Suggested Reading
The 'Tetched' Phoebe Wise by Brett J MitchellResearched, designed and published as a companion piece to Mark Sebastian Jordan's historical drama, "Phoebe", performed at Malabar Farm State Park.
She lived alone on the heights that overlooked the city. Her neighbors called her 'tetched'. She was tortured by bandits seeking a hidden treasure buried in the walls of her home. She killed a mad man with a Winchester .32 whose love lust turned into a fanatic infatuation. She wore wide brimmed hats decorated with fresh flowers, a long yellow taffeta with a trailing train, and lacey gloves revealing her worthless gems all the while shaking her fist and lashing out at those who dared to glance her way. She conversed with only those she thought worthy and talked to dogs and her guard horse as though they were her friends. Though she was made famous by Pulitzer-Prize winning novelist and distant relative Louis Bromfield, it was simply the life she led that would create a legend of Phoebe Wise. Her life seemed surreal and her stories are what fiction is made of. Yet, her life was anything but fiction.
Bandits, Stalkers, & Murder: Life of the Tetched Phoebe Wise explores the intricate details and fascinating stories of this eccentric and infamous Ohio legend who played a pivotal role in the fictional novels by the Pulitzer-prize winning author Louis Bromfield....
Through period newspapers, historical maps, rare documents, scores of photographs, and first hand accounts, Bandits, Stalkers, & Murder: Life of the Tetched Phoebe Wise reveals the true and extraordinary story of this legendary figure......
Researched, designed and published as a companion piece to Mark Sebastian Jordan's historical drama, "Ceely", performed at Malabar Farm State Park.
In the year of 1896, a crime would stir a whirlwind of fears in a small little community known as Pleasant Valley in southern Richland County, Ohio. By the end of the day on July 19th of that year, an entire family would mysteriously perish from this earth. All, that is, except the childish and socially awkward 23 year old daughter, Celia 'Ceely' Rose. It was a meticulous, yet gruesome deed and all the citizens of this peaceful community demanded justice. No one was certain, but they all knew that Celia Rose had a hand in the mystifying deaths.
Triple Murder: the Crimes Committed by Celia Rose explores the complex details of the horrific events perpetrated by, and the subsequent trial of, this infamous figure in Ohio's history. Through numerous first hand accounts, scores of period newspapers, biographies of those involved, and more, this illustrated history by Brett J Mitchell reveals the documents crucial to understanding the accuracy of this affair. Brett Mitchell, an Ohio native, is a graduate of Belmont University. His previous research led to the publication of the biography Bandits, Stalkers, & Murder: Life of the 'Tetched' Phoebe Wise. Mitchell currently serves on the interpretive staff at Malabar Farm State Park in southern Richland County, Ohio and is actively involved in the preservation of the history of Pleasant Valley.
