There's a local tale that needs to be told in its entirety before it is forgotten forever.
"Her ghost still wanders the banks of Crooked Creek near the abandoned mine shaft, trying to find her horse so she can make it home to her parents for dinner."
He said that his grandmother mentioned a headstone at the town cemetery that bore an inscription declaring the innocence of the man accused of killing a beautiful, young, local girl as she made her way to a neighbor's house on horseback. He was executed for her murder in 1913, and supposedly, there was never another person hanged in our hometown after.
"No way. This never happened in our town or it would be a well-known story. I don't believe it." I remember telling him.
So, we set out to find the headstone as proof that there might be some truth to the tale. The year was 1999 or 2000, so smart phones and web sites like Find A Grave weren't an option for us just yet. After one or two attempts, we finally stumbled on to it. It was on the corner edge of what had once been considered the potter's field:
Sure enough, it was there. It even proclaimed is innocence like my friend's grandmother had said! Our excitement grew. Why wasn't this a bigger story?
My bestie, @coreytell, and I weren't your average teenagers. We grew up in a small, incredibly quiet town called Harrison, located in the Northwest corner of Arkansas. When we weren't spending time in some abandoned cemetery out in the middle on nowhere, we were at the library's genealogy room, trying to find information on any interesting headstones we ran across. We didn't have any kind of morbid fascination with death, but rather, a fascination with history, legends, and folklore. Both of us were often in trouble with our parents for what they assumed was staying out late and partying with friends, when in reality, we had probably been driving miles of dirt roads looking for something abandoned to explore. We figured it was probably best if we didn't correct them for fear our parents would think there was something wrong with us. At least partying is normal teenage behavior, right?
In our spare time, we started researching the mystery of Odus Davidson & Ella Barham, but couldn't find very much at the time. Here's a quick synopsis of the mystery we uncovered:
~ The Legend ~
It was November of 1912, and 18 year old Ella Barham set out on horseback to a neighbor's home for help with alterations on some clothing. Hours later, her horse returned home without her.
A search party was sent out along the banks of Crooked Creek, and shortly after nightfall, her dismembered body was found hastily scattered and buried at the mouth of an abandoned mine shaft.
Ella's family was loved by the community, who immediately went into an uproar. Circumstantial evidence pointed to Odus Davidson, who had been seen working with an axe nearby. Rumors flew that he had once tried to court young Ella, but she turned him down, angering Davidson.
When the officials showed up to confront Davidson at his home, he fled on foot with pepper in his socks to try to confuse the police hounds. They found him after a bit of a chase, and they had to take him by train to a jail in the next county for fear a lynch mob would storm the one in Harrison.
Many people pleaded Odus Davidson's innocence, that the two were secretly in love, and that he would never hurt anyone, let alone Ella. Even Davidson himself never once wavered from his story.
At his execution by hanging, the town made an event out of the ordeal. It is said there exists photos of Davidson looking out at a crowd minutes before his execution, and that this photo along with pieces of the rope which Davidson hung from, were sold as souvenirs shortly after.
Executions by hanging were soon made illegal in the state of Arkansas, and Odus Davidson was the last man to be die by such in Harrison.
The tale goes on to say that many years later, a man at the brink of death confessed to the gruesome murder, hence the inscription on Odus Davidson's headstone.
Now, Ella's ghost can't rest. She is forever bound to the banks of Crooked Creek, trying to find her way home.
WE WANT TO SHARE OUR RESEARCH & DOCUMENTARY WITH THE STEEMIT COMMUNITY!
The documentary will be posted in installments here on the Steemit platform, and it will explore the oral tradition of this story compared to any documentation, images, artifacts, or testimony of witnesses we can find on the subject. I hope to find out whether this story is actually kept quiet in my hometown, or if it is merely overshadowed by other, unsavory pieces of the town's history.
If I'm lucky, maybe we can uncover whether or not Davidson was truly guilty of this horrible murder.
I hope to document as fully as possible and donate my completed project to local history museums and family members of Davidson & Barham who have volunteered their time to speak with me.
~ CONTEST DETAILS ~
Now that you know a little about the documentary we have our hearts set on making, we need your help creating an appropriate, attention-grabbing title.
The Steemit user who comes up with the best title will receive $5 SBD!!
Though I have not yet decided on the final format of this project (film, book, or otherwise - budget pending), the winner of the title contest will also get a loving shout out in the credits.
Here's how to enter:
1. Upvote & resteem this post.
(Any rewards earned on this post will help fund the making of the documentary, which will then be posted for all to enjoy here on Steemit. @winstonwolfe, @coreytell, and I all live at least 2 hour's drive from my hometown now, so there will be travel expenses, as well as fees for the local heritage muesem. The more budget we have, the more entertaining the final product will be for the Steemit community!!)
2. Comment on this post with your best idea for a title for our documentary.
(Please make it easy on us and only enter one title as a contest submission.)
3. Have your friends and followers vote for your title or they can even enter their own!
(A good way to garner votes is to create a Steemit post of your own that showcases your title entry, and link back to this post so your followers know where to go to vote.)
4. The top 4 users with the title idea/comment with the most votes by the time this post cashes out in seven days (July 10th, 2017) will be considered as finalists.
The final winning title idea will be decided on by @winstonwolfe, @coreytell, and myself.
Don't forget to follow us to see where this story goes! Though @winstonwolfe is a skilled videographer and @coreytell an imaginative and thoughtful writer, this will be our first attempt at creating a documentary that has local and historical value.
To say, "We are very excited to share this with you" is an understatement!
Thanks for reading AND GOOD LUCK TO ALL WHO ENTER!
To say, "We are very excited to share this with you" is an understatement!
Thanks for reading AND GOOD LUCK TO ALL WHO ENTER!
An interesting local story for sure. If only a horse could talk.
Resteeming this to 10,000+ followers.
Oh my goodness! Thank you so much!
And I agree, if horses and houses could talk, the stories they would have to tell!
Make that 10,001+ followers. ;) Thanks again!
"If only a horse could talk" what a great title
The Crimson Banks of Crooked Creek
Very nice! An eerie visual comes to mind. :)
Thanks for commenting!
"To Straighten Out Crooked Creek"
Oooo. Creative. I like it! Thank you for entering! :)
Thanks! I appreciate the opportunity
Title suggestion: Crooked Creek Ghost
The Crooked Criminal Crickets of Crackle Creek
"Misrepresentations Born of Excitement: The Legend of Crooked Creek"
Love, love, love!
I really wish I could come up with a decent title, but sadly my creative juices aren't flowing that direction! However, upvoted, resteemed, and I can't wait to read it :D
You rock! Thank you so much!
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I don’t have any idea what’s the title..I can only share and vote to disseminate
Thank you! Your share is appreciated!
"Cut to pieces"- The Ella Barham murder story
Nicely done! Thanks!
"A Murder Reconciled" A story to expose the truth.
I voted, resteemed and love the tale! Good luck finding the answer. I can't wait to read some more. ~Wendy
Thanks, Wendy!! I've been intrigued by the tale since first hearing it, and now the internet and social media has made it easier to connect with people in my hometown who might know a little about it. I'm very excited to work on this. Thanks for entering!
THE CROOKED CREEK TRAGEDY
"Unveiling the shroud - The mystery of Ella Barham's murder"
Very interesting story. I'm excited to see what you find out.
When do you anticipate starting?
I will be anxiously waiting.
I like that one!
I'm already starting on the first installment which will is mostly text at this point. I've already been in touch with a few people in my hometown who have expressed interest in participating, including the great-niece of the man who was engaged to Ella at the time she died. The woman told me that Ella's engagement ring from this man was still on her finger when she was found, and that's new news to me! I'm very excited to speak with her!
That awesome. I'm excited for you to talk to her! I can't wait. Thanks for update man. Looking forward to this. Thank you
"Monster In the Eye, Lover In the Flesh"
"Crooked Creek" , "Ghost of Crooked Creek" , "The Legend of Crooked Creek" , "Tales of Crooked Creek" , "Tales from the Creek" , "Beware of Crooked Creek"
Those are all very good! Which one would you like to officially enter into the contest?
Was hoping to enter them all... that not possible? Was trying to cover all the easy ones...
lol I understand.
One is best, please. I probably should have made that clear, and I will edit it now so no one gets confused. :)
How about "The Wicked Crook of Crooked Creek"?
Nice! Thanks for entering! :)
Tonight On : Real Ghostly housewives, ella's revenge haha (Ella's Qeust )
This post received a 2.0% upvote from @randowhale thanks to @jazzyfish! For more information, click here!
How about "Crooked Creek-Trial of Odus Davidson"
Late for dinner
The Crooked Creek Panic
i think this title will be good. hopes
Great Idea. "The Legend of Crooked Creek"
Have fun with this. 🐓🐓
Thank you! I am slowly working on the first installment to post here on Steemit, and it's already quite a bit of fun. :) I'm a bit of a local history junkie, though. lol
Thanks for entering!
Will look for it to post. 🐓🐓
Very nice! Thank you for entering!
You're welcome.
"Mystery of the last hanging in Crooked Creek"
"Forever bound to the banks of Crooked Creek"........I always try to find the tittle within the story itself
Same here, but I'm just always so indecisive on titles! I figured it would be fun to have the Steemit community's input. :) Thanks a bunch for commenting!
Hello my dear friend
You are flattered
Please flood me @haji ♥
"The Last Hanged Man in Arkansas"
Everyone is focusing on Ella, maybe we could also shed a lil light on odus. ;)
The ghost story part of the legend definitely focuses on Ella, which I think is strange considering Odus (if truly innocent) was tormented for much longer while alive. I would think his ghost would have something to prove.
Thanks for entering!
That is an AWESOME ghost story!!
Thanks! I'm really excited to explore the legend. :)
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Well then! :) Thanks!
"Born of Excitement"
Simple and intriguing.
Upvoted and resteemed! Looking forward to more.
"Proclaiming innocence, a murder mystery and 18th century forensics"
Title suggestion:
"Truth behind the Mistery of a Crooked Creek Killer"
Thanks for commenting!
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We'll, that's just rude.
Spamming is rude.
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