For this episode, I traveled to Leonardtown in Southern Maryland to talk with Katherine Davis about the town witch and the story behind a very special jar of dirt.
Old Jail Museum
Canon from the Ark, the ship that brought over the first Maryland pilgrims
Benjamin Hance is the only documented lynching victim in St. Mary’s County and his story is an important one to tell. We also talk about the Equal Justice Initiative, who participated in the museum’s ceremony to commemorate his life and death. For this ceremony, soil was collected from the area of Benjamin’s lynching and is housed at the museum as a tangible piece of the area’s history and to honor his unjust end.
Photo Credit: Katherine Davis
Photo Credit: Katherine Davis
We also talk about the infamous Moll Dyer witch, her tragic end, and the lasting curse she placed upon the people of Leonardtown! The museum has the actual stone she was found on, frozen to death after an angry mob burned her house down. Legend has it that she not only cursed the townsfolk, but anyone who dares touch her death stone will also have lifelong misfortune.
Episode Links
The Equal Justice Initiative's The Legacy Museum: From Enslavement to Mass Incarceration and The National Memorial for Peace and Justice: https://museumandmemorial.eji.org
The Old Jail Museum's Facebook page:
St. Mary's County Tourism, The Old Jail: https://www.visitstmarysmd.com/directory/old-jail-museum/
Wayback Wednesday Video Collection on the St. Clements Island Facebook page:
Moll Dyer and Other Witch Tales of Southern Maryland by Lynn Buonviri:
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