Witchcraft, folklore and family legends come to life in Brooke County
Oct 12, 2026
WELLSBURG — Long before Halloween became a holiday of costumes, candy and carved pumpkins, stories of witches and mysterious happenings were passed from one generation to the next.
Some of those stories have connections much closer to home than the familiar tales of Salem, Massachusetts.
Brooke County Public Library will explore the area's history of witchcraft and local folklore during a presentation scheduled for 11 a.m. Oct. 29, just two days before Halloween.
Michael Traubert, who led a similar presentation at the library last October, will return to discuss the legends, beliefs and stories that have become part of Brooke County's past.
Traubert has a personal connection to the subject. He is a descendant of Daniel Higgins Sr., who, according to local legend, was the victim of a witch's spell.
During his October 2025 appearance, Traubert explored the county's witchcraft history, bringing a family connection to a subject often associated with distant places and centuries-old folklore.
The story of Higgins offers an example of how accounts of supposed supernatural happenings can become intertwined with family histories and passed down through generations.
For generations, stories involving unexplained events, unusual illnesses and supposed supernatural influences circulated throughout American communities. Such accounts often reflected the fears, religious beliefs and limited scientific understanding of earlier times.
Today, those stories provide a window into the ways people understood events they could not readily explain.
In Brooke County, local folklore also offers an opportunity to examine how stories change as they are passed through families and communities, sometimes becoming part of the historical identity of a place.
The upcoming presentation provides a seasonal opportunity for residents interested in local history, genealogy and the supernatural traditions associated with Halloween.
While the subject may evoke images of broomsticks, black cats and haunted houses, the history behind witchcraft beliefs is also a story about the people and communities that preserved them.
Traubert's return offers another opportunity to explore those connections and the place such tales hold in Brooke County's history.
The program, “History of Witchcraft in Brooke County,” will be held at Brooke County Public Library, 945 Main St. in Wellsburg.
Additional information is available by calling 304-737-1551 or visiting www.brookecountylibs.org.
Some of those stories have connections much closer to home than the familiar tales of Salem, Massachusetts.
Brooke County Public Library will explore the area's history of witchcraft and local folklore during a presentation scheduled for 11 a.m. Oct. 29, just two days before Halloween.
Michael Traubert, who led a similar presentation at the library last October, will return to discuss the legends, beliefs and stories that have become part of Brooke County's past.
Traubert has a personal connection to the subject. He is a descendant of Daniel Higgins Sr., who, according to local legend, was the victim of a witch's spell.
During his October 2025 appearance, Traubert explored the county's witchcraft history, bringing a family connection to a subject often associated with distant places and centuries-old folklore.
The story of Higgins offers an example of how accounts of supposed supernatural happenings can become intertwined with family histories and passed down through generations.
For generations, stories involving unexplained events, unusual illnesses and supposed supernatural influences circulated throughout American communities. Such accounts often reflected the fears, religious beliefs and limited scientific understanding of earlier times.
Today, those stories provide a window into the ways people understood events they could not readily explain.
In Brooke County, local folklore also offers an opportunity to examine how stories change as they are passed through families and communities, sometimes becoming part of the historical identity of a place.
The upcoming presentation provides a seasonal opportunity for residents interested in local history, genealogy and the supernatural traditions associated with Halloween.
While the subject may evoke images of broomsticks, black cats and haunted houses, the history behind witchcraft beliefs is also a story about the people and communities that preserved them.
Traubert's return offers another opportunity to explore those connections and the place such tales hold in Brooke County's history.
The program, “History of Witchcraft in Brooke County,” will be held at Brooke County Public Library, 945 Main St. in Wellsburg.
Additional information is available by calling 304-737-1551 or visiting www.brookecountylibs.org.
