Book Review for Something Wicked: The Bell Witch Phenomenon

Title: Something Wicked! The Bell Witch Phenomenon

Author: Dewey Edwards

Copyright: 2017

Amazon Purchase Link

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It's not often that I find a book of paranormal nonfiction that I'm just absolutely blown away by, but I'm willing to give that honor to Something Wicked! by Dewey Edwards! This is such a well-written, well-researched, and most importantly, interesting and READABLE book that I seriously cannot praise it enough.

I first became acquainted with Mr. Edwards and his work through our mutual interests in the paranormal community, often tuning into Wild and Weird Radio's Thursday live streams on YouTube. Dewey has been a guest several times on the podcast himself, breaking records with the number of listeners, interactions, and program length (Beyond the Bell Witch  and  Return of the Bell Witch). And, it was all well deserved. He's one of those researchers that is so knowledgeable and can talk so easily on a subject, but can do so in a manner that is never dry or boring or preachy. It's simply entertaining.

That ability to tell a story shines through his writing as well. 

Something Wicked! begins with the Bell Family's trip from North Carolina to their new home in Tennessee. As we follow along with the family's struggles to build a new and prosperous life for themselves in this wilderness, we really get a glimpse into who the Bells were. We also get a really good picture of what the world as a whole was going through during this time period. I find it fascinating that this is the first time I've ever really seen 'outside' events being mentioned as part of the Bell Witch story. Shortly after arriving in Tennessee, the area where the Bells settled was rocked by a series of earthquakes and aftershocks that had people convinced that the End Times were upon them. Then in 1815, the Tambour volcano in Indonesia erupted, which would result in the following summer being as cold as winter and many crops failing. The world was in turmoil...but soon that turmoil would turn very personal for John Bell and his family, especially his daughter, Betsy.

Because I'm somewhat of a paranormal nerd, I probably know a little more about the Bell Witch 'haunting' than your average person, but this book was packed with details about the activities of the witch and other little family anecdotes of note that I have never come across in casual reading. However, it's important to point out that these facts weren't just shoved into the text---the story was really well laid out and flowed smoothly in a sensible fashion. There was enough detail to get the full picture AND to explain historical concepts that most readers wouldn't be familiar with without over-doing it. Source citations were available to give the text more of an academic feel, but it was so interesting, it really read like a fascinating novel...complete with photographs!

I don't want to give too much away, because I really want to encourage you to pick up a copy of this book for your own library! Even if you think you know everything there is to know on this strange case of weird US history, I guarantee you'll learn SOMETHING new. At the very least, you'll be in for a fun, easy read on a really cool topic. And who knows, maybe you'll even solve the mystery as to WHO or WHAT the Bell Witch actually WAS:  ghost? spirit? witch? poltergeist? demon? Or something completely different???

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1950 Rectangular UFO Over Charleston

Photo Source

This month,Theresa's Haunted History blog has been filled with UFO stories! I didn't plan on it, but it's been an interesting ride, documenting some of West Virginia's forgotten cases of strange objects in the skies. For the last day of the month, I've got yet another saucer tale for ya!

So, back in the Spring of 1950, there was somewhat of a significant UFO flap occurring across the Mountain State. Between March 14th and March 18th, UFOs were seen in both Bluefield and in Fairmont. But, a month later, on April 8, 1950 another UFO was spotted over the skies of Charleston. The report was published in the 13 April 1950 edition of The Leader (Hinton, WV). It states that Mrs. Hazel Lewis, a Statehouse telephone operator, saw a RECTANGULAR shaped craft flying at a terrific speed. It circled the area, high above the city, then shot straight up and out of sight. It did all of this without making any noticeable sound. 

What's interesting is that up until Mrs. Lewis' sighting, all the flying saucers being reported around the area were described as round or saucer shaped. No one had reported such an angular craft. Did Mrs. Lewis simply misidentify a saucer-shaped UFO, possibly based on her angle of viewing it? Or, was she lucky enough to be one of the first to witness a new type of flying saucer, different from those previously recorded in West Virginia and beyond? Today, there are actually quite a few reports of rectangular shaped UFOs, but even still, they pale in comparison to other forms. Let me know your thoughts in the comments below, and remember to keep your eyes to the skies! 

Ghost Is a Crazy Man

I don't often share too many old articles about ghost sightings outside of West Virginia, but I came across this interesting piece from Wilkesbarre, Pennsylvania in the May 16, 1915 edition of the Sunday Telegram (Clarksburg, WV) and just had to share it. It is one of the most absurd things I've read in quite awhile...and I read some weird stuff.

So, apparently, a musician/hypnotist named Joseph Androlavage suffered some type of mental breakdown. As a result, he donned a white sheet and terrorized Georgetown citizens with a gun. Yeah. A GUN. This 'ghost' was armed with a pistol. 

In one incident, Androlavage stalked a man named John Daley, and gave him a letter about how his time was soon to come. The letter was signed 'Black Hand.' Four shots of a pistol into the ground were part of this exchange between Androlavage and Daley, and smartly, Daley got the heck out of there. Luckily, some young men from the area were able to safely apprehend Androlavage. 

But, was Androlavage really the "ghost??" 

Although it didn't make it into this West Virginia newspaper until May, the incident with Mr. John Daley actually occurred back in March of 1915 and was written about in the local papers. But, a follow-up story appeared in the March 31, 1915 edition of the Times Leader (Wilkesbarre, PA).  This article, found below, states that Mr. Androlavage claims that he was NOT the ghost, nor did he even own a gun. His friends attested to his character, and believe that the false claims against him were the work of practical jokers. The author of the article seemed to agree that Mr. Androlavage was too sensible for such behavior, and since no other follow-ups can be found at this time, I guess the mystery of Black Hand remains just that: a mystery. 

Spook Hollow Farm

West Virginia folklore is FULL of ghost stories involving murdered peddlers, killed for the money they carried on them as they traveled the state, selling their wares to every holler and village they came across. Ruth Ann Musick, popular folklorist and author, collected tons of these tales, which she published in books such as The Tale-Tell Lilac Bush and Coffin Hollow. But, in most cases the hauntings associated with these violent crimes involves people seeing the ghost of the murdered peddler himself. I recently came across a story where the peddler surprisingly seems to be resting in peace---and those accused of the murder are the ones haunting the area!

On February 11, 1975, The Charleston Daily Mail ran an interesting piece by columnist, Adrian Gwin. The title of the piece was "Farming's Good, But...It's SPOOOOOKY at Spook Hollow!"

That winter, Mr. Gwin visited the W.D. Brannan family at their farm, located on Pigeon Run in Amma, WV. Mr. Brannan, along with his wife Deloris and 13 year old son, Jerry, welcomed Mr. Gwin to the modern, working farm known as Spook Hollow Farm. According to the article, W.D. Brannan spent 35 years working at Columbia Gas in Charleston, WV. Around 1955, he bought the farm in Amma and when he retired, made it his family's home base. While traveling extensively in their RV, the Brannans always returned to Spook Hollow where they worked diligently, growing and canning produce and raising Angus cattle. 

The family claims that they've had no run-ins with ghosts, spooks, or haints at the farm, so just how exactly did Spook Hollow become Spook Hollow??

According to legend, back in the days of the early pioneers to the area, a French peddler was robbed and murdered. Although it was later revealed that two white guys were the culprits, that didn't stop the residents from accusing two young Native Americans. They caught the two, and brought them to an old white oak tree to be hanged.  As the ghost story goes, when the rain falls gently, and the wind blows through the trees, you can stand beside the stump of that former grand oak tree and hear the two hanged Native Americas moaning, "Don't doooo it!"

Interestingly, although the family has never encountered the ghosts of the murdered Indians, upon leaving the family for the evening and stopping to get a closer look at the stump in the gentle rain, got quite the shock! Feeling a noose slide around his neck, he panicked...but only for a moment. It was then he realized it was nothing more than an errant tree branch that had gotten caught under his chin. A simple enough explanation...but perhaps a friendly little reminder from the spirits to remember their story. 

Local Haunts with the St. Albans Paranormal Discussion Group

L to R: Barry, Theresa, Kaysee and Dan

Next month will be the one-year anniversary of the St. Albans Paranormal Discussion Group! This awesome collection of paranormal enthusiasts was brought together by Angie Breeden and a young man named Barry who had a passion for the paranormal. Meeting every month on the last Wednesday of the month, it's been nearly a year of awesome speakers covering a variety of paranormal topics, from ghosts to Bigfoot, to UFOlogy, and everything in between. I was extremely fortunate to be the first speaker last March, covering the topic of WV Cemetery Legends and Hauntings. Brian joined me and we were able to also discuss a little about Spectral Research and Investigations (SRI) and some of our experiences.

It was an awesome time, and I continued to go to the monthly meetings as often as my schedule allowed me to! After taking a brief hiatus for the holiday season, the group started back up in January with an awesome discussion on Fairies, led by Krista Antis. It continued this month, and once again, I was fortunate enough to get to lead the discussion!

The topic of the talk this month was Local Hauntings, and you all know that I LOVE talking about the haunted hot spots throughout West Virginia and beyond, as well as all the ghost stories and historical research that go with them. I've collected quite a few haunted locations for my Haunted WV page here on the blog, but there are so, so many more places that I haven't yet found the time to add. I picked a handful of these locations close to the St. Albans area that I thought were both interesting, but also accessible to people to visit. A few of the spots mentioned were the Scary Creek Battlefield in Scott Depot, the Dunbar Wine Cellars, and Fairview Grade School in St. Albans. 

I also tried to give a brief overview of what actually constitutes a 'haunting' and the different types of hauntings one may encounter. But, the fun part was when the group started sharing THEIR favorite haunted locations, and their experiences at the places I brought up and elsewhere. It was a great discussion, and we didn't wrap it up until about 8pm! 

As always, it's so much fun getting together with others who share my passion for all things spooky! AS a special treat, Kaysee and Dan from SRI came out to support me and attend their first meeting with the St. Albans Paranormal Discussion Group! Also, in addition to some of our regulars, including the WV Unseen investigation group, we had some new people from Charleston join us, which was awesome. The St. Albans Paranormal Discussion Group is a safe place where everyone is welcome to come and share their own stories and experiences, and ask questions without fear of being judged. I can't say enough how happy I am to have this resource so close to home. I encourage everyone in the area to come check it out if they can. Again, we meet  at 6pm on the last Wednesday of the month in the St. Albans Historical Society building. Please follow the St. Albans Paranormal Discussion Group's Facebook Page for info on upcoming meetings and speakers. Hope to see ya there! 

Public Art: Mothman in Charleston

In addition to my passion for all things paranormal, I'm also a huge fan of local art and artists...especially when their subject matter is ABOUT the paranormal! Luckily, I live in the Charleston area, which is a wonderful location to see a variety of public art installations from a variety of different artists. 

One such place to take in the colorful paintings from around the area is right under the Interstate 64 bridge, between downtown Charleston and the West Side. Thanks to an awesome project now known as Gallery 64 (formerly Peer to Pier), the otherwise mundane concrete pillars supporting the interstate have been transformed into works of art! Driving under the bridge, there's a ton of really cool murals gracing many of the pillars, but one in particular is MY absolute favorite!

In 2016, another phase of the project kicked off, and among the murals added was The Mothman by Kelly Bryant! Featuring WV's famous red-eyed monster flying over the Silver Bridge through a gray sky, this pillar is hands-down the coolest one of the bunch (okay, they're ALL really, really awesome, but come on...MOTHMAN). 

Anyway, I've driven past this so many times, but until I decided to feature it here on Theresa's Haunted History, I wasn't sure who the artist was. I was pleasantly surprised to find out that I was actually somewhat familiar with the artist and her work! Kelly Bryant was born in Gallipolis, OH and grew up in the Pliny area of Putnam County, WV, so she was right in the heart of Mothman Country. As a result, much of her artwork is inspired by West Virginia folklore, especially Appalachian music and of course, Appalachian ghost and monster tales. 

She is a staple at the annual Mothman Festival and related events, where she sells her art. I actually own THREE of her spooky stained glass pieces, and will hopefully be adding a print or two of some of her pastel or acrylic pieces. She's an awesome artist who deals in different mediums as well as different subject matter. I'm still partial to her spooky pieces, though! 

If you see her out and about at different festivals, definitely check out her booth. Her prices are extremely reasonable, and if you can't make it to her in person, please see her ETSY SHOP.  And, if you're in the Charleston area, take a drive under the interstate and check out The Mothman, located on the corner of Lee Street West and Pennsylvania Avenue. 

Learn More About Gallery 64

Article About Kelly Bryant from In Focus

'Get Away' From This Haunted House!

The Baltimore Sun
12 September 1915

I applaud this un-named gentleman and his bravery! Back in September of 1915, there was an old house located in Lawrence County, Ohio that had developed a reputation for being haunted. Located just outside the small town of Getaway, the home was formerly owned by Reverend Elisha Thacker, a Baptist minister who had passed away back in 1910. 

In the five years since the Reverend's passing only one family had rented the vacant home, but was so spooked they had to leave after just one night. After that, no one dared set foot in the home, either in daylight nor at night. They did, however, find the courage to throw a countless number of rocks through the window at the alleged goblins. 

But that all changed that September when finally, one guy decided to enter the house. He reported that he found no signs of ghosts or goblins in the former Thacker residence...just lots and lots and lots of rocks. 

I'm pretty sure the old 'haunted' house is gone, but you can still visit the Thackers in their final resting place at the Harmony Baptist Cemetery. Reverend Thacker, who was born in 1828, served during the Civil War as a chaplain with the Union Army. He and his first wife, Melcina/Melceda lived in Wayne County, WV before settling in Lawrence County, Ohio and establishing a church there. When Melcina died, she became the first person buried in the Harmony Baptist Cemetery. Reverend Thacker would follow on August 20, 1910, and his 2nd wife, Josephine, would be laid to rest in 1931. 

There's a funny story related to Elisha Thacker and the naming of the town of Getaway. The little town was previously known as Unionville, or even Russell's Place until one day in 1870 when a surly stranger stopped by the Thacker property to chat with the reverend, who happened to be building a fence along the road. The stranger didn't seem too impressed with the area, and when he asked the name of the location, a frustrated Thacker replied with 'Get Away!' The stranger noted that it was a fitting name for such a town, and thus, the legend of how Getaway got its name was born!

It's too bad that this haunting was 'debunked'---I have my reservations based on lack of information in the article, lol. Just because one dude says it isn't haunted doesn't PROVE anything, just the same as you can't prove that it IS haunted. Anyway, I rather enjoy the possibility of a haunted house with the ghost of an old Reverend just yelling "Get Away!!!" at passersby!

Further Reading:

The Lawrence Register

Find-a-Grave