The ghostly presence of the Bell Witch haunting is a famous tale that has been passed down through generations in the Bell family. The haunting is believed to have taken place in the early 19th century in Adams, Tennessee. The story revolves around John Bell and his family, who were tormented by an unseen spirit that became known as the Bell Witch. The haunting began with strange noises and unexplained physical phenomena, such as objects being thrown and animals acting strangely. The Bell family initially dismissed these occurrences as mere pranks or natural events. However, as time went on, the presence became more malevolent and targeted members of the family individually.
We moved on to the old Bell School, where some historic buildings from the area had been moved and restored, including an old barber shop and a doctor’s office. But, the main attraction for us was the old cabin that had been located on the haunted Bell farm. It’s not the main Bell family house that was haunted by the evil spirit, but one that was used by members of the Bell family on the farm at that time, and the only one that has survived.
We moved on to the old Bell School, where some historic buildings from the area had been moved and restored, including an old barber shop and a doctor s office. The current owners of the property have embraced the haunting and offer tours and overnight stays for those who want to experience the Bell Witch for themselves.
However, as time went on, the presence became more malevolent and targeted members of the family individually. John Bell and his daughter, Betsy, seemed to be the primary targets of the haunting. The Bell Witch would often yank Betsy's hair, slap her, and even leave her with unexplained scratches and bruises.
Adams, Tennessee and the Bell Witch
Adams, TN is best known for its historic Bell Witch haunting, where an evil spirit tormented the Bell family, and finally killed the family patriarch, John Bell, in 1820. I had heard the Bell Witch stories growing up in rural western Kentucky, living only a little more than an hour from the haunted Adams farm, where “Old Jack” Bell had been murdered by the ghostly presence.
A historic marker in Adams. (Click on image for larger photo).
Bell Witch Cave, on the old Bell farm, was closed for the winter. (Click on image for larger photo).In a scene right out of a horror movie, I received a warning! As I walked around shooting photos in the old downtown area of Adams, an older man and a young boy pulled up and parked in front of an old dilapidated business, that had been rusting and rotting for years. They got out of the car and started walking toward me. The boy carried a large stuffed snowman in his arms. As we exchanged greetings, the little boy ran up to me, and gave a stern rebuke, “You shouldn’t be here.” I asked him why, and he said, “Ghosts.” About that time, the older man had caught up, and said that he and his grandson came there to walk. He added that he sees a lot of people shooting pictures of the old buildings.
The boy duly warned me about the haints. He said I shouldn’t be there, and that the buildings were full of ghosts. (Click on image for larger photo).
We talked for a few minutes, and he suggested a few places in the area that would offer some great photo opportunites, including an old church in Guthrie, KY, just a few miles up the road, that I could hit on the way back home. I thanked the man, and asked if I could snap their photo. He moved out of the way, and asked his grandson to lift up his stuffed snowman, and I snapped an image. He took the boy’s hand and they started walking away. The boy turned back at me and warned “Don’t go in there. Those buildings are full of ghosts.”
The north side of the old downtown area, Adams, TN. (Click on image for larger photo). I snapped a shot as the boy ans his grandfather walked away. (Click on image for larger photo). Robertson and CO., in the old downtown area, Adams, TN. (Click on image for larger photo).
I had been duly warned, and stayed out of the dilapidated, abandoned buildings, which had boards over the windows and graffiti spray painted all about. The warning, however, didn’t stop me from shooting some great exteriors in the old downtown area. I wondered how much longer the old church will be there before becoming a pile of rubble and a memory. The old brick businesses, with rusty tin awnings over the sidewalks, across the road from it weren’t faring much better. In the not too distant future, photos and memories will be all that is left.
The old church in the old Adams downtown area. (Click on image for larger photo).
Bob and Daisy in Adams. (Click on image for larger photo).My wife got the dogs out of the truck and let them walk about for a few minutes. I got behind the driver’s seat, and Daisy, our pug, jumped in and sat in my lap looking out, as my wife snapped a photo of us together.
We moved on to the old Bell School, where some historic buildings from the area had been moved and restored, including an old barber shop and a doctor’s office. But, the main attraction for us was the old cabin that had been located on the haunted Bell farm. It’s not the main Bell family house that was haunted by the evil spirit, but one that was used by members of the Bell family on the farm at that time, and the only one that has survived.
A cabin from the haunted Bell farm. A preserved barber shop and doctor’s office are in the background. (Click on image for larger photo).
Old Electrical equipment on display at the town park in Adams. (Click on image for larger photo).I’m not going into a long history of The Bell Witch, as space doesn’t permit, and many others have written about the events that occurred between 1817 and 1821. However, the story goes that the Bell family was visited by an invisible and very vocal spirit, claiming to be “Old Kate Batt’s Witch.” The haunting started with various family members seeing strange animals, which weren’t quite as they should be. That was followed by sounds in the house, such as knockings and chains dragging. As time went by, these progressed into voices and singing, and things became physical with hair pulling, hitting, scratching and other violence. The spirit, however showed kindness to John’s wife, Lucy, and referred to her as “the most perfect woman to walk the earth.” The apparition, now fully articulate and intelligent, objected strongly to a relationship of daughter, Betsy, and her boyfriend, Joshua Gardner, so much that their engagement was called off. There are numerous other stories, which include such historic figures as General Andrew Jackson. How much of these tales are true may never be known. However, the legend of the Bell Witch remains strong in parts of Tennessee and Kentucky.
As suggested by the old man, we headed back home through Gurthie, KY, right on the Kentucky-Tennessee line. I spied an old ghost sign advertising Coca-Cola, adjacent to the now defunct Longhurst General Store. Visually, the town probably looks much as it did 50 years ago, and is a back road photographer’s dream location
Longhurst General Store, Guthrie, KY. (Click on image for larger photo).
At the far end of town, we found Lane Chapel CME Church. I pulled in and we walked around. I was glad for the photo suggestions from the old man. Otherwise, I might have missed some wonderful historic destinations.
Lane Chapel CME, Guthrie, KY. (Click on image for larger photo).
John Bell, on the other hand, experienced episodes of paralysis and was often visited by the spirit, who would whisper in his ear and even physically assault him. Word soon spread about the Bell Witch haunting, attracting the attention of curious onlookers and skeptics alike. Some dismissed the phenomenon as a hoax or a result of mental illness within the family. However, others claimed to have witnessed the Bell Witch in action and believed that there was a supernatural presence at play. One of the most famous incidents associated with the Bell Witch haunting was the death of John Bell. It is said that he fell into a mysterious illness after consuming a strange liquid from a vial given to him by the Bell Witch. His health rapidly deteriorated, and he eventually passed away. The spirit is rumored to have taken credit for his death, claiming to have poisoned him. To this day, the Bell Witch haunting remains a mystery. Many theories have been put forth to explain the events, ranging from poltergeists to demonic entities. Some even believe that the Bell Witch was a manifestation of negative energy associated with the Bell family's troubled history. Regardless of the truth behind the Bell Witch haunting, it has become a part of American folklore and continues to intrigue and captivate those with an interest in the supernatural. The legacy of the Bell family and the ghostly presence that plagued them will continue to be passed down through generations, ensuring that the tale of the Bell Witch remains alive..
Reviews for "The Bell Witch: Unveiling the Secrets of a Haunted Farmhouse"
1. Emily - 2/5: I was really looking forward to watching "The Ghostly Presence of the Bell Witch Haunting" as I am a fan of paranormal documentaries. However, I was left feeling disappointed. The film lacked a cohesive narrative and instead, jumped from one random event to another. The pacing was slow, and the reenactments were poorly done. Overall, it felt like a disjointed and uninteresting documentary.
2. James - 1/5: I found "The Ghostly Presence of the Bell Witch Haunting" to be a complete waste of time. The film seemed more focused on creating a spooky atmosphere than presenting any factual evidence or compelling storytelling. There were long stretches of nothing happening, and when something did occur, it lacked any impact. I was left feeling bored and unimpressed by this supposed haunting.
3. Sarah - 2/5: As a fan of supernatural stories, I was excited to watch "The Ghostly Presence of the Bell Witch Haunting." However, I found the film to be overly sensationalized and lacking in substance. The constant reenactments felt forced and cheesy, taking away from any potential scare factor. Additionally, the interviews with supposed witnesses were unconvincing and lacked credibility. Overall, this documentary failed to provide a compelling and believable portrayal of the Bell Witch haunting.
4. Michael - 2/5: Despite the hype surrounding "The Ghostly Presence of the Bell Witch Haunting," I found it underwhelming. The narrative was disjointed, and the supposed evidence presented was weak at best. The overuse of jump scares and melodramatic music only served to highlight the lack of substantial material. Overall, I was left feeling unsatisfied and questioning the authenticity of the haunting depicted in the film.