Most of you probably have probably never heard of Molly Crenshaw. But if you grew up in St. Charles County, Mo., you might have heard Blair Witch-type stories about this local urban legend.
Here is a synopsis from my web site, State of Horror:
***
The witch was chopped to pieces.
Her butchered body parts were buried in separate graves, scattered through the wooded countryside.
But beneath the shallow soil, the pieces are moving. Year by year, inch by inch, they draw closer together - crawling, wriggling, struggling to reassemble into the living corpse of Molly Crenshaw.
From one generation to the next, teenagers throughout St. Charles County have passed down this homegrown urban legend about a supposed witch who died a century ago but still haunts the local forests.
The tale varies depending on the storyteller. According to most versions, Molly Crenshaw was a freed Jamaican slave who lived in western St. Charles County during the late 19th century. A voodoo practitioner, Molly was often called upon to dispense spells and potions for local townsfolk.
One year, an unusually harsh winter decimated local crops. Villagers blamed Molly and her evil witchcraft. Pitchforks raised, they descended on her modest home. Molly defiantly confronted them, placing a curse on anyone who touched her. Unflinching, the mob attacked and killed her. Some say they cut her in half. Others say she was drawn and quartered. But every version of the tale ends with the townspeople burying the dismembered portions in separate graves.
***
It became a rite of passage for teenagers to waste a Saturday night stumbling around the woods, searching for "Molly's grave." Or one of her graves, since she was cut in half.
There were tales of people being found dead in the woods, people committing suicide because they were haunted by Molly, etc. Very much like the stories in The Blair Witch Project.
In researching Molly for a newspaper story, I found at least one documented death attributed to Molly. A young girl really did kill herself because she was reportedly being teased about the witch, and developed some kind of obsessive fear of Molly. I imagine kids were telling her "Molly's coming to get you," and she started to believe it.
I uncovered all kinds of info on Molly. She was a real person.
According to newspaper stories and birth/death documents, her name was Mollie J. Crenshaw. She committed suicide at 10:20 a.m., Feb. 22, 1913 in the home of Harry Towers near Cottleville. She swallowed carbolic acid. Mollie was 52, according to her death record. She was listed as a single, white female.
Mollie was no Jamaican slave. She was a school teacher who went deaf and fell into depression. There is no evidence connecting her to witchcraft.
Mollie was buried in a small, family cemetery. A descendant allowed me to visit her grave site in October, 2001. Here it is:
(http://stateofhorror.com/tombstones3.jpg)
You will notice there is no tombstone. That is because the family removed it in 1978 or 1979 to protect it from vandalism. Its whereabouts became obscure, even to Mollie's descendants. They knew a member of their family had it, but they were not sure who.
This October, I received an e-mail from a member of the family. He said he had Mollie's tombstone in his garage and asked if I wanted to see it. He had no idea there was anything special about the tombstone until recently. Years ago, a family member asked him to store it and he complied. He had never heard of the Molly Crenshaw legend until this year, when he casually mentioned the tombstone to another family member. They could not believe he had Molly's tombstone. He did not know what the big deal was. Then he went online and read my story on www.stateofhorror.com. He realized he had something very special in his garage.
It took me a few weeks to find time to drive out to his rural residence. It was a spooky, late-autumn evening in November. The sun was setting behind the leafless trees. I wondered if, like the kids the The Blair Witch Project, I would never be heard from again.
I pulled onto the man's gravel driveway. The man, who asked that I keep his name and location secret, greeted me at my car. He seemed like a nice fellow. We shook hands and made our way to his stand-alone garage, which was sort of a barn-like structure. I kind of felt like Cornel Wilde at the beginning of Gargoyles, traveling to meet the old man with the strange skeleton in a shack.
Inside the garage, the man opened a metal took cabinet and removed an oblong object wrapped in a yellow towel. He placed it on the open tailgate of a pickup truck and unwrapped it.
(http://stateofhorror.com/mollystone1.jpg)
There was Molly's tombstone. He said my eyes were the first to see it in years.
(http://stateofhorror.com/mollystone2.jpg)
(http://stateofhorror.com/mollystone3.jpg)
I noticed that the name was spelled "Molley," different than both the legendary "Molly" and the officially documented "Mollie." I remember reading a genealogical paper that noted the name on the tombstone was spelled differently than on the death certificate. Since we're talking about a very small town in 1913, who knows how reliable their records were.
You can see in the photos how people have tried to scratch graffiti onto the tombstone. I can make out what looks like "HELL" and maybe an anarchy symbol below.
It was in another Crenshaw descendant's home for about 10 years before it was passed on to the current owner. He said he took the tombstone as a favor, because he was asked to do so. But he had no clue about its history until this year. Now he seems very interested in the Molly legend and wants to learn more about her. He is going to try to interview family members to assemble an authoritative history of Molly, while the people with that knowledge are still around to share it. I asked him to tell me what he learned. He promised to keep me posted.
So there it is. The long lost tombstone of a real "Blair Witch." To think of all the young people who have scoured the woods and cemeteries over the decades, looking for Molly's grave. It is quite an artifact to see in person.
It is incredibly sad that the tombstone had to be removed to protect it, instead of honoring her memory. A lot of graveyards are vandalized every year, respect for the dead seems to be a thing of the past. Maybe some day Molly Crenshaw tombstone can be returned without fear of desecration. It's kind of sad the REAL Molly isn't remembered, though the legend is so interesting and fascinating. These Urban Legends will always be a part of our society. Thanks for sharing this one Ray, this isn't in any of my books.
I've been fascinated by the Crenshaw legend since I first read about it on your awesome "State of Horror" site. Thanks for sharing the photo (and the story). I have a cousin who lives down in Steelville, whom I plan to visit next spring. He said they have a few strange tales there, also. Have you heard of any?
Quote from: Unknown Primate on December 20, 2008, 04:01:47 PM
I've been fascinated by the Crenshaw legend since I first read about it on your awesome "State of Horror" site. Thanks for sharing the photo (and the story). I have a cousin who lives down in Steelville, whom I plan to visit next spring. He said they have a few strange tales there, also. Have you heard of any?
Steelville doesn't ring a bell. But I'd be interested in hearing about any legends you uncover.
Great story!
Fascinating stuff, Raymond! Thanks for sharing!
Thanks for the great story. Enjoyed it. I will have to visity your site! In my neck of the woods, we have the Bell Witch (Tennessee). She is a popular internet site subject, as well as in books and movies.
I guess the Bell Witch is the top-of-the-line among regional witch legends. Who else has a local witch story?
I wish I did, although I was sure that my 2nd Grade teacher was a witch, when I was a kid!
A great story, and, as always, excellent reporting of it!
Max
Quote from: raycastile on December 21, 2008, 02:39:03 AM
I guess the Bell Witch is the top-of-the-line among regional witch legends. Who else has a local witch story?
Did I mention my mother-in-law lives with us?? Can't get more local than THAT.
In my neck of the woods we have the Hookman a long with a few other local horror legends.
Here in Tennessee the Bell Witch IS our big legend, and the only one I know of here. Growing up in South Carolina we had: The Grey Man (warns people when hurricanes or danger is around), the Phantom Hitch-hiker (If you pick her up, she give you an address in Columbia. You cross over to the other side of the bridge, and she's no longer sitting in the car. She's disappeared.), The Three Eyed Man (Non-human creature originally stalking around the Congaree River, now haunts the tunnels under University of South Carolina. The University closed off the tunnels permanently in the `70's when a couple of students were injured after sneaking into the tunnels to search for the Three Eyed Man, and were supposedly attacked by it. Reports of sightings over 70 years.) This is not even listing Ghosts (South Carolina is a very haunted state).
I like that three-eyed man. He sounds cool, especially if he actually attacks people. These cryptids need to be a little more assertive, in my opinion. Stop skulking around in the shadows, running when spotted. Start eating people. Cause some damage. Pull some kid's arm off by the roots. That's the spirit.
Quote from: raycastile on December 22, 2008, 12:03:30 AM
I like that three-eyed man. He sounds cool, especially if he actually attacks people. These cryptids need to be a little more assertive, in my opinion. Stop skulking around in the shadows, running when spotted. Start eating people. Cause some damage. Pull some kid's arm off by the roots. That's the spirit.
HERE HERE!!!!!!!!
Came here by accident, or was it something esle that drawn me here, I did a google search on Molly Crenshaw, and didnt notice the link
I clicked on, and *Poof* here I am ;D
The Story of Mollie crenshaw is very true ,I lived at the farm on Towers Rd it was were Roger Tower's and his faimly Lived .This also know as Towers Rd , The faimlies had lived on the bottom of Missouri River and also on tower's Rd . On towers rd there 2 farms house left theses are the Towers Faimly Farms. The farm it self that I lived at is 200 ft from the grave site and the story is true . When we lived at the farm you would see the orbs in the woods and around the farm . The farm house was haunted and the slave celler was next to the house when went down into the celler you could see the shackles from were the slaves were kept . Many kids from Francis Howell and other are's would go to the cemetery and mess with the grave and they would party trying to bring Mollie back and every time they did the orbs in the woods appear and then at the farmhouse you see fog down by the farm . Those that messed with the grave are curse and it's true very true .They did not know that when they enter the cemetery they had disturb not just Moillie's grave but the rest of the graves. The grave yard was curse by Roger Tower's and I know this for a fact because of what was told to me by the elder's of Harverster .The Barklage faimly rented the farm house up the street from the farm I lived at and at that time Mrs.Barklage was in her 50's and she told the truth about the Mollie Crenshaw and evn told me the History of the Tower's faimly and the Crenshaw faimly the real truth . Those that enter the Cemetery to disturb the graves you disturb the spirts . The only thing that can saved there souls is pray to the 7 Afriacan gods and then you must used holy water and bless the grave and tell them you are sorry for disturbing their spirts . If you do not you will see orbs and you will also feel the spirts . I go their every year to pay respect and make sure the grave is not been disturb . The faimly that lives in the ranch house next watch over it and protect from harm . I know this for a fact for I also have seen Mollie spirt and the orbs that surrounded her spirt she was not doing harm but to thank me for being respectful to her and the faimly , but I also a witch and I pratice Wicca and I can tell you if did wrong to her you must make it right if not your will face the curse . So when you feel the spirt and you see the orbs at one time or another you must do right are you face sickness and you and your off spring also . Mollie story is very true .And the real tombstone is spelled MOLLIE CRENSHAW AND THERE ARE NO OTHER MARKER'S LIKE IT ,IF SOMEONE PRODUCE'S A MARKER WITH MOLLY CRENSHAW THAT IS NOT HER TOMBSTONE I KNOW BECAUSE I KNOW IT SINCE I WAS 12 AND I'M 50 NOW . THE OTHER GRAVES OF THE SLAVES ARE BURIED NEXT TO THE FENCE FACEING WESTERMANS HOUSE AND THEY ARE MARK BY ROCKS FROM THE MY STEP MOTHER'S FARM .ROGER TOWER'S AND JOHN TOWER'S OLD HOUSE WAS TORE DOWN BY THE OSTMAN FAIMLY .THE OTHER FARM HOUSE STILL STANDS ON TOWRE'S RD AND IT'S GRAY AND THE OTHER IS ON JACOB STATION RD AND IT'S STILL STANDING .THE ONE ON MISSOURI BOTTOM WAS DESTROY BY FIRE IN THE 60'S .YES THE STORY OF MOLLIE IS VERY TRUE .
I just spoke with Mollie, and she has no idea who you are.
Zombie LOL Zombie LOL Zombie LOL Zombie LOL Zombie LOL
Quote from: chefgebhardt on August 19, 2011, 01:38:45 PM
And the real tombstone is spelled MOLLIE CRENSHAW AND THERE ARE NO OTHER MARKER'S LIKE IT ,IF SOMEONE PRODUCE'S A MARKER WITH MOLLY CRENSHAW THAT IS NOT HER TOMBSTONE I KNOW BECAUSE I KNOW IT SINCE I WAS 12 AND I'M 50 NOW . THE OTHER GRAVES OF THE SLAVES ARE BURIED NEXT TO THE FENCE FACEING WESTERMANS HOUSE AND THEY ARE MARK BY ROCKS FROM THE MY STEP MOTHER'S FARM .ROGER TOWER'S AND JOHN TOWER'S OLD HOUSE WAS TORE DOWN BY THE OSTMAN FAIMLY .THE OTHER FARM HOUSE STILL STANDS ON TOWRE'S RD AND IT'S GRAY AND THE OTHER IS ON JACOB STATION RD AND IT'S STILL STANDING .THE ONE ON MISSOURI BOTTOM WAS DESTROY BY FIRE IN THE 60'S .YES THE STORY OF MOLLIE IS VERY TRUE .
Who are you yelling at? We all hear perfectly fine, thank you. At least, we used to! (Loonies screaming in all-caps on the interwebs. The idea!)
Interesting story.
Chef, did you even read this thread? Crenshaw's family invited me to their house and let me take a photo of the real tombstone. The name is spelled "Molley." You know...like in the photograph that I took...the photograph of the tombstone...the photograph that is posted right here in this thread...
Ray, I think chefgebhardt's train left the station and you're addressing an empty platform, if you know what I mean and I think that you do.
I grew up on Towers Rd 1/4 mile for Molly Crenshaw's grave. The story above is not the local story, the photo of the grave yard is not of the grave yard. The grave is marked with a simple cobble stone with M.C. carved into the rock.
Oh, Ray! Can we discuss the types of new recruits your thread is attracting? :-/
Hmmm. Maybe "types" is too plural a word, Count.
Here's another possibility to consider, Raymond. The folklore concerns a black woman who lived in the 19th century. A headstone of a very similar name is discovered of a white woman who lived partly in the 20th century. Isn't it possible that the name of the latter woman attracts interest because of the folk tale, and the name similarity is just a coincidence. I think Max Cheney is not common name, but I've found many through Facebook. In fact, Facebook has shown all kinds of not-exactly-common names are shared by many people.
I imagine one could find headstones with even more famous names on them that do belong to the famous people with that same name. Couldn't that easily be the case here? If some teenager found a "John W. Gacey" he might assume he'd found the grave of the famous killer. But in the words of the Gershwin song, "It ain't necessarily so."
Just wondering out loud. Not trying to be a contrarian. I certainly don't know one or another.
Post script: I just had a fascinating phone conversation with Raymond about this!
When I lived in NJ, I visited a Jewish cemetery that had a tombstone for a "FREDRICK KRUEGER." That doesn't mean there was a burned child murderer with a Fedora and finger-knives in the grave.
I know where "BATMAN" is buried...and it's within 20 feet of a guy named "WEST". No foolin'.
I used to work with a guy named Eddie Reuger. He wore a red and greenish/ brown horizontally striped sweater and fedora to work. (TRUE) Seeing as how this thread is progressing, I feel that this useless information was somehow pertinent. ;D
Quote from: Sean on September 26, 2011, 06:47:19 AM
I used to work with a guy named Eddie Reuger. He wore a red and greenish/ brown horizontally striped sweater and fedora to work. (TRUE) Seeing as how this thread is progressing, I feel that this useless information was somehow pertinent. ;D
I MEANT TO TYPE THE ABOVE IN ALL CAPS, BTW!!
Quote from: Count_Zirock on September 26, 2011, 03:48:59 AM
When I lived in NJ, I visited a Jewish cemetery that had a tombstone for a "FREDRICK KRUEGER." That doesn't mean there was a burned child murderer with a Fedora and finger-knives in the grave.
YES IT DOES!! je7u6ker6 Zombie Razz
Quote from: Sean on September 26, 2011, 06:49:53 AM
I MEANT TO TYPE THE ABOVE IN ALL CAPS, BTW!!
TOO LATE FOR THAT, NOW! You're just not psychically in tune with Moll-E (she told me that's her preferred spelling of her name through the Speak-N-Spell I've hooked up to my Glow-in-the-Dark Edition Ouija board) to contribute to this thread anymore. Now, go apologize to Moll-E, the seven gods of Santaria, the Rosacrusians, Cthulhu, and Slartibartfast, or you'll wake up with webbing between the second and third toes of each foot!
Quote from: Count_Zirock on September 26, 2011, 07:15:57 AM
TOO LATE FOR THAT, NOW! You're just not psychically in tune with Moll-E (she told me that's her preferred spelling of her name through the Speak-N-Spell I've hooked up to my Glow-in-the-Dark Edition Ouija board) to contribute to this thread anymore. Now, go apologize to Moll-E, the seven gods of Santaria, the Rosacrusians, Cthulhu, and Slartibartfast, or you'll wake up with webbing between the second and third toes of each foot!
Oh, well... if THAT'S all... Consequence/ Schmonsequences... ;)
I live a few miles away from both grave sites, as they are not too far away from one another. I've been to both sites numerous times, the Greensbottom grave site a few dozen times at least. I will admit that it is one very creepy place, although nothing too out of the ordinary has happened there other than being creeped out and hearing crap moving through the woods. If you haven't been there, you can actually see the site from the road if you know where it is. I had one strange experience at the grave site at Tower's Road involving an arbitration though, if anyone wants to hear that story.
I have heard a few people claim there are four grave sites, but no one knows where the other two are. I'm going to stick to idea of two grave sites. As far as the headstone goes, I do remember seeing a small gravestone engraved "M.C" at the Greensbottom site when I was in highschool, although I don't remember seeing it recently. To be fair though, I haven't been down there in a few years. I'm not going to argue that this is the original headstone, seeing as I have no idea. Someone could have placed it there after they removed the headstone you took a picture of. The other headstones at the Greensbottom site are in very poor condition, mostly broken or missing and in no where near the condition of the one in the picture. If wanted by any of the users, I can make my down there and take some pictures if anyone wants to see them.
Quote from: jharris0624 on October 02, 2011, 04:46:41 PM
I live a few miles away from both grave sites, as they are not too far away from one another. I've been to both sites numerous times, the Greensbottom grave site a few dozen times at least. I will admit that it is one very creepy place, although nothing too out of the ordinary has happened there other than being creeped out and hearing crap moving through the woods. If you haven't been there, you can actually see the site from the road if you know where it is. I had one strange experience at the grave site at Tower's Road involving an arbitration though, if anyone wants to hear that story.
I have heard a few people claim there are four grave sites, but no one knows where the other two are. I'm going to stick to idea of two grave sites. As far as the headstone goes, I do remember seeing a small gravestone engraved "M.C" at the Greensbottom site when I was in highschool, although I don't remember seeing it recently. To be fair though, I haven't been down there in a few years. I'm not going to argue that this is the original headstone, seeing as I have no idea. Someone could have placed it there after they removed the headstone you took a picture of. The other headstones at the Greensbottom site are in very poor condition, mostly broken or missing and in no where near the condition of the one in the picture. If wanted by any of the users, I can make my down there and take some pictures if anyone wants to see them.
Hey J, welcome to the UMA!! I'd like to see some pics for sure.
Quote from: Scatter on October 02, 2011, 05:06:22 PM
Hey J, welcome to the UMA!! I'd like to see some pics for sure.
Sounds good. I'll try and make my way down there tomorrow afternoon.
Quote from: jharris0624 on October 02, 2011, 06:10:15 PM
Sounds good. I'll try and make my way down there tomorrow afternoon.
Awesome, we put the new recruits to work IMMEDIATELY! Welcome to the UMA, J! Now, throw the switch!