By Jesse Angelino
DELHI — As the witching hour approaches on this All Hallows' Eve, the mist-shrouded Catskill Mountains seem an apt backdrop for Dr. Samantha Misa's spellbinding book, "Witches of the Catskills". A professor of history at SUNY Delhi and educational director at the Delaware County Historical Association, Dr. Misa has conjured a collection of 13 haunting tales that plumb the depths of witchcraft and maleficium in the region's storied past.
"I think history is a very interesting topic because its collections of stories about people, and that makes it very personal," Dr. Misa says. "An interest in history is an interest in people."
"Witches of the Catskills" is a tapestry woven from threads of old newspaper articles, census records, and antiquated journals. The stories within its pages recount instances where witchcraft was blamed for strange occurrences – sometimes with a suspect, often without. "A lot of people think that when witchcraft is suspected, there's a person to blame but there is a good chance there might not even be a suspect," Dr. Misa explains. "It's used as an explanation for something they can't understand."
One tale speaks of the Catskill Witch, a fearsome being from indigenous lore said to control the weather, create stars from the Moon's fragments, and transform into deer to bewitch hunters. Her wrath is tied to the creation of Kaaterskill Falls, a natural wonder born of one of her discarded fruit's explosive power.
In Delaware County, the Austin family's 19th-century ordeal is recounted with eerie detail. A barrel of waste on their porch turned upside down without spilling a drop. A cherished Sunday dress unexplainably shredded in a locked chest. Tools stuck to a barn's lofty ceiling, beyond human reach. Descendants still report hearing phantom wings flapping in the night, a haunting echo with no discernible source.
"I verified the Austin family's existence through census records and found a map of their old property," Dr. Misa says. "I love these stories with dubious credibility – they survive because there's always a grain of truth in them."
Dr. Misa's academic journey – SUNY Geneseo (BA), SUNY Binghamton (MA), University at Albany (PhD) – has fueled her fascination with people's stories. Her work at the Delaware County Historical Association and SUNY Delhi brings the past alive, infusing local history with a sense of wonder.
"Witches of the Catskills" is available for sale online and perfect for readers who delight in the region's darker tales. As Halloween descends, Dr. Misa's book invites you to explore the shadows where history and mystery entwine.
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