HALLOWEEN SPECIAL: THE HEX HOLLOW MURDER

INSIDE THE DARK LEGENDS OF HEX HOLLOW: PENNSYLVANIA’S MOST HAUNTED HOLLOW

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On a moonless night, three men crept silently through the tall, swaying grass, their eyes locked on the dimly lit farmhouse ahead. Inside, the lone occupant, a 60 year old man, lay asleep, unaware of the shadows closing in. The men exchanged nervous glances, their breaths shallow as they reached the edge of the porch. The door creaked faintly, and they froze, hearts pounding, as the faint sound of footsteps came from within, though they knew the man was still asleep. The house seemed to breathe, the walls groaning in the dark as a cold breeze swept through, and in that eerie moment, they began to wonder if they were the hunters—or actually the hunted.

It's 1928, in Spring Valley, York County, Pennsylvania. A man named Nelson Rehmeyer, was about to become folklore within the history of the local area when a crime so heinous was committed that it shocked the community. Spring Valley was a quiet rural, wooded region in the Shrewsbury Township. Rehmeyer, born on November 9, 1868, came from a Pennsylvania Dutch background and was a practitioner of powwowing, a form of folk magic practiced by Pennsylvania Dutch communities. Nelson was married to Alice Rehmeyer, and the couple had two daughters. Rehmeyer lived alone in his farmhouse, sadly his marriage fell apart and he was estranged from his wife and children. Even though Nelson lived a reclusive existence in his house in an area that would come to be known as Rehmeyer hollow, people still sought him out for his knowledge of powwowing when they were in need of healings or protections.

POWWOWING

Powwowing, also known as Braucherei, is a practice that blends elements of Christianity, folk medicine, and ancient Germanic pagan traditions. Despite being referred to as "hex magic" at times, powwowing is not inherently malevolent. In fact, most of the rituals and practices were intended to heal or ward of evil spirits or curses.

Historical and Cultural Background

The Pennsylvania Dutch brought with them centuries-old traditions, including those of folk healing and spiritual practices. Powwowing was essentially a combination of Christian faith and pre-Christian folk practices. Many of the rituals involved invoking Bible verses, prayers, and the sign of the cross, mixed with the use of charms and natural remedies, to treat ailments or ward off evil influences.

The name “powwow” comes from the Algonquian word for a Native American healing ceremony, though the two practices are unrelated. The term likely stuck due to early settlers observing Native American healing rituals and applying the word to their own form of folk magic.

The Long Lost Friend

One of the central texts in powwowing is "The Long Lost Friend" (Der Lange Verborgene Freund), written by Johann Georg Hohman in 1820. This book is a compilation of charms, prayers, and remedies intended to offer protection, healing, and good fortune. It includes instructions on how to heal burns, stop bleeding, protect livestock, and guard against evil influences like witchcraft. It also features prayers invoking God and Christian saints, giving powwowing a strong religious component that separated it from what was considered more "pagan" or "occult" magic at the time.

For example, one charm from The Long Lost Friend might involve reciting a specific prayer over an injured person, while another might offer a method to protect oneself from harmful curses. The book was widely circulated among Pennsylvania Dutch communities and served as a go-to manual for powwowers.

Practices and Beliefs

They would practice healing rituals for physical ailments such as burns, toothaches, and wounds. These were often accompanied by prayers, gestures like the sign of the cross, or reciting Bible verses. Protection from evil through the use of amulets, blessings, or charms designed to ward off bad luck, misfortune, or curses, often referred to as “hexes.”

Another part of their belief system involved counselling and spiritual guidance, where powwowers might help community members struggling with personal difficulties, offering both healing and spiritual support.

While the majority of powwowers focused on healing and protection, belief in hexes (negative magic or curses) persisted in some communities. If someone believed they were under the influence of a hex, they might seek the help of a powwower to lift the curse.

Powwowing’s Place in Society

Powwowing was largely accepted within Pennsylvania Dutch communities. Since it involved Christian elements, it wasn’t considered witchcraft in the traditional sense, which would have been condemned by religious authorities. However, in some cases, fear of hexes or dark magic associated with powwowing led to superstition, paranoia, and social tension—particularly in isolated rural communities.

BACKGROUND

John Blymire

Born in 1895, York County, John Blymire was born into a family that also practiced powwowing. His grandfather and father both practiced it, passing down knowledge of healing rituals, charms, and protective prayers. From an early age, Blymire learned the traditions of folk magic, making him a part of the local powwowing culture. He showed an interest in these practices from a young age and became a practitioner himself, using powwowing to help people with ailments and misfortunes, much like his ancestors.

During his youth, Blymire faced tragedy and misfortune. He struggled with poor health that persisted, endured low-paying, strenuous jobs, went through a failed marriage, and dealt with a series of personal losses, such as the passing of his father Jacob.

Blymire’s belief in hexes became central to his worldview. By the time he reached adulthood, he had become increasingly convinced that the various misfortunes in his life were the result of being hexed by someone. His deepening paranoia and obsession with the idea of hexes led him to consult several other powwowers to try to remove the curses he believed were afflicting him.

What is a HEX?

In witchcraft and folklore, a hex is a type of spell or curse believed to cause harm or misfortune to a person. The word "hex" is derived from the German word "hexe," which means "witch." It is generally used to describe a negative or malevolent spell intended to bring bad luck, illness, or other forms of misfortune to a targeted individual.

The defining feature of a hex is its harmful intent. It is typically cast to harm someone emotionally, physically, or spiritually, often as an act of revenge or punishment. Hexes can be cast through various methods, including rituals, incantations, the use of objects (such as dolls, effigies, or personal items of the target), and symbols. The methods may vary depending on the tradition or type of witchcraft practiced.

In many cultures, hexes are seen as powerful tools that can manipulate supernatural forces to influence the world or a person’s fate. They are often feared because of their supposed ability to cause tangible negative effects, ranging from bad luck and illness to accidents or even death.

Just as people believe in casting hexes, many also believe in the need for protection from them. Amulets, charms, and counter-spells are often used to guard against hexes, while practitioners of folk magic or witchcraft may offer remedies to reverse or remove a hex.

The River Witch Of Marietta

John Blymire was running out of ideas to turn the tide on his never ending bad luck, so he sought the advice of a local powwower named Andrew Lenhart, who told him that a curse had indeed been placed on him by another practioner of powwowing, but wasn't sure who.

At his wits end and struggling to keep his mental health intact, Blymire made contact with 'The River Witch Of Marietta' Nellie Noll, a woman considered to be very powerful witch in the art of powwowing. She lived in a town called Marietta, along the Susquehanna River, which would lead to the name she was given by the local community. Although referred to as a witch, Noll was more akin to healing and protecting against curses.

When Blymire visited Noll, she confirmed his fears that he had been cursed, but she went a step further. According to Noll, the person responsible for the hex was Nelson Rehmeyer. She claimed that Rehmeyer was the source of Blymire’s string of bad luck, illness, and misfortune. To break the hex, Noll told Blymire he would need to confront Rehmeyer, retrieve a lock of his hair, or obtain his spell book, which was likely The Long Lost Friend book of powwowing. Destroying these items, or burying them six feet under, according to Noll, would break the curse.

Blymire was shocked in disbelief, throughout his life, Rehmeyer had shown kindness towards him. At five years old and afflicted with illness believed to be caused by a curse but likely stemming more from malnutrition, Rehmeyer had successfully treated Blymire. At a young age, he had even worked for Rehmeyer, harvesting his potato crop , making 25 cents a day.

Confident in her ability to prove the existence of the curse, Noll directed Blymire to concentrate on George Washington's image on a dollar bill. As Blymire gazed at it, the legend states that Washington's face appeared to transform into that of Rehmeyer.

Noll repeated what she said before, that in order to break the curse, Blymire was required to secure Rehmeyer's copy of The Long Lost Friend, obtain a lock of his hair, and bury both objects underground at a depth of at least six feet.

THE ACT

John Blymire enlisted the help of two younger, easily influenced men, John Curry and Wilbert Hess. Both were drawn in by Blymire’s conviction that Rehmeyer was a powerful hexer who needed to be stopped.

The three men made an unsuccessful attempt to confront Rehmeyer at his home on the 25th of November, but on the night of 27th, they returned, determined to carry out the plan that they believed would rid Blymire of the curse. Their intention, at least initially, was not to harm Rehmeyer, but rather to obtain the items necessary to break the hex.

The Confrontation

Rehmeyer lived in a modest, secluded farmhouse in a quant hollow in Spring Valley. When Blymire, Curry, and Hess arrived that night, Rehmeyer welcomed them in, he had known Blymire for years and didn't suspect anything sinister. Rehmeyer was in 60 years old, a large and strong man who had lived alone since separating from his wife.

Upon arrival, Blymire wasted no time, he demanded that Rehmeyer give him his copy of The Long Lost Friend and allow them to take a lock of his hair, convinced this was the key to breaking the curse. Rehmeyer refused, dismissing the claim as nonsense, he asked the men to leave.

Rehmeyer's decision not to hand over the hair and book further aggravated the situation. Filled with fear and anger, Blymire was convinced that unless he took immediate action, he would never break free from the curse. With Curry and Hess as witnesses, Blymire assaulted Rehmeyer, trying to strangle him with a rope he had brought with him to tie Rehmeyer up. A scuffle broke out as Rehmeyer defended himself. Despite being outnumbered, he managed to temporarily fend off his assailants.

Driven crazy from despair Blymire once again, in a frenzy and followed by his accomplices charged Rehmeyer. Rehmeyer wouldn't go down without a fight, physically strong, it took all three together to subdue the larger man. After a hard fought ruckus ,Blymire finally manage to get the rope around Rehmeyer's neck, with Rehmeyer gasping for breath Curry grab the nearest available block of wood from a broken chair leg and proceeded to bludgeon poor Rehmeyer to death.

The Cover-Up Attempt

To hide the murder, Blymire and his accomplices attempted to set Rehmeyer’s house on fire. They believed that burning the house would destroy evidence of their crime, and perhaps, in their superstitious thinking, eliminate any lingering effects of the hex. They doused parts of the house with kerosene and set it alight.

John Blymire, with the gravity of what had just happened starting to sink in, ran away from the house and out of the hollow, closely followed by the others. However, the fire did not spread as they had hoped. The structure only partially burned, and much of the house, including Rehmeyer’s body, remained intact.

Discovery and Arrest

Rehmeyer’s body was discovered shortly after the murder. His neighbours noticed the animals on his farm hadn't been fed for a few days and found his body in his house The evidence of the struggle and the attempted arson were clear, and investigators quickly connected Blymire, Curry, and Hess to the crime. They were soon arrested and charged with Rehmeyer’s murder.

During the trial, the defence centred around Blymire’s belief that he had been hexed by Rehmeyer and that the murder was a desperate act to free himself from supernatural harm. The case became widely publicized, not only because of the gruesome nature of the crime but also due to its bizarre and superstitious elements. The idea of murder motivated by a belief in witchcraft and folk magic intrigued the public and drew nationwide attention.

John Blymire was ultimately convicted of first-degree murder and sentenced to life in prison. His accomplices, Curry and Hess, received lesser sentences due to their age and roles in the crime. Blymire was later paroled in 1953 after serving 25 years.

PARANORMAL ACTIVITY

What makes this case especially eerie is the local belief in witchcraft and the paranormal surrounding Rehmeyer’s death. After the murder, many in the community claimed the area became haunted. Reports of strange lights, ghostly apparitions, and unexplained noises began circulating, leading locals to believe that Rehmeyer’s spirit haunted the hollow.

People report feeling an eerie presence in the woods surrounding his old house, especially at night. Some claim to have seen a shadowy figure resembling Rehmeyer, often described as a large, imposing man, walking through the property or standing by the house.

Visitors often report the sensation of being watched or followed, especially near the house where Rehmeyer was murdered. Cold spots and sudden temperature drops are frequently noted by ghost hunters who visit the site, adding to the area's reputation as haunted.

Phantom Lights

Another common report is the appearance of phantom lights in and around Rehmeyer’s Hollow. Visitors claim to have seen strange glowing orbs floating near the house or deep in the woods. These lights, sometimes referred to as "will-o'-the-wisps," have been witnessed by several groups of paranormal investigators and local explorers over the years.

Some believe these lights could be manifestations of restless spirits, possibly tied to Rehmeyer’s death or even the land itself. Others speculate that the lights are related to residual energy from the murder or from the many visitors who have focused their attention on the house for decades.

Poltergeist Activity

There have been reports of poltergeist-like activity at Rehmeyer’s house. Some visitors have claimed that objects inside the house move on their own or that doors slam shut without any apparent cause. People have also reported hearing strange noises, including disembodied footsteps, whispers, and knocks, particularly at night.

Local paranormal groups have claimed to capture EVPs (Electronic Voice Phenomena) while investigating the property. In some recordings, faint voices or unexplainable sounds seem to respond to questions, further fuelling the belief that Rehmeyer’s Hollow is haunted.

Ghostly Figures in the Woods

Some witnesses claim to have seen ghostly figures or shadow people moving through the trees near Rehmeyer’s property. These figures are often described as fleeting and hard to make out, but their presence is enough to unsettle those who encounter them. Some speculate that these shadows could be related to the spirits of the men who were involved in Rehmeyer’s murder or other spirits tied to the land.

HEX HOLLOW TODAY

To this day, the area is often referred to as "Hex Hollow" and is considered by some to be cursed or haunted. Rehmeyer’s house, which still stands in the hollow, is now owned by Nelson Rehmeyer’s great-grandson, Ricky Ebaugh, and is regarded as a site of supernatural significance. Ebaugh has painstakingly renovated every aspect of the house, preserving its proud connection to local folklore and tradition. Many locals firmly believe that visiting the site or entering the house can bring bad luck or lead to encounters with paranormal activity.

THE HEX HOLLOW MURDER, SCPUK ANALYSIS

Here at South Coast Paranormal UK, we believe that the tale of the Hex Hollow Murder practically oozes folklore. It has all the elements of a chilling mystery—an alleged curse, a brutal murder, witchcraft, and decades of paranormal activity surrounding Rehmeyer's Hollow. This story stands as a cautionary tale about the dangers of placing trust in witchcraft and superstition over science, evidence, and common sense. We understand it was a different time back then, where beliefs and faith weighed heavier than logic and reason. At South Coast Paranormal, we’re drawn to these captivating tales because they embody the very fabric that weaves the magic of a great story, the kind you share around a campfire, sipping hot cocoa, and enjoying some s’mores. It's the perfect combination of spine-tingling mystery and the cosy comfort of storytelling, rooted in human curiosity and the mystery of the paranormal. So as the shadows grow longer and the air turns crisp, we remember that Halloween isn’t just about costumes and candy. It’s a time when the veil between worlds is said to thin, and the stories like the Hex Hollow Murder, take on an eerie life of their own. So as you gather around the fire this Halloween, keep your mind open and your senses sharp—who knows what might be lurking in the dark, waiting to become the next tale whispered on a cold Halloween.