Bell witch legend nearly 200 years old the abuse continued until the year after betsy bells father, john, died in 1820 at about age 70. President andrew jackson is alleged to have investigated in person, but fled to nashville after his coach wheels mysteriously malfunctioned. According to the legend, the first manifestation of the haunting occurred in 1817 when john bell, sr. To give you a bit of background, i grew up reading charles edwin prices books on local folklore. The spirit took credit for his death, stating she poisoned. National register of historic places continuation sheet. National register of historic places continuation sheet bell witch cave section number 7 page 1 robertson county, tennessee description note. The infamous bell witch of tennessee is a good, thorough account of the bell witch. I have visited adams and the bell witch cave many times and have enjoyed every trip that i have taken to the area.
Known throughout tennessee as old kate, the bell witch took up residence with john bells family in 1818. The story is based on a 19 th century family from adams, tennessee. I learned about the novel when i accidentally met the author at a distancelearning training at rutgers university. The bell witch information page adams, tennessee true. After 11 years of frightening phenomena, the witch vowed in 1828 to return in 107 years. The story of the bell witch has been a mainstay around campfires in the tennessee area for many years. The film is an international coproduction between the united kingdom, canada. Media in category bell witch the following 9 files are in this category, out of 9 total. The bell farm is in a secluded area in adams, tennessee and it is a very beautiful representation of the state of tennessee with its rolling green hills and farm land. The legend of the bell witch is part of tennessee history and is still taught in schools today. If you are interested in paranormal activity or if you are a history buff then the bell witch cave and farm will definately not dissapoint.
It was a cruel and noisy spirit, given to rapping and gnawing sounds before it found its voices. If you are interested in learning more about the legend, this book is for. Bell private cemetery, robertson county, tn education. With joshua gardners departure, the witchs appearances became fewer and fewer. This extraordinary book recounts the only documented case in u. The bells purchased 328 acres of farm land along the red river. I highly recommend this book to students of the paranormal. May some of ebooks not available on your country and only available for those who subscribe and depend to the source of library websites. Infamous bell witch of tennessee book by charles edwin price.
It is the greatest, unsolved haunting in the world, and is also the only known entity to kill a human. Charles bailey bell himself wrote a book about the bell witch, but it had been published prior 1935. The bell witch cave is a karst cave located in adams, tennessee. The bell witch story theatrical production to be performed october 911, 1618, 2325 and 2931, 2008. According to the annals of supernatural history, the story of the bell witch started in 1817 when the bell family, prosperous farmers from tennessee, began experiencing strange phenomena in their home. Pat fitzhugh has written two books about the bell witch. The bell witch haunted the bell home in tennessee in the early 1800s. The bell witch cave is a karst cave located in adams, tennessee near where the bell farm once stood.
With these voices and its supernatural acts, the bell witch tormented the bell family. The latter is based on brent monahans rendition, the bell witch. Spirit the authentic story of the bell witch of tennessee. The cave is privately owned, and tours are given during the summer months and in october.
A brief history of the bell witch hauntings and a visit to. Bell witch museum kate, americas nuttiest poltergeist, slapped children, sang hymns, and harassed the poor bell family. Bell witch books about the bell witch legend of tennessee bell witch books about the bell witch legend of tennessee. Find ghost tours in adams tennessee the bell witch. The strange true story of the bell witch of tennessee. Bell witch cave and cabin adams 2020 all you need to. If you didnt already know it, the 90s movie blair witch project is based off of this legend. Presenting the 2015 bell witch fall festival in adams, tennessee.
The cave and cabin tours are very informative and stick fairly close to the legend of the bell haunting as documented in many books. Supposedly, she still haunts the area, around the river. Psychic says she knows real story behind bell witch. Later in the spring of 1821, the witch suddenly announced that it was leaving, but it promised to return in seven years. In 1828, when the seven years were up, things had changed radically at the bell farm. An american haunting by monahan, brent and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. Kate is still an almost tangible presence, and whenever something out of the ordinary happens, the residents around here are likely to shrug their shoulders and. We will begin in adams, tennessee at the john bell farm. The secrets of bell river this ebook list for those who looking for to read the secrets of bell river, you can read or download in pdf, epub or mobi. Electronic edition pdf first appearing in an 1894 publication, this 1846 manuscript penned by john bell\s son is believed to be the only written eyewitness account of the \bell.
A play about the events that happened to the bell family in 1804. The witch was actually a poltergeist, which performed annoying acts like throw things around and scream or knock loudly at all hours. There are many books written about the famous bell witch of tennessee. In 2005 the story received national attention when it served as the basis for the movie an american haunting starring sissy spacek and donald sutherland. If you have not read this book, which is 100% true, then you have never really read a true horror story. Ingram insisted that much of his information was gleaned from the diary of a son of john bell, richard, who wrote about the events in a manuscript titled my familys troubles, of the. He is a central figure in the bell witch ghost story of southern american folklore. Could not read or write more about john bell and lucy williams. But soon members of the family were scratched, kicked, and slapped by a spirit who identifies herself as a witch named kate batts. The story of the bell witch has reached the status of folklore in tennessee and much of the south, but around adams, tennessee, the witch is much more than just a musty old legend.
I first came across the bell witch in high school, from a little red book titled an authenticated history of the bell witch by martin van buren ingram. The bell witch story was the inspiration for the movie an american haunting starring sissy spacek and donald sutherland. The official home of the bell witch an american haunting. Presented by community spirit and the city of adams tennessee. In most versions of the legend, the bell witch commonly known as kate began tormenting john bell and his family in modernday adams, tennessee sometime in 1817. A very interesting book on one of americas most prominent hauntings, the bell witch of adams, tennessee. The year would have been 1935, and the closest direct living descendant of john bell was charles bailey bell, a physician in nashville. The latter is an extensive 406page account that contains discussion notes and a wealth of history, theories, and perspectives about the legend. I liked the fact that the author threw in some relevant history so i could get a better idea of the time frame of the bell witch visitations. This was the first book published about the bell witch, and it was published 75 years after the hauntings. Also more than 40 books have been written about the witch. Bell witch photo page haunted images horror pictures. It is very likely that the family stories were exaggerated with. The secrets of bell river pdf download full download pdf.
In 1817, bell contracted a mysterious affliction that worsened over. Infamous bell witch of tennessee by charles edwin price. The bell witch may be one of the most famous supernatural stories in american history. It is considered to be the most well documented haunting in american history. Being born and raised in tennessee my entire life, the bell witch is common knowledge. The tennessee theater company will perform the original the bell witch story play production which was the basis for the bell witch haunting movie. Try to make the book our family trouble the story of the bell witch of tennessee as your good friend. The haunting of the bell family at their home in tennessee started out harmless enough with knocking and scratching noises.
The legend of the bell witch the true story of tennessee. John bell, the father, died during the bell witchs tenure. The story of the bell witch, which crosses over into folklore, has influenced a number of movies including the blair witch project and an american haunting. Worth a stop if you live nearby i have always wanted to go see the bell witch cabin and cave. An american haunting is a 2005 horror film written and directed by courtney solomon and starring donald sutherland, sissy spacek, james darcy, and rachel hurdwood. John bell 1750 20 december 1820 was an american farmer whose death was attributed to supernatural causes. Kate bates, was supposedly, the witch that haunted red river, tennessee. The tales of the bell witch haunting were passed down from source to source before being written in an 1894 book, so details vary.