The Witch Tree Smithfield
by: Amber VanTine

An avid hiker or an individual just looking for some peace in the forests of Rhode Island will usually come across beautifully large trees that create a canopy of shade for the person who has visited the wood. But when one comes across a lone tree with deep scarring, twisted, and mangled branches with rot and decay clinging desperately to the marred bark, it may cause that once brave soul to not feel so at peace any longer. That appeared to be the case for the old Witch Tree that once stood in the middle of the intersection between Colwell Road and Mann School Road in Smithfield, Rhode Island. Apparently, according to legend, there was once a witch that lived in a house by the tree. Unfortunately, the house burnt down with the witch inside, and so the tormented and angry soul of the witch began to haunt the tree that bore witness to her demise.

Now that tale sounds quite interesting and I’m sure made many who drove by wonder if the charred and angry spirit of a witch was nearby deciding if they should meet such a cruel end as she did. However, upon further investigation according to some legends the tree was used as a marker in a field during the 1800s for wagons, horses and those on foot eventually creating a fork in the road for travelers with the tree being at the center of both roads. Over time when the area was paved, instead of taking the tree down the workers decided to keep the tree where it was. Whether that was due to superstition or to lack of equipment no one really knows. But regardless of all of that information what I found to be interesting was that it appears that the Witch Tree didn’t receive that title until the 1980s. Apparently, during that time and before many people thought if they drove their car backwards around the tree three times at night with the lights off they would provoke the witch to come forth so these curious ghost hunters would come face to face with her tormented soul. But I’m sure as many of you may have gathered a tree placed in such a precarious spot and then many wanting to meet this witch most likely had their lives come to a bitter end by finding themselves the victims of an automobile accident. Which from that point would just add to the legend that the witch was the cause for those horrible accidents not the driver’s recklessness or lack of attention.

What I also found fascinating is that the story of the witch meeting her fiery end in her home nearby the Witch tree almost mirrors the legend of Dolly Cole the witch of Foster, Rhode Island. Just as the witch in Smithfield Dolly Cole’s home also burnt down as well because her neighbors thought she was a witch, however Dolly Cole wasn’t at home and the only casualty that happened that night was that of her child. Upon seeing her home in flames and knowing her child was dead one legend states that Dolly Cole cursed the town and all that lived in. She was later unfortunately murdered at the age of 27 by drowning. Though Foster is 31 minutes away from Smithfield sometimes people may borrow tales and gruesome stories from surrounding towns to build a similar legend for their local town folks to ponder about. Which makes me question if that is what happened with the tale of Smithfield’s Witch Tree.

Alas, even with all these legends and theories back in 2008 due to extensive damage and rot the old Witch tree was torn down. Yet, a new younger tree was put in its place…Could this be for the townsfolk who wanted to have the landmark replaced? Or…could it be that this tree is the only protection the town has against the wrath of an angry and vengeful witch? I guess we’ll never know.