The Curse of Black River Falls

The year is 1890, and this once bustling mining town is facing crisis like no other. The mine that had made those seeking its riches wealthy and the lumber mill who had supplied the town with paper goods had just closed down, causing the town falling into disrepair and poverty. Bad weather had destroyed any and all crops in its path. Winters, cold and harsh, caused mass starvation. There was even talk amongst the residents of the work of witchcraft and devil worship. The following record of events happen from 1890 to 1910 and to this day it is still unknown what caused this one bustling, peaceful town to turn to murder, suicide, destruction, and absolute depravity.

In the early years of the 1890's diphtheria swept through the town, killing the majority of the children. The schools were forced to close down and residents were taking matters into their own hands. In their panic, the townsfolk would burn down anyone's house who was diagnosed with the deadly disease. The epidemic cause more murders, suicides, grief and panic than deaths from catching diphtheria.

The first reported case of a death outside the epidemic was that of a elderly lady, said to have been in her sixties. She had discovered a small sore on her and believed it to be cancer. Since she thought it was going to kill her anyways, she took herself out to her backyard, doused herself in kerosene and set herself on fire.

The second was that of a mother, Mrs. John Larson, a wife of a local farmer. She began to believe that the devil was coming after her and felt there was only one way to make it stop. She took her three children and drowned them one by one while the others watched. Her husband was only ever able to find two of the children's bodies, the third was never found.

Then there was the case of Sarah Smith. She found to have buried alive in the Rosedale Cemetery. It was said that when she died, it was as if she were in a "trance". When they found her corpse, authorities discovered she had bitten off half of her fingers when she realized her grim fate.

Little John Andersen, 13, and his 10 year old brother shot and killed an owner of the farm on the outskirts of the town and took over the property. They were discovered when the local farmers brother came to visit. The younger of the boys confessed to the crime but Little John ran, leading deputies on a chase. A deputy would lose their life during the pursuit. Little John was finally caught and sentenced to life in prison.

Mary Sweeney, a former school teacher, was a frequent cocaine user and claimed it was used to calm her nerves. In her fits of cocaine induced rage she would go on crime sprees, smashing over $50,000 worth of glass. Police were exhausted by her, having arrested her over 100 times. She was eventually sent to an asylum and never seen again.

A group of gypsies, as referred to in those times, arrived in the struggling community, adding to the anxiety of the local residents. They seized control of a local farm known as the Sheldon Farm, and proceeded to decapitate 18 of the poor farmers chickens, taking their bounty with them into the trees to enjoy a delicious meal. Crazed, confused, convinced it was the work of the devil, the farmer set his farm ablaze, letting it burn to the ground.

Then there was the brief period of love. By love we mean jilted lovers of course, because in this town the darkness holds nothing sacred. A failed marriage proposal caused a local boy to shoot his beloved in the face three times and then turned the gun onto himself. A teenage bride to be was institutionalized after her fiancé had left her and in her despair, hung herself. A while later, a 50 year old man hanged himself when his wife served him with divorce papers.

Finally we have Nestor Provancher, who visited a traveling hypnotist that had come through the town. After meeting this mystical man the boy was unable to speak any louder than the tiniest whisper. The local doctors believe he was lost in some "hypnotic trance", which had affect his speech. Poor Nestor would remain almost mute until one day, several months later, his voice returned as if he had never lost it.

In 1973 a man by the name of Michael Levy published a series of photos in an album entitled "Wisconsin Death Trip", featuring pictures from this horrible time period, taken by Charles Van Schaick. Then in 1999, a documentary by the same name of "Wisconsin Death Trip" was released, featuring many of the stories and recreations of events. No one knows what caused the widespread chaos, but locals speculate a curse was placed upon the town. Whether the work of witchcraft or despair, one thing is known, the town of Black River Falls has a history drowning in blood and darkness.