The Bell Witch Information Center

July Bell Witch Events

noreply@blogger.com (Pat Fitzhugh) — Fri, 04 Jul 2008 18:44:00 +0000

Bell Witch Lecture and Discussion, Q&A Session
Greenbrier, TN
July 15, 2008; 7-8:30 P.M. CENTRAL
Fellowship Hall @ First Baptist Church
Highway 41 (by the stoplight)
Greenbrier, TN
~ Sponsored by the Greenbrier Historical Society ~

Radio Interview and Discussion
Shadow Talk Paranormal Radio
July 23, 2008; 7-8 P.M. EASTERN / 6-7 P.M. CENTRAL
http://www.apsrradio.com/ (link to listen is on left side of page, under donation section)

Radio Interview and Discussion
The Sacred Division
July 30, 2008
10-11 P.M. EASTERN / 9-10 P.M. CENTRAL
http://www.para-x.com/sacred/

Washington D.C. Radio Appearance

noreply@blogger.com (Pat Fitzhugh) — Tue, 06 May 2008 01:52:00 +0000

Pat Fitzhugh discusses the Bell Witch and urban legends on 106.7 WJFK-FM in the Washington D.C. area.

When: Saturday May 10 @ 9:15 P.M. EASTERN
Where: 106.7 WJFK-FM (Washington / Baltimore area)
The show will be streamed live at http://www.wjfk.com and a podcast will be available the following day.

The Bell Witch Comes of Age

noreply@blogger.com (Pat Fitzhugh) — Sat, 26 Apr 2008 05:49:00 +0000

No period in time has brought more insight and clarification to the Bell Witch legend than the 1999 – 2000 timeframe. Two key events transformed the once-regional folktale into a well-known mystery that spurred numerous television documentaries, hundreds of new articles, and a new breed of books about the subject.

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Prior to that time, very little was known about the legend’s historical background because few accounts provided significant historical insight into the people, places and events that comprised the legend. Instead, most accounts simply retold the original story.

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The historical background plays a key role in the legend because it helps lay the groundwork for new theories and provides a factual basis to compare all theories against, both old and new. It also provides us with a candid look at the people who were involved in the legend, which in turn allows us to view it from a broader perspective.

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Back in 1978, I embarked on a journey to learn everything that I possibly could about the Bell Witch legend. My research involved numerous trips to libraries, churches and courthouses in several states, as well as conducting interviews with historians, genealogists, Bell descendants, and others. My research never stopped; it continues at full speed today.

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In the early 1990s, I had a personal interest web site that included a section on the Bell Witch, which generated most of the site’s traffic. In 1998, I decided to create a separate web site for my Bell Witch interests. To keep things simple and logical, I named the new site The Bell Witch Web Site, and I registered it with the domain name, www.bellwitch.org.

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By 1999, bellwitch.org was receiving visitors from all over the U.S. and many other countries. Newer, more advanced questions were being asked, and I found myself being asked to contribute to numerous online and print publications. News media from around the world also became interested in the legend, and links to bellwitch.org began popping up everywhere.

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Later that year, by coincidence, a movie called The Blair Witch Project was released. The movie spawned additional interest in the Bell Witch and brought many interested movie fans to bellwitch.org, although there was never a direct connection between the two. The Bell Witch was now a well-known mystery, all around the world.

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Friday October 13, 2000 (not a coincidence) brought the long awaited release of The Bell Witch: The Full Account, a 406-page comprehensive guide to the legend that was based on my 22 years of research at the time. Some people called the book an encyclopedia; others called it a research guide. Since the year 2000, most accounts of the legend – printed, online, and otherwise – have drawn significantly from bellwitch.org or The Bell Witch: The Full Account, most likely because it is a “book of firsts.”

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It was the first Bell Witch book to document John Bell’s excommunication from Red River Baptist Church. The book provides both a detailed analysis of the proceedings and direct citations to the church’s records where the relevant entries can be found. An online summary of the ordeal can be found here.

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The Bell Witch: The Full Account also was the first book to debunk the popular theory that implicates Kate Batts as the culprit. This is very important because thousands of people were duped by the “Kate Did It” theory for nearly 200 years. The book analyzes the real issue between the Bell and Batts families, which is tied to Bell's excommunication from the church, and provides citations to records where the information can be found.

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It also was the first book to cover all three state versions of the legend – North Carolina, Tennessee, and Mississippi – in their entirety, within its covers. That is why the book’s title bears the phrase, “The Full Account.” While several publications mention North Carolina and Mississippi in passing, they do not tell the full Bell Witch legends associated with each state.

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The 1999-2000 timeframe was a period of revelation and rebirth for the Bell Witch legend, where recently discovered historical information brought many important facts to light and paved the way to a much deeper and better understanding of the legend.

Bell Witch Interview and Discussion

noreply@blogger.com (Pat Fitzhugh) — Wed, 23 Apr 2008 01:13:00 +0000

"Ghost Chatter" Radio Talk Show interviews Bell Witch author and historian Pat Fitzhugh

Wednesday May 14th, 8PM Eastern / 7PM Central

Show Address: www.para-x.com/live.html

Bell Witch Radio Discussion

noreply@blogger.com (Pat Fitzhugh) — Wed, 23 Apr 2008 01:01:00 +0000

Pat Fitzhugh discusses the Bell Witch legend on "Through the Keyhole" Radio Talk Show

Sunday April 27th -- 5-7 PM EASTERN / 4-6 PM CENTRAL

Listener call-in number: 1-877-786-0562

Address of show: http://www.paranormalradionetwork.com/

Lecture and Book Signing -- Smithville, TN

noreply@blogger.com (Pat Fitzhugh) — Wed, 23 Apr 2008 00:50:00 +0000

What: Two-Hour Bell Witch Lecture, Discussion, and Book Signing with Pat Fitzhugh

Where: Justin Potter Library -- 101 South First Street, Smithville, Tennessee

When: Thursday evening, October 23rd, 2008; 6PM to 8PM CENTRAL

Admission: Free (as always)

Driving Directions: http://www.mapquest.com/maps/101+S+1st+St+Smithville+TN+37166-1706/

Bell Witch Photo Album

noreply@blogger.com (Pat Fitzhugh) — Sun, 16 Mar 2008 20:13:00 +0000

I have a photo album on Flickr that showcases some of the sites in and around Adams, TN as well as other Bell Witch-related things. To see the album, click here or paste the following address into your web browswer:

http://www.flickr.com/gp/11231267@N08/x3u088

Movie Review: "An American Haunting"

noreply@blogger.com (Pat Fitzhugh) — Wed, 07 Feb 2007 08:40:00 +0000

Movie: "An American Haunting"

Year: 2006

Director: Courtney Solomon

Starring: Sissy Spacek, Donald Sutherland, Rachel Hurd-Wood

Web Site: http://www.anamericanhaunting.com

I kept two key things in mind while watching this movie: 1) they don't say it is a true story, they only say that it is BASED on a true story, and 2) there is a disclaimer at the end of the movie, stating that the ending is one of many possible outcomes and that the legend remains unsolved. I also reminded myself that it's not a "horror" movie, but simply a ghost story; horror movies and ghost stories are not the same thing.

"An American Haunting" does not follow the actual legend well. Even John Bell's death was portrayed differently, as was Kate Batts' role in the legend (assuming the real Mrs. Batts even played a role to begin with, which is debatable). Many key parts of the legend were missing; e.g., Andrew Jackson, Dr. Mize, the witch family, the revival, the stockings, the simultaneous sermons, the slaves' encounters, etc.

I thought the acting was very good as a whole. I was especially impressed with the actress who played Kate Batts. While I don't agree with the script and storyline given to Kate Batts, the actress looked the part and had a very nasty disposition. I was also impressed with Sutherland and Spacek's performances, but I expected nothing less from them.

I was disappointed with Rachel Hurd-Wood's performance, however. Her face and hair were too model-like and not pioneer-like, and her twists and jolts looked more like she was "acting them out" as opposed to actually experiencing them. I was very impressed with James D'arcy's performance as Richard Powell. Although he wasn't scripted to be dignified and pompous like the real Richard Powell, he looked the part and his disposition was right.

The filming and setting were great. It's amazing how the Romanian countryside resembles the Tennessee countryside. The house they used for the Bell house was perfect in every aspect -- it was grand, inviting yet intimidating, and homey yet creepy-looking -- a giant paradox, the perfect setting for a haunting. I was impressed with the various camera angles at different times, as well as the smooth tracking through the snow-covered terrain. I feel that a little less panning, or perhaps slower panning in certain spots, would have achieved a better effect, though.

I was pleasantly surprised to find myself being interviewed on the "special features" side of the DVD, under "Internet Promos," regarding the legend's actual background. There were also interviews with David Alford, Carney Bell, Tim Henson, and Adams Mayor, Omer Gene Brooksher.

All in all, I think "An American Haunting" is a good movie for its "movie value," but keep in mind that it's only a movie. Watch the movie and enjoy it; be afraid! And when you're done, come to bellwitch.org if you're interested in learning about the intriguing and fascinating legend behind it.

Movie Review: "The Bell Witch Haunting"

noreply@blogger.com (Pat Fitzhugh) — Wed, 07 Feb 2007 08:20:00 +0000

Movie: "The Bell Witch Haunting"

Year: 2004

Director and Producer: Ric White and Linda Thornton

Web Site: http://www.thebellwitchhaunting.com

On a warm and humid Saturday night back in 2004, I saw "The Bell Witch Haunting," which I can best describe as being a carefully researched, enlightening, and entertaining rendition of the legend. Moreover, I came away with a greater understanding and appreciation of the legend. The only other production that left me feeling that way was "The Bell Witch Story," a play that was directed and produced by the team of Ric White and Linda Thornton, the same people who have now brought "The Bell Witch Haunting" to the "big screen."

Was this a mere coincidence? I don’t think so. They "grew up" on the Bell Witch and have researched the legend extensively. Now, add the fact that they are accomplished actors and directors. This is precisely the "history meets drama" concept that I have been writing about for years, where a good Bell Witch movie comes about when historians and movie people pool their abilities and work together [WHAT A CONCEPT!].

"The Bell Witch Haunting" relates many of the original Ingram stories, as well as a few first-time accounts that are most likely rooted in the writer’s perception of what might have happened but was not related in early accounts – which is fine. The Ingram stories are portrayed as they were originally told, with dimension occasionally being added for color and depth, but not changed or embellished in any way. The stories added by the writer are seamlessly interwoven with the original story, which makes for an enhanced and more entertaining account. Writing in such a manner that the audience is presented with a cohesive, hybrid account of the legend, is a work of art – in my opinion.

No actor stood out as being better – or worse – than the others. All did an excellent job, and I applaud them relentlessly. Scenes, such as the look on James Johnston’s face when he first encountered the "Spirit," and the agony experienced by John Bell as he lay on his deathbed, give the legend a dimension that no printed work - bar none - can effectively convey. Sure, we can spend pages upon pages describing the fear and agony experienced by the characters, but a single portrayal by good actors paints a more vivid picture than written works that employ "a thousand words to paint a picture" of the agony.

The scene where Betsy Bell tried to greet visitors while in a trance was downright frightening. The pale and downtrodden look on her face -- in many scenes, actually -- serves as a vivid reminder of the abuse she endured at the hands of "Kate." I was equally impressed by the way in which the "tree lady" was alluded to in multiple scenes. It is one of the most frightening parts of the legend, and deserves more than just one scene. Job well done.

I was particularly impressed with the careful attention paid to the chronology of events, something that few published works have done. It was nice to be able to watch the events unfold in the right order; and, the carefully planned transitions made for a pleasant and sometimes comical experience.

Historical accuracy was seamlessly embedded into the movie. A case in point is the scene depicting Betsy Bell’s outdoor birthday party, where you can see breath vapor as people speak, if you look closely. How does this relate to historical accuracy? Betsy’s real birthday is in January, the coldest month of the year. "But why would anyone be so crazy as to have an outdoor party in January?" you might ask. The answer is, "the original legend says they did." But why? Ask Ingram, not the movie director - he is only trying to keep the movie accurate per the original legend.

Another example of historical accuracy is the characters themselves. In terms of age and physical appearance, they closely resemble the people being portrayed, as per historical descriptions. I was also impressed by the candlelit scenes, which help the viewer understand the household environment back in the day of John Bell.

Interweaving historical accuracy in such a manner allows the ghost story to flow freely while giving the audience a history lesson in the process.

I was pleasantly surprised by the set and camera work, and especially the director’s choice not to go overboard with special effects. The movie was filmed in middle Tennessee, not too far from where the legend took place. The only downside, which lasted only a few seconds, was the lighting in one of the outdoor scenes. It was too bright, but did not materially detract from the movie. The choice of land gives the viewer what I feel is a good picture of what the actual Bell farm might have looked like. The house on the set is not made of logs, but resembles the real one, per historical descriptions, in every other regard.

The music served its purpose well; however, if had been mixing it, I would have incorporated some spooky, wind-like sounds - or something along those lines - into the transitions between scenes. But notwithstanding, the transitions and music are fine like they are.

Whether you are a Bell Witch expert, novice, or armchair historian, I think you will enjoy and learn from "The Bell Witch Haunting." I highly recommend that you go see it and get the DVD as well – you will probably want to watch it again and again.

Bell Witch Mini-FAQ

noreply@blogger.com (Pat Fitzhugh) — Wed, 07 Feb 2007 07:19:00 +0000

Due to the huge storm of e-mail questions (now 2,000+ per day) regarding certain aspects of the Bell Witch legend, I have decided to post a "mini faq" to answer the questions asked most often.

1. Is the Bell Witch true?

The "Bell Witch" legend is a complex, interwoven mesh of fact and fiction. Some of it can be proved, and some can not. What sets the legend apart from most legends is a) the people and places were real, and b) it has withstood the test of time and it remains unsolved.

2. Did Kate Batts really have a land dispute with John Bell?

There is no record, church or otherwise, that such a dispute took place. Bell did have a dispute with a Benjamin Batts, however, regarding the sale of a slave. He was not closely related to Kate Batts. This dispute ultimately led to Bell's excommunication from the Red River Baptist Church. Bell also had a dispute with another planter, Josiah Fort, over a property line. At another point in time, Bell filed legal charges against John Arnold, another planter, because Arnold allegedly mistreated Dean, one of John Bell's slaves.

3. Did Professor Richard Powell really keep a journal?

Yes. He called it his "Ciphering Book," and it can be found at the Tennessee State Library and Archives in Nashville. Although quite lengthy, it makes no mention of the Bell family disturbances. The only reference to the Bells is the date he wed Betsy Bell. The majority of Powell's "Ciphering Book" was penned between 1815 and 1822, and it contains mostly poetry and math problems.

4. Did John Bell really encounter a wolf who attacked him, etc.?

No, probably not. According to the legend, the "entity" manifested itself in several animal-like forms, including a black, two-headed dog with an arrow-pointed tail, an ordinary dog, a bluebird, and a rabbit. The rabbit was the most popular manifestation -- it is referenced many times throughout the legend. The legend began with Bell encountering a creature with the body of a dog and the head of a rabbit, which he shot at, and it vanished.

5. Is it true that over 35 books have been written about the Bell Witch?

No. The answer is more like 20.

6. Is it true that the only people who experienced the Bell Witch were John and Betsy Bell?

Although they bore the brunt of it, John and Besty were not the only victims. The other Bell children, and there were many of them, experienced similar disturbances, but not to such a violent extent. Additionally, others in the Red River settlement also encountered the "entity," but not to such a violent extent. It is also interesting to note that Mrs. Lucy Bell, John's wife and Betsy's mother, was often treated kindly by the "entity."

7. How many Bell Witch movies are there?

To date, there are three (3): "The Bell Witch Haunting," "Bell Witch: The Movie," and "An American Haunting." Another major motion picture is in the works and will most likely happen a few years down the road.

8. Was Betsy Bell really abused as a child?

There is no evidence that she was. Only one of the many theories about the origin of the Bell Witch speculates that abuse might have taken place, but a theory is just that -- a theory -- and not an actual piece of evidence.

9. Did Lucy Bell really poison John Bell?

There is no evidence that she did, and it is highly unlikely that she had a motive. In fact, there is actually no evidence that a spirit caused his death, either. It is one of several parts of the original legend that have yet to be proved -- or disproved.

10. How did it get the name of "Witch?"

Back then, only 125 years after the Salem witch trials, people were quick to label anything that they didn't understand or which didn't go along with their spiritual beliefs, as "witchery." The name stuck, and that's what the legend has been called ever since.

The Bell Witch Legend -- An Overview

noreply@blogger.com (Pat Fitzhugh) — Tue, 06 Feb 2007 09:10:00 +0000

In the early 1800s, John Bell moved his family from North Carolina to the Red River bottomland in Robertson County, Tennessee, settling in a community that later became known as Adams. Bell purchased some land and a large log home for his family. The Bells quickly made many friends and gained prominence in the community. John Bell acquired additional land and cleared a number of fields over the next several years.

One day in 1817, Bell was inspecting his corn field when he encountered a strange-looking animal sitting in the middle of a corn row. Shocked by the appearance of this animal, which had the body of a dog and the head of a rabbit, Bell shot several times to no avail. The animal vanished. Bell thought nothing more about the incident--at least not until after dinner. That evening, the Bells began hearing "beating" sounds on the outside walls of their house.

The mysterious sounds continued with seemingly greater force each night. Bell and his sons often hurried outside to catch the culprit but always returned empty-handed. The noises were soon followed by more problems. The Bell children began waking up frightened and complaining of sounds much like rats gnawing at their bedposts. It wasn't long until the children began complaining of more terrifying events, such as having their bed covers pulled and their pillows tossed onto the floor by a seemingly invisible force.

As time went on, the Bells heard even more strange noises. Only this time, they sounded like faint, whispering voices, too weak to understand but similar to a feeble old woman crying or singing hymns. The encounters escalated, and the Bells youngest daughter, Betsy, began experiencing physically brutal encounters with the entity. It relentlessly pulled her hair and slapped her, often leaving visible prints on her face and body for days at a time. The evil disturbances escalated over the next year to the point it was time for John Bell to share his "family trouble" with his closest friend and neighbor, James Johnston.

Johnston and his wife spent the night at the Bell home, where they were subjected to the same terrifying disturbances that the Bells had been. After having his bedcovers repeatedly removed, and being slapped, Johnston sprang out of bed, asking, "I ask you in the name of the Lord God, who are you and what do you want?" There was no response of any type, but the remainder of the night was peaceful.

As word of the disturbances spread throughout the community, so did the entity's antics. Over time, the its voice strengthened to the point it was loud and understandable. It sang hymns, quoted scripture, carried on intelligent conversation, and once quoted, word-for-word, two sermons that took place at the same time thirteen miles apart. During none of this time did anyone know who or what the entity was, or its purpose for tormenting the Red River Settlement. Word eventually spread outside the settlement, even as far as Nashville, where one Andrew Jackson became interested.

John Bell, Jr. and Jesse Bell fought under General Andrew Jackson in the Battle of New Orleans, and had developed a good rapport with him. In 1819, Jackson got word of the disturbances at the Bell home and decided to pay a personal visit. Jackson and his entourage, consisting of several men and a large wagon, journeyed from Nashville to the Bell home. As the entourage approached the Bell property, the wagon suddenly stopped. The horses tried pulling but to no avail -- the wagon simply would not move.

After several minutes of cursing and trying to get the wagon to move, Jackson exclaimed that it must have been the "witch." As soon as Jackson uttered these words, an unidentified female voice spoke, telling Jackson and his men that they could proceed, and that "she" would see them again later that evening. The men were finally allowed to continue.

Jackson and John Bell had a long discussion about the Indians and other topics while Jacksons men patiently waited to see if the "spirit" was going to manifest itself. One of the men in Jacksons entourage claimed to be a "witch tamer." After several uneventful hours, this man decided to "call" the "spirit." He pulled out a shiny pistol and made his intent to kill the "spirit" known to all that were present.

Almost immediately, the man began screaming and moving his body in many different directions. He said he was being stuck with pins and being severely beaten. The man quickly ran out the door, and the "spirit" announced that there was yet one more "fraud" in Jacksons party, and that he would be identified on the following evening. Terrified, Jacksons men begged to leave the Bell farm. Jackson insisted on staying so that he could find out who the other "fraud" was. Jackson and his men eventually went out to the field to sleep in their tents, and the men continued to beg and plead with Jackson to leave.

Jackson maintained the position that he wanted to know whom the other "fraud" in his party was. However, by mid-day the next day, Jackson and his men had already left the Bell farm and were seen going through Springfield. Jackson, a hero in the Battle of New Orleans, was later quoted as having said, "Id rather fight the entire British Army than to deal with the Bell Witch." Jackson later became President of the United States.

Over time, Betsy Bell became interested in Joshua Gardner, a young man who lived not far from her. With the blessings of their parents, they agreed to engagement. Nevertheless, despite their evident happiness, the "spirit" repeatedly told Betsy not to marry Joshua Gardner. It is interesting to note that their schoolteacher, Richard Powell, was noticeably interested in Betsy and wanted to marry her when she became older. Powell was believed to have been a student of the occult, and had been secretly married to a woman in nearby Nashville for some time.

Betsy and Joshua could not go to the river, the field, or the cave to play, without the "spirit" following along and persistently taunting them. Betsy and Joshuas patience finally reached critical mass, and on Easter Monday of 1821, Betsy met Joshua at the river and broke off their engagement. The encounters decreased after that heartbreaking Easter Monday, although the "spirit" continued to express its dislike for "ol Jack Bell," and relentlessly vowed to kill him. As Bell's health grew worse, the "spirit" would torture him more severely, sometimes removing his shoes from his feet and relentlessly slapping his face while he was experiencing seizures.

On the morning of December 20, 1820, after a long battle with a crippling nervous system disorder, John Bell breathed his last breath. Immediately after Bells death, the family found a small vial of unidentified liquid that Bell had partaken of the evening before his death. John Bell, Jr. gave some of the liquid to the familys cat, and the cat died almost instantly. The "spirit" suddenly spoke up exclaiming, "I gave Ol' Jack a big dose of that last night, and that fixed him." John, Jr. quickly threw the vial into the fireplace, where it shot up the chimney in the form of a bright, blue flame. As family and friends began to leave John Bells burial site, the "spirit" laughed loudly and sang a cheerful song about a bottle of brandy.

In April of 1821, the "spirit" visited Lucy Bell and told her that "it" would return in seven years for a visit. Seven years later, in 1828, the "spirit" returned as promised. Most of this visit centered around John Bell, Jr. The "spirit" discussed with him such things as the origin of life, Christianity, the need for a mass spiritual reawakening, and other in-depth topics. Of particular significance were the "spirits" predictions of the Civil War, World War I, the Great Depression, and World War II.

After three weeks, the "spirit" bade farewell, promising to visit John Bells most direct descendant in 107 years. The year would have been 1935, and the closest direct descendant was Charles Bailey Bell, a physician in Nashville. Charles Bailey Bell himself wrote a book about the "Bell Witch," but it had been published prior 1935. No follow-up was ever published; Bell died in 1945.

Today, the "spirit" that haunted the Bell family nearly 200 years ago is believed by many to be the source of numerous manifestations in the area where the story took place. Some believe that when the "spirit" returned in 1935, it took residence in Adams, Tennessee, once a part of the Bell farm. The faint sounds of people talking and children playing can sometimes be heard in the area. It is also difficult to take a good picture there.

Several years ago, one of John Bell's descendants was rabbit hunting and shot a rabbit, which wandered into some dense brush. While searching, he felt a large rock underneath the brush where the rabbit had entered. The rock turned out to be a part of Joel Egbert Bell's tombstone, and the rabbit was never found. In the mid 1990s, a picture was taken of a girl sitting on a rock outside the entrance to the cave. When the picture was developed, there appeared to be a man standing behind her. Upon expert examination, it was determined that the man-like image was not a double-exposure, but an entirely separate entity.

It has also been said that if you visit the fields of the old Bell farm on cold and rainy nights, you can sometimes see small lights gliding over the fields and dancing in the dell.

The cause of the Bells torment nearly 200 years ago and today's horrid manifestations has remained a mystery. Numerous versions and theories that purportedly explain the cause of the disturbances abound, and vary from person to person. The only constant is that there was "something" wrong on the Bell farm in the early 1800s, and there is still "something" wrong at the old Bell farm today, nearly 200 years later. It happened to the John Bell family in 1817. Maybe next time it will happen to your family. Pleasant Dreams.