Ghostly

045 Bell Witch


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Is the Bell’s Family Farm Haunted?

Is the Bell’s family farm haunted?  Pat and Rebecca explore the Bell Witch haunting. The Bell Witch story is one of the oldest ghost stories in the United States with many twists and turns over the years. Many consider The Bell farm and Bell Witch Cave to be one of the creepiest places on earth. Does something paranormal haunt this land?

An artist’s drawing of Betsy Bell, originally published in 1894
Questions Explored in this Episode

Who is the Bell Witch? What is the original story? What happened to John Bell Sr. after he revealed what was happening at the family farm? Was he killed by the witch? Was Betsy targeted by the entity? Who is Kate Batts, and is she the real Bell Witch? What proof do early sources offer for the hauntings? Why was the Bell family and farm chosen? Did something haunt the Bell family? What paranormal activity is still reported on the land? Is it still haunted?

An artist’s sketching of the Bell home, originally published in 1894
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Listener Mail and Questions

Listener mail this episode is a creepy story that combines a secret area recently opened and sleep paralysis-type attacks, but this time the person is awake. Have a spooky story or question of your own (or someone you know)? Send your story or question to [email protected] or leave a voicemail at 630-448-2138 and we might read it on the podcast. You could be on a future episode of Ghostly!

Ghost Story – Bell Witch

Listen to Rebecca tell a story based on the Bell Witch’s terrorizing behavior towards young Betsy Bell. From hair-pulling to scratches, the witch did not make Betsy’s life easy, yet she still listened to the witch and had conversations with her.

Authenticated History of the Bell Witch, Rare Book Reprints, 1961. Also known as “The Red Book.”
History of the Bell Witch

Pat tells the history of the Bell Witch legend. There are several versions of the story of the Bell family and what happened. The family claimed the witch attacked them personally and physically, but also claimed to hold conversations on religion with it. Several others also claimed to have heard and experienced the Bell Witch.

Bell Witch Cave, 430 Keysburg Rd. Adams
This is an image of a place or building that is listed on the National Register of Historic Places in the United States of America. Its reference number is
 8000237
The Debate

Rebecca dives into more recent stories of paranormal events at the Bell family farm and the Bell Cave. Many people have visited over the years out of curiosity and while most experience nothing, others claim to feel or hear a presence.

Poll Results

Find out what listeners said for the Ghost Pets episode – are Ghost Pets real? Still need to listen to our previous episode? Check it out here.

Ghostly Sponsor

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Done Listening to the Episode?

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Visit our website, www.ghostlypodcast.com, to learn more about Ghostly, and, of course, give us your opinion on our polls here or on Facebook. 

How can you help support Ghostly? Well, leaving a review is amazing, but now you can also buy us a cup of coffee at buymeacoffee.com/GhostlyPodcast. You can give a one-time coffee, or you can sign up for a membership for $5 a month or $50 a year. Members get early access to future episode topics and get to join a meet and greet with Pat and Rebecca every month.

We want to hear from you! We want your ghost stories! Email us at [email protected].  Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter at GhostlyPodcast. NEW! Leave us a voicemail on Ghostly’s new haunt line: 630-448-2138.

Sources for this Week’s Episode

Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bell_Witch
Tennessee State Library and Archives: https://sharetngov.tnsosfiles.com/tsla/exhibits/myth/bellwitch.htm
Bell Witch Web Site: http://www.bellwitch.org/home.htm
Tennessean: https://www.tennessean.com/story/news/local/robertson/2015/10/26/bell-witch-legend-gets-new-twist/74640802/
Bell Witch Cave: https://www.bellwitchcave.com/ghost_hauntings/bell_witch.htm
Skeptical Inquirer: https://skepticalinquirer.org/2014/01/the-bell-witch-poltergeist/
LiveAbout: https://www.liveabout.com/the-bell-witch-2596741
Atlas Obsura: https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/the-bell-witch-cave-adams-tennessee
YouTube (Ghost Adventures): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6YuIjDd3Cvc
YouTube (Cursed on A&E): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZW25o679iko
YouTube (HauntedLive!): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C_7VoCO4OOE
Medium: https://medium.com/the-para-scope/i-survived-the-bell-witch-79cdf30309e7
Bell Witch Story: https://www.bellwitchstory.com/encounters.htm

Music for this episode was performed by Michael Rivers
Intro: “III. Allegro moderato from Gargoyles” by Lowell Liebermann
Outro: “Dream Images (Love-Death Music)” by George Crumb
Bumper: “Ghost Waltz” by Lowell Liebermann

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