The Witches' Tree
The Witches’ Tree is a local Louisville folklore landmark. A maple tree once stood in this spot, which was the favored meeting place for those involved with the dark arts. In 1889, Louisville’s planning committee wanted to use the maple tree as a May pole for the May Day Celebration. According to legend, witches warned the city that if they cut down the tree, they would pay for it, but the committee chopped it down anyway. Eleven months later to the day, the legend goes that the witches brewed a “demon” of a vengeful storm, and as the tornado tore through the city, a bolt of lightning hit the stump and sprouted the twisted, gnarled tree that stands there today.
©2019 John Hultgren, Louisville, Kentucky
Photo may not be reproduced, copied, archived, or retransmitted without permission.
Location, Louisville (Jefferson) KY.
38° 13’ 54.93” N, 85° 45’ 51.55” W
Nikon D810 | Nikon AF-S Nikkor 24-70mm f/2.8G ED at 52 mm | f/2.8 | 1/125 sec. | ISO 400 | 2019-10-06 15:24 EDT (2019-10-06 19:24 UTC).
