Burkittsville
From Blair Witch
Contents |
[edit] Geography
Burkittsville is located in western Maryland. The shallow Tappy East Creek runs on the east boundry of town and a railroad runs by to the north. The Black Hills Forest is located just outside of town. When the town was founded, it encompassed three thousand acres.
[edit] History
[edit] Founding
During construction of a railway through western Maryland in 1823, one of the railway workers went for a ride on his horse and got lost. He eventually stumbled onto an old road that led into what had once been Blair. Peter Branwell Burkitt, a friend of the man was contacted and convinced to survey the land. The area was developed and named Burkittsville in 1824. Settlers quickly moved into the area, particularly German immigrants, who were mostly Lutheran in religion.
[edit] The Blair Witch
For centuries, Burkittsville has been home to the enduring legend of the Blair Witch. Whenever terrible things happen in the community there is a tendency to blame the Blair Witch.
At the first annual Wheat Harvest Picnic in 1825, ten-year-old Eileen Treacle was seen being pulled into Tappy East Creek by a ghostly white hand reaching out of the water. Her body was never found, and afterwards the creek became contaminated with oily bundles of sticks for thirteen days.
In 1886, young Robin Weaver alledgedly followed a woman who's feet didn't touch the ground into a house in the woods. A search party was dispatched, but while Robin later returned, the search party didn't. A second search party found the group disemboweled at Coffin Rock. When they returned to the site with help, the bodies had vanished without a trace.
[edit] Facts
Wheat is the main crop grown by farmers in the Burkittsville area, rye and corn are also planted. Livestock raised include pigs, sheep and cattle.
The local newspaper in 1825 was the Burkittsville Bulletin.
[edit] People
Ronald Cravens was the sheriff of Burkittsville at least from 1994 to 1999.
Bill Barnes is the executive director of the Burkittsville Historical Society.
[edit] Residents
The following people are known to have lived in Burkittsville. The parentheses indicate the year(s) they are known to have lived there.
- Mary Johnson (1825)
- Eileen Treacle (1825)
- Lloyd Whellons (1829)
- Robin Weaver (1886 – 1928)
- Pfeifer (1907)
- Bill Barnes (1928 – 1999)
- Kyle Brody (1940 - 1941)
- Rustin Parr (1940 - 1941)
- Ronald Cravens (1994 – 1999)
- Dottie Fulcher (1994 – 1999)
