Saturday, October 16, 2010

Rehmeyer's Hollow

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Nelson Rehmeyer image from Dagger Press

Also known as Hex Hollow, this site in Shrewsbury, York County is home to the infamous 1928 Pow Wow (Pennsylvania Dutch witch doctor) murder of Nelson Rehmeyer.

The short story is that Rehmeyer was a self proclaimed Pennsylvania Dutch witch doctor. Neighbor John Blymire, another pow-wow doctor experiencing a streak of bad luck, was told that he had come under the hex of Rehmeyer by Nellie Noll, known as the River Witch of Marietta.

Blymire decided to break into Rehmeyer's home in search of a book of spells; burning the book or burying a lock of Rehmeyer's hair would remove the hex, according to Noll.

He went to Rehmeyer's home with two companions, and Blymire found Rehmeyer, demanding his hex book. A fight ensued, and the trio killed Rehmeyer, effectively ending one curse and starting another, compliments of the Pennsylvania court system. He got life for his crime. The Hex Murder was the trail of the era, and probably as close to a witchcraft trial as the state had in over three hundred years.

Rehmeyer's home, known as the Hex House, just became a museum in what's now called Spring Hollow Park. It's said that if you are in the area, you may see the faces of people that have died in Hex Hollow floating about. Cars in the area stall out for no reason.

It's also said that you can't get back to the main road from the same road you came in on, because they morph into a maze when you're by the Hex House. Cell phones often go on the blink in the area, so don't look for your GPS to bail you out.

One reader from the area wrote to debunk the tales. "I'm a local and most of the things said aren't true. However, do be careful. It can get a little strange, especially near the pond where it is said they threw bodies into as if it were a grave site."

The book Hex by Arthur Lewis was written about the murder. Brian Keene wrote two novels loosely based on Rehmeyer's Hollow and the region's powwow magic: Dark Hollow and Ghost Walk.

28 comments:

ilek56 said...

I want to visit raymyers hollow but dnt no when its open or how much it costs. Can anyone help me out? If so email me at 56keli@gmail.com thanks

Anonymous said...

We were just there during the day time. Place looks pretty cool, too bad we couldn't have explored around it. I took some pictures of the house which that looks creepy itself. Our GPS and cell phones worked fine, road I thought was paved, but so many roads I don't remember. Road work was going on Cherry Road near the stream, nice houses back there. Saw a few stone foundations back in the woods while driving through. Awful history though, but I guess that what makes a place haunted.

Anonymous said...

It is haunted however cars do not stall you can find your way out and your cell phone is fine. We drive through all the time any time of day. im a local and most of the things said arent true. however do be careful it can get a little strange expecially near the pond where it is said they threw bodies into as if it were a grave sight.

Anonymous said...

We were local everything works fine during the day not at night we were there in are jeep and all of a sudden the car stalled it wouldnt start for at least.5mins then wen we were on are way back there was a puddle of blood but no animal and no tracks so.go there At night I dare u go down paths

Anonymous said...

You are full of crap nothing has happened and I am from the area and have takenany friends there

Anonymous said...

three of four hundred years? This country ain't even that old. ;) Only constructive critisizem. (Spelling?) At any rate, my name is Alex and I'm from a little town in Colorado that has it's own share of ''hauntings'' and ''curses''. I'm currently residing in York, York County, Pennsylvania. I'm trying to do PERSONAL RESARCH on the Rehmeyers hollow incident. If anyone has any information, public or private, I would appreciate an E-Mail, as it is my only way of communication.
- Cheers.
Alexandria Maria Rich
RattyIggy@yahoo.com


WoooOOOOoooo. Spooooky.

Anonymous said...

that's awesome!!!!! I'm a Rehmeyer and my dad passed last year. He would joke about it... my aunt swears My Rehmeyer name isn't cursed.. I haven't been to York in years.. cant wait to go back.

dgmunch said...

I worked in that park and hollow for two summers in the 90's and never saw a thing other than vandalism in the old houses. One of the reasons things would be odd driving through there is because some of the roads and turns looked the same. But no ghosts.

Anonymous said...

Does anybody know how to get in contact With whoever owns rehmeyers house?? I want to go thru the house and take pictures. I like scary stuff and I think it would be awesome To learn Alot more stuff about the house. Thanks

Anonymous said...

I am a local. Personally, I've never experienced anything there except eerie feelings (and I only go there at night), that's not to say it isn't haunted though.

Rachel said...

I'm a life long Yorker and I've been in a car that stalled out on the road near the pond. It was in the evening around 11pm about 15 years ago. I don't believe that a lot of the added hubbub about the place is true but I have personally experienced the car stalling out and being "confused by the roads". That doesn't mean every car stalks out, that every cell call gets dropped and every gps fails but I don't discount the occasional oddity occurring from time to time.

Anonymous said...

me as a kid would go there to hang out with friends and yes crazy things happen there like the dog with no head and a man that walks the roads and the circle with the two big rocks with blood on then I seen shit there I heard shit my aunt's best friend was a black girl and she was so scared of what she saw out the back window the her hair turned pure white I no shit is real there

Anonymous said...

Just went throw the house last night it's very old nothing scary tho

Anonymous said...

I went there with my kids and a friend and her kids today to hike through the trails. I didn't know we were in the hollow until my friend told me. I had the car off and windows down waiting for her to arrive. When she got there, I tried to turn the car on to put the windows up. My car would not start. Someone in the area helped us jump it. We then went on our hike. Came back, wouldn't start again. Got another jump. Left my car running while we had a little lunch then went to leave. My friend's car wouldn't start. Had to get another passerby to help. I don't believe in ghosts or legends, but I do now!

Schultz said...

three of four hundred years? This country ain't even that old.

Pennsylvania has been settled by Europeans since the mid 17th century.

Anonymous said...

Rehmeyer was in my family, and well, Rehmeyers hallow is cursed. Go there for your self. Fog men from the pond is what that local ment. A fog seeps from the pond and it takes shape as people. And this stuff mainly takes place late at night. Demon Dogs, ghostly figures, stalling cars, arms beating the bottom of cars, it's all true, go see for your self.

Anonymous said...

I have tried to find where this house is located but am having issues i am aome what local lived on the md/pa line all my life recently moved to pa just over the line in york county and would really like to visit this place if anyone would be willling to share some information with me i would appreciate it my email is ** child.of.the.stars.01@gmail.com ** thank you

Anonymous said...

From the stories i heard the origanal raymeyers house is nothing but a fondation and was that way when i left pa 16 years ago.

Unknown said...

Where is the pond?

Unknown said...

Where is the pond?

Unknown said...

Where is the pond?

Unknown said...

Where is the pond?

Anonymous said...

People just try to rile others up, I know what you mean I go down there atleast 5 times a month and what do you know nothing happens.

Anonymous said...

Nothing happens there, my grandmother lives 5 minutes from there and I'm there atleast 5 times a month, she was and still is friends of the daughters. It's just people trying to get you riled up Brad.

John Cofiell said...

Try night time. I came down at night. Where I came (at a T intersection) there was a house on the right. When I found my way back to get out,the huse was on the right(other side of the road) and half of it colapsed.
I came back a month later and the house was back in the original place and not colapsed.
Both times my am radio quit working. It came back on 2 days later. Nothing wrong with it.

Anonymous said...

I believe everything you say. I lived close by and wasvery strange thing started to happen. Soon they became more dangerousand my husband thought I was crazy until hstarted to experience things for himself. The clincher was we were asleep ans both woke up at th same time and were frozen. Something or someone was in our room. We could not move and were terrified for our son in he other bedroom.Soon aater we decided to cut our losses and move.what was supposed to be our happy home was a living nightmsre controlled by evil.

Anonymous said...

Sorry for my typos, but even though it's been over25 years ,I still get scared talking about it.

Unknown said...

My grandfather was born in the Hollow. Yes I have proof. It's on his obituary. And I assure you freaky things really do happen down there.