The story of the Witches' Tree is often underplayed as a whimsical tale of how a strange tree in Louisville's historic district came to be.  However, the truth is much more disturbing and horrifying involving the deadliest tornado event in the history of the United States.

 

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Sources:

3 Apr 1890, 2—The Greenville Journal at Newspapers.com. (n.d.). World Collection. Retrieved January 18, 2021, from http://newscomwc.newspapers.com/image/652924466/?terms=%22tornado%22%22Louisville%22&match=1

 

28 Mar 1890, Page 20—Logansport Pharos-Tribune at Newspapers.com. (n.d.). World Collection. Retrieved January 18, 2021, from http://newscomwc.newspapers.com/image/4266239/?terms=%22storm%20demon%22&match=1

 

29 Mar 1890, 1—Memphis Daily Commercial at Newspapers.com. (n.d.). World Collection. Retrieved January 18, 2021, from http://newscomwc.newspapers.com/image/586983136/?terms=%22storm%20demon%22&match=1

 

29 Mar 1890, 1—The Buffalo Commercial at Newspapers.com. (n.d.). World Collection. Retrieved January 18, 2021, from http://newscomwc.newspapers.com/image/269471310/?terms=%22storm%20demon%22&match=1

 

29 Mar 1890, 5—The Morning Post at Newspapers.com. (n.d.). World Collection. Retrieved January 18, 2021, from http://newscomwc.newspapers.com/image/409953020/?terms=%22tornado%22%22Louisville%22&match=1

 

29 Mar 1890, Page 1—The Record-Union at Newspapers.com. (n.d.). World Collection. Retrieved January 18, 2021, from http://newscomwc.newspapers.com/image/85658032/?terms=%22tornado%22%22Louisville%22&match=1

 

A Scene of Ruin. (n.d.). ArcGIS StoryMaps. Retrieved January 22, 2021, from https://storymaps.arcgis.com/stories/a98efe3cb3f340b88d10079e10299e87

 

Dominé, D. (n.d.). Ghost story | The wicked witches’ tree. The Courier-Journal. Retrieved January 18, 2021, from https://www.courier-journal.com/story/entertainment/2015/10/29/ghost-story-wicked-witches-tree/74680150/

 

Fujita scale. (2021). In Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Fujita_scale&oldid=998728230

 

KET - Kentucky Educational Television. (2019, October 31). The Witches Tree in Louisville | Kentucky Life | KET. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-lAQ3pfiwIc

 

Limke, A. (2020, May 22). Bizarre Circumstances, History, And Mystery Combine At The Witches’ Tree In Kentucky. OnlyInYourState. https://www.onlyinyourstate.com/kentucky/witches-tree-ky/

 

Lumber truck, Louisville, Kentucky, 1928.: Caufield & Shook Collection. (n.d.). Retrieved January 24, 2021, from http://digital.library.louisville.edu/cdm/ref/collection/cs/id/3489

 

March 1890 middle Mississippi Valley tornado outbreak. (2020). In Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=March_1890_middle_Mississippi_Valley_tornado_outbreak&oldid=976255968

 

US Department of Commerce, N. (n.d.). Tornadoes of March 27, 1890. NOAA’s National Weather Service. Retrieved January 22, 2021, from https://www.weather.gov/lmk/tornado_climatology_march271890

 

Witches Curse Louisville, the Tale of the Witches’ Tree. (n.d.). Retrieved January 18, 2021, from https://spectrumnews1.com/ky/lexington/news/2019/10/30/witches-curse-louisville--the-tale-of-the-witches--tree

 

TRANSCRIPT:

Hello and welcome to another episode of Crimes & Witch-Demeanors, I’m your host, Joshua Spellman.  I feel like every week this year has felt like a month…how is it only the end of January?  Sorry there was no episode last week—my computer broke and I had no way of  recording.  So suffice to say that last week was a whirlwind and I cannot even begin to imagine what this week will bring.  Oh, that’s right, a whirlwind!  Because on today’s episode we’re covering the legend of Louisville’s Witch Tree and the storm that sprouted it: the Storm Demon.  But we’ll talk more about that name and poor reporting later.

This is a case where the truth is stranger than fiction…or at least more disturbing.  The articles I’ve read about the legend of the witch tree made it seem like the Storm Demon was this little itty bitty tornado that swept through Louisville destroying one neighborhood and all was well…but all of the articles about the Witch Tree left out that this tornado was part of a mass casualty event with hundreds dead.  So, without further ado let’s hear the legend as it’s typically told and then learn the horrifying truths of what really transpired.

 

 

On the corner of Sixth and Park, in Louisville, Kentucky, stood a large, tall maple; straight as a pole.  It had been there for centuries and provided shade to the citizens of Louisville by day…but by night, below its leafy crown that stretched upwards towards the stars, witches would gather to cast their spells and worship their old gods.  Or, as some may mistakenly believe: the devil.  However, in 1889 a chain of events would be set into motion that would topple not only this sacred maple, but half the city of Louisvile.

 

Mr. Mengel, of the famous Mengel Lumber Company, was head of the city’s planning committee and was scouting for trees to be used for Louisville’s May Day celebration when he laid his eyes upon the majestic maple.  He knew that he had to have that tree, it was so tall and so straight, it was born to be a May pole.  The news quickly reached the ears of the witches, perhaps even before the thoughts formed in Mr. Mengel’s mind. 

 

One night, under the cover of darkness and a velvet hood, the priestess of the coven knocked on Mr. Mengel’s door.  He answered, displeased, and she implored him not to cut down their beloved maple.

 

“I will do no such thing!” he bellowed.

 

“Please sir, I beg you to consider your actions very carefully.  I will ask once more for you to please not fell our sacred tree.”

 

“And I will tell you once more that I will be chopping down that tree”

 

“Very well,” the priestess said calmly, looking up from beneath her hood, “I asked you nicely and you refused, now you shall face the consequences.”

 

Before Mr. Mengel could even ask what she meant dozens of cloaked figures emerged from all directions: from behind the trees, around the street corners, and some even seeming to appear out of thin air.  They slowly began to gather together, holding hands as they chanted:

 

This tree shall stand and not be cut,

We’ve fed her with our laughter.

Our leafy haven you’ll not gut.

Or pay forever after.

 

But if you, Wooden King, prevail,

And Mother Maple dies,

The force of Fate shall strike this town

And right between the eyes.

 

If our tree falls, yes, Fate will call

To teach you, heartless Dunce,

That all man’s work can disappear.

BEWARE ELEVENTH MONTH!

 

And just as quickly as they appeared, they were gone.  Leaving only the head witch on Mr. Mengel’s doorstep.  “Don’t say I didn’t warn you Wooden King.  Remember, wood burns.”  She smiled a wry smile, swept her cloak, turned on her heel, and disappeared into the night.

 

Mr.