In honor of Arbor day, I thought a post about a very interesting haunted tree would be appropriate. In Whaleyville, Md., there’s a haunting tree with twisted branches, known to locals as the Witch’s Tree. The tree is located off the beaten path a bit and is technically within the Great Cypress Swamp, a conservation area managed by Delaware Wild Lands. The swamp is also called The Burnt Swamp because a vast fire, resulting from a moonshiner’s still exploding, burned through it in 1930. The fire continued to burn for 8 months through the peat layers, despite great effort to extinguish it. A previous fire in June 1782 burned 3,000 acres and threatened to burn down homes–it was said that the light from the fire could be seen 70 miles away.
Because it is located in the Great Cypress Swamp, it is often referred to as a cypress tree. However, biologist Dr. Carol A. Pollio noted that it was, in fact, a large gnarled chestnut oak with many twisted branches with a very off putting silhouette.
Historically it appears to have been a witness tree. Witness trees were once used to mark property when the site was not suitable for a traditional marker and a large tree was within 10 chains (660 feet) of the point to be marked. In this case, the surrounding forest is much younger and contains a wider variety of species than the original forest would have had. Because of these younger trees, the Witch’s Tree really is notable. It is larger, taller, and more gnarled that any others in that area.
The legend says that women who were thought to be witches were hanged from the tree. Many have claimed to hear crying near the tree and a woman screaming. Those who visit the tree report feelings such as chills down their spine, eerie lights and orbs and strange sounds. Some say the hauntings are attributed to a witch that used to live nearby. Locals have reported mysterious brightly colored orbs by the tree.
Almost everyone who has ever walked up to the tree has experienced something strange. Locals will warn you not to go out there alone, as it’s a known spot for vehicles to break down and many claim there is no cellphone signal to be found.
Unfortunately, today the infamous Witche’s Tree is gone. Around 2015 it had been taken down by a storm likely attributed to its own unhealthy condition and all that remains of this beautiful piece of paranormal history is a stump that someone also desecrated with graffiti.
Sources: https://www.intuitive-investigations.com/single-post/2015/11/12/the-witchs-tree-the-selbyville-swamp-monster, https://www.wusa9.com/article/life/holidays/halloween/goatman-crybaby-bridge-urban-legends-in-the-dc-area/65-482587549
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