Kerigan lived in Haverford, Pennsylvania. This is on the suburban Philadelphia main line. The cities that are referred to as "main line" are affluent. In the 1800s, he was the Bryn Mawr band's conductor. He loved the practice sessions in the firehall with the member of the band.
Jack would walk from his home to the firehouse and he noticed a large black following him. This began shortly after he started his walks to practice. At times, he whistled to the animal and, occasionally patted its head. Other times, he ignored the animal.
Every time he went to practice, the dog walked behind him. The animal always met him at the corner of Penn Street and Lancaster Avenue. As soon as Jack neared the firehall, he would see his friends and forgot about his canine companion.
One day, the man saw the reflection in a store window of the black animal. He was running late for practice and quickened his pace, crossing the street and scurrying down the sidewalk. He looked over his shoulder and saw that the dog was still behind him and was looking at him with black shining eyes.
He was half watching the animal and half looking at his friends. As he glanced at the large black dog, he made a remark about his loyal canine companion to the men. He told them the dog was faithful and that the animal had been following him for weeks. He mentioned that the dog always met him on the same street corner. Jack said he did not understand why because he did not talk to the dog or give him anything to eat.
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